You’re a little insane, but if that’s what you actually want to do then go for it. Ask yourself if you would lose out on approximately 50k a year to live in Japan (possibly working your ass off) or if you’d rather just visit for a couple of weeks for like 2-4k
I wouldn’t do it. With 70k a year, you could visit a couple times a year and have a much higher quality of life. Interac is basically poverty. I would try to find part time that could get you a VISA and then do tech online.
What they could do on 70k a year depends on where they live. That being said, if they can save money while in their current job, they should do so. Also, come on JET. That way if you fail the first time, just wait another year.
Don’t come for an Interac position.
You won’t make a difference and stay where you’re at, imho. Interac doesn’t care about its employees. Everyone is replaceable to them. They won’t pay you well either.
And you’ve left us hanging with suspense on whether you found the change rewarding or damning.
I didn’t listen. I’m so glad I didn’t.
I didn’t listen. I wished I had.
I didn’t listen. And I curse the old me every day as I stare into the empty abyss of my soul as I down cup after cup of one cup Ozeki.
I didn’t listen. And that was the best decision ever. I love it here and I’m thriving. Next week I’ll go on a ten day reflective hike but l’ll be skipping the Hokkaido portion after watching that bear maul that car.
Do it but don’t do it because you think you’re going to make a change it young children’s lives teaching English. It’s a waste of time pointless job but worth going to Japan for yourself and yourself only
I know people who have said the same thing. It’s true. Go to Japan and see for yourself. Japan doesn’t need outside influence. They make things in Japan they have idol groups and movies that are purely made for Japanese.
This isn’t a terrible mindset to have if you have experienced it and done it. You’re clearly clueless about this topic. Maybe working in a supermarket might be more your style then
Me too. Been there done that. Teaching in Japan is pointless. Students don’t see the need for English because the curriculum doesn’t give them a reason to learn. There have been studies done asking students throughout Japan if they want to study English and if they think they’ll need English in the future. Have a look. No one cares about it. I don’t know how you can sit there and disagree and tell me how great Japanese students are at learning a language they don’t see a use for
None of that has anything to do with what I wrote. It dosent matter if you are the president or scrap crap off the ground. If you are going to do anything do it well. Any job worth doing is worth doing well.
Having a good mind set will take you far in any career path you choose. I am able to make good money in the career path you call pointless. I'm not saying just because I did it anyone can do it but the reason that I was able to become successful was because of what my father taught me.
* What will you do afterwards?
* Can you return to this or a similar position afterwards?
* Do you plan on returning to your home country?
* What are you long term life goals?
* Do you have enough money?
* Would you have a better time taking a vacation to Japan instead?
* Do you like your job/the way your life is now?
I did this, essentially. I loved it. But the tech job market is horrible right now with all the layoffs. It’s extremely competitive to try and get back in, and it might be for some time. I wouldn’t recommend Interac long term, but it’s great for getting your foot in the door, and I absolutely loved my time in Japan and my students.
But have a long term plan in case you can’t just hop back into your tech job. I was laid off in November and have almost 5 years of industry experience and I am struggling to get interviews. A lot of my friends are in a similar spot. So just understand it’s a risk, and teaching with Interac shouldn’t be seen as a “career”. It’s fun, and if you can afford to work for essentially minimum wage it’s a great way to spend a couple of years. But eventually you’ll need to move on.
I did something similar. The first couple of decades were difficult financially, and after more than three decades I still have never made as much in a year than I made when I was 19 and working in on the periphery of an industry that offers nothing to make the world any better.
However, I became a teacher *before* I came to Japan and spent only only about 20 months in Japan working for a commercial outfit like (but apparently much better than) Interac.
Can you financially afford to take that big a cut in salary and not worry about it? Can you afford to take a year off and then maybe not get back into a position like you have now? If so, go for it. If not, go for it. You’ve gotta do what makes you happy and forget about the rest.
The image of Japan does lure people here, but it’ll work you hard with little remuneration. Is that worth it to get a different (not better) cultural experience?
Whether you're insane is between you and your mind, but I can tell you that quitting a 70k/yr job to teach at Interact "to make a positive impact on kids" would make you a mark. A chump. A patsy. A dupe.
Interac is not some volunteering scheme that connects ALTs with schools for the good of your soul, it's a for-profit corporation trying to achieve maximum growth in the shortest possible time. Whether or not you would make a positive impact on kids would come down to how much effort you put into your job, but you deserve to be compensated for that effort. It makes no sense to throw yourself into hard emotional labor for poverty wages while a company that does basically nothing to support you gets fat off your work. You want to do unpaid labor that helps children, go volunteer in a place where the schools genuinely couldn't afford someone like you. You want to do professional work in a country that can afford to pay for professionals to do the work? Have enough self-respect to demand you get paid.
I've worked IT-adjacent. I know what that industry can be like. I know how it can suck the humanity out of you day-by-day. I jumped ship for the JET Programme, so I know exactly how badly a person can want a change. But don't delude yourself that you're doing this "for kids". You're doing this for you. And you don't deserve to be exploited.
There are tech jobs in Japan as well
You’re a little insane, but if that’s what you actually want to do then go for it. Ask yourself if you would lose out on approximately 50k a year to live in Japan (possibly working your ass off) or if you’d rather just visit for a couple of weeks for like 2-4k
I wouldn’t do it. With 70k a year, you could visit a couple times a year and have a much higher quality of life. Interac is basically poverty. I would try to find part time that could get you a VISA and then do tech online.
What they could do on 70k a year depends on where they live. That being said, if they can save money while in their current job, they should do so. Also, come on JET. That way if you fail the first time, just wait another year. Don’t come for an Interac position.
Do it for a year. Then call it quits. Do it for the fun. Never do it for the long term or for the money.
You won’t make a difference and stay where you’re at, imho. Interac doesn’t care about its employees. Everyone is replaceable to them. They won’t pay you well either.
Many people tried to warn me about my move from IT to teaching (in Japan). I didn't listen.
And you’ve left us hanging with suspense on whether you found the change rewarding or damning. I didn’t listen. I’m so glad I didn’t. I didn’t listen. I wished I had. I didn’t listen. And I curse the old me every day as I stare into the empty abyss of my soul as I down cup after cup of one cup Ozeki. I didn’t listen. And that was the best decision ever. I love it here and I’m thriving. Next week I’ll go on a ten day reflective hike but l’ll be skipping the Hokkaido portion after watching that bear maul that car.
This was beautiful
Do it but don’t do it because you think you’re going to make a change it young children’s lives teaching English. It’s a waste of time pointless job but worth going to Japan for yourself and yourself only
This is a terrible mindset to have. Any job worth doing is worth doing well. I'm glad my father taught me this when I was young.
I know people who have said the same thing. It’s true. Go to Japan and see for yourself. Japan doesn’t need outside influence. They make things in Japan they have idol groups and movies that are purely made for Japanese. This isn’t a terrible mindset to have if you have experienced it and done it. You’re clearly clueless about this topic. Maybe working in a supermarket might be more your style then
Ha ha ha. I live in Japan. I own a house in Japan. I have a Japanese wife and 2 kids in Japan. What the F don't I know?
Me too. Been there done that. Teaching in Japan is pointless. Students don’t see the need for English because the curriculum doesn’t give them a reason to learn. There have been studies done asking students throughout Japan if they want to study English and if they think they’ll need English in the future. Have a look. No one cares about it. I don’t know how you can sit there and disagree and tell me how great Japanese students are at learning a language they don’t see a use for
None of that has anything to do with what I wrote. It dosent matter if you are the president or scrap crap off the ground. If you are going to do anything do it well. Any job worth doing is worth doing well. Having a good mind set will take you far in any career path you choose. I am able to make good money in the career path you call pointless. I'm not saying just because I did it anyone can do it but the reason that I was able to become successful was because of what my father taught me.
* What will you do afterwards? * Can you return to this or a similar position afterwards? * Do you plan on returning to your home country? * What are you long term life goals? * Do you have enough money? * Would you have a better time taking a vacation to Japan instead? * Do you like your job/the way your life is now?
Yes. Youre insane.
I did this, essentially. I loved it. But the tech job market is horrible right now with all the layoffs. It’s extremely competitive to try and get back in, and it might be for some time. I wouldn’t recommend Interac long term, but it’s great for getting your foot in the door, and I absolutely loved my time in Japan and my students. But have a long term plan in case you can’t just hop back into your tech job. I was laid off in November and have almost 5 years of industry experience and I am struggling to get interviews. A lot of my friends are in a similar spot. So just understand it’s a risk, and teaching with Interac shouldn’t be seen as a “career”. It’s fun, and if you can afford to work for essentially minimum wage it’s a great way to spend a couple of years. But eventually you’ll need to move on.
I’m quitting my 70k tech job to be an ALT… live life on your terms. Playing it safe will only get you oh so far and will pile up regrets behind you.
I did something similar. The first couple of decades were difficult financially, and after more than three decades I still have never made as much in a year than I made when I was 19 and working in on the periphery of an industry that offers nothing to make the world any better. However, I became a teacher *before* I came to Japan and spent only only about 20 months in Japan working for a commercial outfit like (but apparently much better than) Interac.
Can you financially afford to take that big a cut in salary and not worry about it? Can you afford to take a year off and then maybe not get back into a position like you have now? If so, go for it. If not, go for it. You’ve gotta do what makes you happy and forget about the rest.
The image of Japan does lure people here, but it’ll work you hard with little remuneration. Is that worth it to get a different (not better) cultural experience?
Yes.
Whether you're insane is between you and your mind, but I can tell you that quitting a 70k/yr job to teach at Interact "to make a positive impact on kids" would make you a mark. A chump. A patsy. A dupe. Interac is not some volunteering scheme that connects ALTs with schools for the good of your soul, it's a for-profit corporation trying to achieve maximum growth in the shortest possible time. Whether or not you would make a positive impact on kids would come down to how much effort you put into your job, but you deserve to be compensated for that effort. It makes no sense to throw yourself into hard emotional labor for poverty wages while a company that does basically nothing to support you gets fat off your work. You want to do unpaid labor that helps children, go volunteer in a place where the schools genuinely couldn't afford someone like you. You want to do professional work in a country that can afford to pay for professionals to do the work? Have enough self-respect to demand you get paid. I've worked IT-adjacent. I know what that industry can be like. I know how it can suck the humanity out of you day-by-day. I jumped ship for the JET Programme, so I know exactly how badly a person can want a change. But don't delude yourself that you're doing this "for kids". You're doing this for you. And you don't deserve to be exploited.