G.communication in the Black

It has been reported they are in the black, but it does not mean they are.

Please take a look at the shady, fidgeting, twiddling history of G Communication – I would not wipe my ass with any financial report that sprang from their offices (and consider the amount of times the old Nova changed auditors to produce “tailor made” reports).

Then consider the timing – Saruhashi about to be publically put through the hammer mill, and here is G Communication, after so much hard work in the salvage effort, in the middle of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, with a fouled brand name, miraculously reporting a profit.

One can be forgiven for consequently concluding G Comm being in the black is simply kangaroo accounting bullshit, and that the truth would be the complete opposite.

I think Saruhashi is simply a sacrificial lamb who is in for a slap on the wrists (he and his mates having marched off with billions) - some how, some way, he and his LDP pals are still quite possibly part of this G Comm thingy.

THORN

Many argue that NOVA, on it’s own, due to mainly the fouled Nova name but also the recession, IS ALREADY WELL AND TRULY BANKRUPT, in a technical sense, but is being propped up by other companies under the group’s umbrella via creative accounting (book cooking, in other words).

The question that remains is, how long will the group persist with it, before the cancer is removed?

One lady recently argued that quite possibly, the books are being cooked (monies creatively diverted or via false reporting of accounts) to present a perceived profit as a forerunner to a desire/an attempt to sell the lemon.

In other words, a dressing up exercise – concept being the cake appears to look great, with fresh cream icing all over the top of it, but there is no cake under the icing, but rather, recycled cardboard (or something worse).

The above being the case, the danger period will be if they are unable to sell it – at that point, the decision to shut it down (allow bankruptcy) in order to protect the interests of the entire group of companies will have to be made.

Let’s see how it unfolds.

Needless to say, however, given the reality of what has occurred on the ground with Neo Nova, and the realities of the economy today, it does not take Albert Einstein to figure out that reports of Neo Nova being profitable should be viewed with a very high degree of pessimism.

THORN

Are you gloating because Neo-Nova is still afloat??
You sad twisted bitter fool!

I don't think that it was the Usagi CM that helped their profit. They article implies that G Com turned a profit 6 months after they took over from Nova and the TV CM started in March this year. I would hope that MSN Sankei news got some documentation to clarify that claim! I can hardly see G Com turning a profit that quickly - if ever.

FACT: G-Con HAS NOT, IS NOT and NEVER WILL be turning a profit on it's English teaching Division.

The G-Con Spin Doctors may be using some very creative accounting and reporting, but no sane person believes them.

Get out while you still can, G-Con instructors, don't let NOVA-G-Con destroy your lives! The joint is heading to a messy ending, sooner rather than later - that's what most people in the Eikaiwa scene seem to be agreeing on.

Good post Thorn, I agree wholeheartedly. I, however, have been here for just a little over two years in Eikaiwa (for personal financial reasons, and with the yen still strong its highly beneficial to stay at the moment) Nonetheless, I do have that `escape plan`, as you mentioned. Plan to be out before years end...

The Eikaiwa Bashing is just a screen. Everyone knows Eikaiwa is an insidious joke. Why state the obvious?

Redirect your energy, so YOU can get out of your own crappy situation, and get out of Japan. I LIKE IT HERE, and YOU are bumming me out!

You heard Mr. Ripper – “all fair comments” by Mrs “Vagina”.

Meanwhile, this site is dedicated to “debunking eikaiwa”, thank you very much.

So, given everyone knows Eikaiwa is an insidious joke, why not close Let’s Japan down?

Japan can be an intoxicating place at times. Quite intriguing, especially in the early days.

I liked that aspect of it, and missed the honeymoon days for quite some time.

But I argue these days, if one is not Japanese, while one may find an equipped with creature comforts, rather predictable little niche to hide away in, with very few challenges to overcome, other than linguistic challenges (because culturally, you are never expected to be even capable of being in tune with the central essence of what it is to be Japanese), one will never be anything more to the vast majority of Japanese, than a quirky foreigner, doing it’s quirky foreign thingy.

Applauded and honoured when one get’s a complex Japanese task done, like using chop-sticks, and giggled about and tolerated, when one gets it wrong, like putting soya sauce on one’s rice. Considered a foreign genius, but treated with a little suspicion, if one can do the entirely unexpected, and write the highly sophisticated kanji for something like “book”.

I must admitted, I was amazed by the number of Japanese people who could use a spoon. "Internationalization" has really had an impact.

That’s fine, however, if that is what you dig doing, for your life.

In Eikaiwa, you are blatantly an insect in a specimen jar, but outside of it, while less obvious, you often are too.

I still like my time in Japan though. I almost always have some fun, and do some interesting things, and eat some interesting foods, and so forth.

THORN

I think you only need worry what other people think of you, Japanese or otherwise, when you're personally deficient in some way, eg drifting along in some aimless eikaiwa "job", or being the gaijin clown running amok and making an ass of himself. If you do something useful with your time in Japan, such as studying the language, or getting some real teaching credentials, as I mentioned earlier, then I don't think you need worry.

The Ripper

Definitely Jon, I agree with you, since morbid preoccupation of measures of oneself and others worth and place, on all levels, is the one of the cornerstones of Japanese society.

Such a person as you refer to would end up suffering immensely, when having jumped through all the hoops, they still found themselves as being broadly classified as a foreigner, with diminished rights, and with a predetermined use – such a person would have to resort to not giving a rat’s ass.

Not giving a rat's ass is actually an Eikaiwa survival tool, if you elect to stay beyond the honeymoon period.

THORN

Thorn Is Nova's Vagina,

Damned if I'm gonna sit around and let you continually disrespect Eikaiwa. I speak on behalf of all the dedicated Eikaiwa professionals here in Japan, who are working their butts off, earning respect as part of their communities in Japan.
I'm a dedicated Eikaiwa professional. I always prepare two hours before my classes, providing my students with the best english lessons I can possibly give. I take my job seriously, it's not just a flippant "I don't give a rat's " attitude.

Listen up, Joyboy: I've had enough of your ranting and raving and disrespect of Eikaiwa and the professionals who work there. Enough already!

Eikaiwa Pro.

Why does anybody bother planning eikaiwa lessons, apart from to try to give themselves a veneer of professionalism and kiss their boss's ass? 6 months is all it takes to develop enough fluency at it to walk into the booth and pull a lesson out the hat.

I used to make lessons up on the spot - look at the T.S. on the way up the stairs, think of a situation where you'd use it, and then proceed with a warm up whilst I figured out what language they would need in the RP. All very easy once you've mastered the basics, which as I said, takes 6 months (like the honeymoon period in fact).

Example: reflexive verbs - I love myself, hate myself, hurt myself, whip myself, abuse myself - give students a warm up where they discuss all the good and bad things people do to themselves. Do the reading and ask a few questions. Drill them - "I abuse myself" - "How?" - "I masturbate 12 times a day"- "That's too bad", etc etc. Then set up the RP - one student is a psychological counsellor, the other has lots of problems, self harms and does all sorts of bad things to themself.

There you go - an instant Nova lesson just made up on the spot right now. Simple.

Japan cool and the honeymoon period is a blast. Of course adjustments are to me made when working in Japan vs. the West.

But let's get real. It's a shit job with a dismal future. It will never be respected by the Japanese or Gaijin community. When you meet a Japanese person and the third question they ask you is, "Are you an English teacher?" They are sizing you up, to see if your half-ass slacker, which they will assume you are if you answer affirmatively.

People spend two hours preparing for their lessons? Why? A garbage man can come in early and spend two unpaid hours preparing for his route. He might perform slightly better than his colleagues and couple of people might actually notice, he might even become a supervisor. But he’s still a garbage man.

It’s sad that some people have delusions of building some type admiration from eikawa teachers. The real wage will continue to fall. 95% of the workers will always be people who have no long term stake in the industry and just put up with the job temporally because they are looking to fund their time in Japan.

If you want a serious job with a decent future and “respect” , find a different industry. If you’re tire of the monotony and horrible conditions, move on.

It seems everyone here basically wants all Eikaiwa and Eikaiwa teachers out of the country, and I agree.
I am a Jet, and am so sick and tired of Japanese people assuming I work for one of those Eikaiwa. Whenever I go to parties and run into foreigners, I quickly identify who are the Eikaiwa drones, and refuse to talk to them...just like most of the Japanese! I will only talk to Jets, ALTS, dispatch teachers and tenured Uni teachers...that's right, real "teachers" as opposed to a warm body in a suit masquerading as a teacher.

I wish all these Eikaiwa losers would stop coming onto this board and defending themselves, and just go home. Leave LJ (and Japan and Japanese women!) to us real teachers!!!

That is all. Stan

That's right, Thorny, Baby, we should all get out of Eikaiwa, Eff off back to London/NY/Sydney, rejoin the rat race, climb the corporate ladder, and suck, our very, very hardest. Because that is SO much better a life than the one here in Japan.

You worked in Eikaiwa. FACT. You probably still do. So by that equation YOU are a loser.

And you're irredeemably bourgeoise.

I'll be judged by what I do OUTSIDE work, thankyou. At least by real people. The job just puts the food on the table.

The EIKAIWA system might be dodgy, but I've got news for you - so is banking.

Looking forward to the next post, Thorn, where, once again, you'll be stating the obvious in the most profound way you can. Cheers.

Oh By the way - Luke - I used to work with you. You seemed very chirpy, and real. Didn't realise you had such lofty corporate ambitions. Good luck, anyway, you deluded number.

>Dear Oh dear, seem Einstein’s theory of Eikaiwa (E + G = L) seems to have touched on a raw nerve.

In which case, THORN should be mortally offended, by your own comments. By THORN'S own admission, THORN worked at Nova. But of course, because THORN doesn't have the ability (or courage?) to look at themself objectively, THORN thinks that somehow they are NOT a loser, even though, by THORN'S own admission, THORN worked at Nova.

So yeah, slag Nova off, all you like, THORN. Call it shit, corrupt, worthless. Call everybody who worked there the same. Losers, Losers, Losers, Losers. But don't forget that this doesn't apply to Thorn, folks. Because even though Thorn worked at Nova, and now trolls, under the boards here, 24/7, THORN is a hugely dynamic go getter, who's just telling us how it is.

Thanks THORN!

I very much doubt that there are any Japanese who wonder more and more why I am still here. They have more important things to think about - as is the case with everyone else. For those curious few who do want to know my reasons for being in Japan - and they are very few people indeed - then I am more than happy to enlighten them on request - unless of course they are complete strangers who walk up to me on a train.

As for touching a raw nerve, I would call reading some of these daily re runs of the same message from Thorn to be more like having a pesky mosquito flying about in one's room on a summer night.

As I say, if people have a low opinion of my job, I don't really care. If they want to waste time thinking that I'm a loser, that is their deficiency. I have a big house, two cars, OK savings, lots of insurance and my kids are going to private schools - all thanks to a long and happy career (sorry for using that word) teaching English conversation. Does that make me a winner? of course not. The work and the acquisitions you make as a result are just things it's your responsibility as a parent to take care of.

What makes you a winner as opposed to a loser in my book is based on whether you have a positive attitude to your own life or not. I do.

I totally agree with this post, with respect to having a positive attitude to your own life. However, with regards to having a positive attitude to eikaiwa, I have overwhelmingly found, beyond the honeymoon period, that is one that, in the few that manage to maintain it, is borne from necessity (for example, the need to feed and clothe children). You know, like “Shit, I am here now, my options are limited, I had better make the most of this crappy job, come hell, rain, or sunshine”. It is amazing what a person can and will endure, for the sake of ones family. Ability to absorb sufferance, such as that found in eikaiwa, is commendable, under such circumstances.

THORN

My worst jobs ever were Interac and Nova.

Luckily, an opening came up to clean toilets, and I managed to finally escape the both of them.

By the way, there is a lot more to making a toilet bowl shine, than meets the eye, I will have you know.

Ok, not exactly a job for a rocket surgeon, but none the less, one requiring considerable hands on skill and thought.

There is a theory out there, that there is a difference as to which way water goes down (clockwise, or anticlockwise), depending what hemisphere you are in.

Just a curiosity for you all, but in Japan, during my toilet cleaning days, I discovered to my surprise, some Japanese western toilets flushed clockwise, and some flushed anti-clockwise.

Thus, I determined, the direction of the water was as much determined by the shape of the actual bowl, as it was by varied hemispherical conditions.

THORN

Good luck with your happy eikaiwa career, 2 cars and privately-schooled kids. I'm sure you've worked really hard for it, benefitted countless "students"' lives for the better, and thoroughly deserve all your rewards.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, I see eikaiwa long-termers in dire straits, struggling to keep their families afloat, and having nowhere else to turn due to having little to offer other than having spent years talking to Japanese people. Yours is certainly the exception, perhaps the only exception, to the rule.

Congratulations all the same.

The Ripper

Mr Ripper, what direction does the water spin in, when you flush your toilet, assuming you have a Western Toilet? Clockwise, or anti-clockwise?

You have mentioned before the importance of studying outside eikaiwa hours, but I think the same holds true, no matter what you do in Japan.

When I escaped Interac and Nova, when that toilet cleaning position popped up out of the middle of no-where, I made the most out of the opportunity presented to me.

There are two styles of toilets commonly found in Japan. The oldest type is a simple squat toilet, which is still common in public conveniences. After World War II, modern Western-type flush toilets and urinals became common. The current state of the art for Western-style toilets is the bidet toilet, which, as of 2004, are installed in more than half of Japanese households. In Japan, these bidets are commonly called Washlets (ウォシュレット), a brand name of Toto Ltd., and include many advanced features rarely seen outside of Asia. Depending on the exact model, these bidets are designed to open the lid when they sense a user nearby, wash the anus or vulva of the user, dry afterwards with warm air, flush automatically and close the lid after use.

During the Jōmon period, settlements were built in a horseshoe shape, with a central plaza in the middle and garbage heaps around the settlement. In these garbage heaps, calcified faecal remains of humans or dogs, so called coprolites, were found, indicating that these garbage dumps were also used as toilets.

The earliest sewer systems are from the Yayoi period (300 BC to A.D. 250). These systems were used in larger settlements, probably in combination with toilets.

A possible ritual site, that may also have been a toilet using flowing water, dating back to the early 3rd century was found in Sakurai, Nara. Another cesspit analysed by archaeologists in detail was found at the site of the Fujiwara Palace in Kashihara, Nara, the first location of the imperial city from 694 to 710. This toilet was constructed over an open pit similar to an outhouse.

During the Nara period (710 to 784), a drainage system was created in the capital in Nara, consisting of 10–15 cm wide streams where the user could squat over with one foot on each side of the stream. Wooden sticks called chu-gi were used as a sort of toilet paper. In earlier days seaweed (now used for food) was used for cleaning, but by the Edo period, these had been replaced by toilet paper made of washi (traditional Japanese paper). In the mountainous regions, wooden scrapers and large leaves were used too.

Often, toilets were constructed over a running stream; one of the first known flushing toilets was found at Akita castle, dating back to the 8th century, with the toilet constructed over a diverted stream.

However, historically, pit toilets were more common, as they were easier to build and allowed the reuse of the faeces as fertilizer - very important in a country where Buddhism and its associated vegetarianism acted to reduce dependence on livestock for food, though seafood has always been an important part of the Japanese diet. In fact, the waste products of rich people were sold at higher prices because their diet was better.

Various historic documents dating from the 9th century describe laws regarding the construction of fresh and waste water channels, and detail the disposal procedures for toilet waste.

Prisoners shall be directed to clean up sewage at the Palace and government offices as well as toilets of the east and west on the morning after a rainy night (Collected Interpretations of the Administrative Laws Ryo-no-shuge)

Selling human waste products as fertilizers became much less common after World War II, both for sanitary reasons and because of the proliferation of chemical fertilizers, and less than 1% is now used for night soil fertilization. Because of this history, Japan had a much higher historical standard of hygiene than, for example, Europe, and the orderly disposal of human waste was common, while in Europe, sewage was simply dumped on the streets throughout much of the continent's early modern history. In fact, the first westerner to visit Edo was supposedly shocked since he had never seen such a clean city.

There is a Meiji Era squat toilet of a wealthy Japanese near Nakatsugawa.

In Okinawa, the toilet was often attached to the pig pen, and the pigs were fed with the human waste product. This practice was banned as unhygienic after World War II by the American authorities. Is this how swine flu started?

During the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568 to 1600), the "Taiko Sewerage" was built around Osaka Castle, and it still exists and functions today. The use of modern sewage systems began in 1884, with the installation of the first brick and ceramic sewer in Kanda, Tokyo. More plumbing and sewage systems were installed after the Great Kantō earthquake to avoid diseases after future earthquakes. However, the construction of sewers increased only after World War II to cope with the waste products of the growing population centres. By the year 2000, 60% of the population was connected to a sewer system.

The national Sewage Day is September 10. Toilet cleaners and sewage workers are honoured on this day.

Western-style toilets and urinals started to appear in Japan at the beginning of the 20th century, but only after World War II did their use become more widespread, due to the influence of the American occupation. In 1977, the sale of Western-style toilets exceeded the sale of traditional squat toilets in Japan. Based on toilets with a built-in bidet from Switzerland and the U.S., the world's largest sanitary equipment company, TOTO, introduced the Washlet in 1980.Japanese companies currently produce some of the most advanced, high-tech toilets in the world.

At the end of the day, I agree with previous posters. One must make the most out of any situation that they find themselves in. I found the study of toilets in Japan to be a most rewarding and fulfilling one, and a reflection in many ways of who the Japanese really are, and view themselves.

THORN

However, there is a big difference between criticising the industry as a whole and blanket labeling everyone who makes a living teaching English conversation as a loser

Personally I think that, in evaluating any job, you need to look at two things. One is, what worthwhile skills and abilities do you develop on the job, over the course of several years? The second is, what effect does your work have on the wider world?

I think in the case of eikaiwa, the answer to both questions is - very little. Hence my labelling of anyone working in eikaiwa beyond a few years as a loser. Especially the ones who refuse to recognize this fact, and the ones who could do something more, but can't be arsed.

As Thorn said, cleaning toilets has more of a beneficial impact. Sorry if you find that hard to come to terms with.

The Ripper

Hard hitting words Mr. Ripper. Very blunt, and to the point.

But nonetheless, correct.

You don’t have to be a good at rocket surgery, to figure out E + G = L, beyond X amount of time.

Really, the famous Theory of Eikaiwa should be updated to:

(E +G) X (> than or = max 1Yr) = L

Frankly, I think 1 year is over-doing it, but hey, trying to extend that honeymoon period is a pretty common infliction.

THORN

Coming half way around the world, and spending all day on LetsJapan.org

Hi THORN! Hi Ripper.

By the way, I find your username highly offensive. My neighbour (a nurse) was a victim of the Yorkshire ripper. Moderator, can you do something about this sick bastard, please?

To become a piano teacher needs many, many years of hard, dedicated practice, training and grading, for no recompense, to reach the required standard. The skills are transferrable into other types of teaching, music therapy and so on. Not only that but someone with a decent standard of piano playing can find work as performer and accompanist for example. And it's proven that music is of great benefit both to the performer and the listener. Look at how many people come out of comas after being played their favourite music. So there are many, many benefits of piano teaching in the wider world, and many career opportunities for those wanting to extend their skills by further training and study.

To become an eikaiwa teacher, you simply need to be able to at least spit out some semblance of English. There's no training or special skills involved. Any Joe can do it. It's an unskilled job akin to bartending or waitering. And, like a bartender or waiter, there's not much else you can do with it. It MAY help your communication/conversational skills, and give you experience of dealing with people of another culture, but not much else.

If you sit down and talk with someone for an hour, they get to practice their English and get their money's worth, they genuinely interact with a foreigner, then great - that's an honest job, and if you're genuinely doing that, then that's the way it should be.

All too often though it isn't like that (eg Nova, Geos etc). And like I said, if that's all you're doing with your time (not you personally but in general), then you're putting yourself, your career and your life in a very very precarious position.

Just as in the world of Eikaiwa. There are good piano teachers and bad piano teachers. The bad ones, and I know of plenty, are really not doing much to benefit their own lives or their students, whereas the good one's are. Actually to meet the bar as a basic registered piano teacher does not take that much more than it takes to move up the educational ladder to the point that you have an MA in applied linguistics; which, incidentally, I have. However, there are in fact many people in the piano teaching business, particularly in Asia, who are unqualified, just as there are many eikaiwa teachers in Japan who are unqualified.

You have made a good show of demonstrating the transferablility of skills and the benefit to the wider world as far as piano teachers is concerned. Similar arguments could be made for people who teach Eikaiwa who are actually good at what they do. Arguments which you decline to recognise with the credo 'All eikaiwa teachers are losers'.

Spot on anonymous, Thron, Ripper and the many names that he uses just keeps rehashing the information that he has written over and over and over again.

Well if you want to know a bit more, I actually have TEFL certificate and am looking towards doing a Diploma, in an attempt to purportedly develop more teaching skills. What I'm criticizing and referring to as "losers" is the bog-standard English-teaching/Eikaiwa world - the schools (hordes of them) that require few if any skills or qualifications in teaching or language, offer little to no development, and are there to simply fleece people of their money whilst dishing up pig-swill that will pass off as English "teaching" to unsuspecting customers.

Not only that, but the people who end up self-deluded, thinking that they're a teacher, and living in their own little world of unreality. Or the ones who could do something more, but can't be bothered and are happy to drift along at Nova, or wherever, for years, get paid their 250-300k a month, go nowhere with their career, and prop up a bunch of crooks in the process.

If, as you say, you have an MA, then that, to my mind, is the way to go, and I'm sorry if my comments came across as criticizing you personally. That's what I mean by developing your skills, and my comments were aimed at the people who I've just described.

I see no such inference. In fact, I specifically stated that the positions I was offerred were insecure. You are not even attempting to argue rationally about this.

Mr Ripper. You are a reasonabe man.

A piano?

THORN

Is this a piano which I see before me Mr. Ripper,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but
A piano of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable
As this which now I draw.

THORN

Piano jokes - love 'em!

What's worse than a dead dog on your piano?

A diseased pussy on your organ!!!!

The Organ Ripper

Your remarks on private lessons indicate an individualised version of the problem that larger eikaiwa institutions face. That is to say, because they have no idea of balance between educational and financial goals, they will simply say yes to all comers, even if that is damaging to real educational goals and collect the money for as long as it is forthcoming.

Therefore, if the private customers that you get all seem to want to just chat, then you should accept that because if you give it to them, then you will keep getting the money for as long as they keep paying - but at the expense of being dissatisfied that you are doing anything worthwhile.

If you are interested in doing something that is meaningful to you AND receiving a reward for it, however, you have to establish your own agenda and be willing to sacrifice easy income in pursuing that goal.

I thought Mr. Ripper was commenting on Private Parts, not Private Lessons.

However, I argue that Eikaiwa, or even doing private lessons, or a combination of both, ultimately is not an easy job, on a few counts:

(a) When one considers the bigger picture expense of doing something essentially meaningless
(b) There is ultimately often some guilt / psychological impact associated with being paid to do nothing – man, how long can I keep doing this bullshit, and taking the money? This is so ridiculous. What am I doing?
(c) Particularly in Eikaiwa, doing the same thing, over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again, ends up being quite a test of endurance. It ends up feeling like Chinese Water Torture.

In the bigger picture, already addressed, it is not “easy money” – it actually makes no financial sense at all.

THORN

Piano teachers generally love music, create music, and simply teach piano to generate income, while they pursue and cultivate their creative and artistic musical desires and aspirations elsewhere. There are very few full-time piano teachers.

Do you teach English, to finance your love of and artistic pursuit of English conversation?

Do you do your booth time, and then spend the rest of your time seeking inspiration to dream up new ways to deliver the Pizza Lesson?

If you love teaching, then become a real teacher. If not, then you are just living in fantasy world, puckering up to the Japanese for your tuppence.

Teaching conversation – it involves no expertise, and can’t be classified as “teaching”.

You can’t easily wing a piano lesson – you need real expertise.

However, you are welcome to give it your best – perhaps diversify, and get into the piano teaching side of it, and wing away, to supplement your conversation income.

You are also welcome to give English conversation teaching your best shot, not that anyone will really care or know – that is just a matter of being decent I guess.

THORN

Well said, and well done Mr. Ripper – qualifications are ESSENTIAL is your really want to be a teacher, as opposed to a conversation mannequin – especially if you ever elect to go back home, and want to teach English as a foreign language.

Otherwise, it is like teaching the piano, without being able to read music (not that the Japanese client would notice or care, since their motivations for “studying” are, let us simply say, “unique”).

The certificate – congratulations, and the Diploma – bravo.

Try to get to Master’s level as a minimum (and make sure the Master’s is from a good institution).

But remember, as you know – most “clients” in Japan don’t really care for a proper lesson – they just want a play thing (ok, not always, but more often than not).

Your qualifications are pretty much wasted in the Eikaiwa environment (they are not necessary), but if you have plans for when you go home, they are very important.

Be careful to consider:

(a) Are you studying because the subject matter is a passion?

OR

(b) Are you are studying to somehow dignify / give credibility to what you know in your heart is a circus of an experience?

If (b), well, may be it is not for you, and the qualifications just form a bandaid on an underlying guilty conscience.

If you truly love teaching language like a piano teacher loves music, well, different story, and that being the case, get stuck into that Diploma with God’s speed. Even borrow money, to do it, but suggest you seek a better environment than Japan (in particularly Eikaiwa), to ultimately practice your art in.

THORN

I wouldn't deny that a number of eikaiwa students enter with strange motivations. However, many don't. The warp factor occurs afterwards, as people's beliefs, attitudes and expectations are shaped by the environment that they have entered.

Mr Vagina, agree with you on the point that being paid to do nothing is a rather guilt-laden pursuit. When I did private conversation classes, I found it hard to justify the amount of money I was being paid, especially when the main motivations of students were to either just talk English, or have some sort of entertaining hobby.

As for it making financial sense, maybe only in the short term. If you're over in Japan doing the working holiday, Oriental "experience", you can save a bit of money for your travels. Other than that though, I wouldn't recommend it as a long-term career. More a sideline, supplement to your main income.

Mr Ripper

I agree that it is difficult to develop skills in the Japanese environment, because there are so many questionable working environments. You'ld be very lucky to find a real mentor. I never did. And for that mentorship to work, you'ld need to be working in the same situation.

However, you can attend seminars, conferences and training events. You can join websites, you can subscribe to journals and read books. These will help. But at the end of the day you have to develop your own approach and discover for yourself what works for you and your students, and what doesn't in your particular situation/s.