It's nice to hear the update. I've enjoyed your hustling videos. I did four years in Korea, several in China, and about 9 months in Taiwan. I'm back in The U.S., looking for my next gig. Some days I think about going back to Korea to teach and do some side gigs, too, but I have push-pull feelings for the place. I find Koreans pretty extreme. I've met really nice people there, but I've met my share of really mean foreigner-hating people. I applied or almost applied to an adult school in Japan called _Aeon_. I had to write an essay on why I wanted to live in Japan. Aside from just sending in my C.V., they wanted all applicants to go into Chicago for phase 1 of an interview. (This was circa 2019. I can't remember if it was for Aeon or for the Jet Program.) The company sounds too obnoxious anyway. On their website, they had all of these dress code rules. The bottom of your shoes couldn't have a sporty type of traction; you couldn't change at work, and you had to wear your full suit when entering the building. I'm trying to think of other weird things with that company. You had to call students up to ask why they were sick. You had to stand in the hallway between classes and bow to the students coming in. I think that they wanted you to upsell books and crap to the students, as well. I'm not enamored with Japanese culture, anyway. Perhaps I'll check out Vietnam.
Sorry for the late reply. I haven't been very active on the channel. Yes, you must be talking about Aeon. I interviewed with them early in my Japan career. Horrible experience. They just want a new, fresh face that will follow orders. They had zero interest in my Master of Ed. degree, nor any of my previous experience. Not one question. They cared more about whether or not I memorized their dress code rules on the website.
There's no need to apologize. Last November, I applied and got accepted for a spring starting date with GEPIK, but then they told me the pay. It was something pathetic, like 2.0. Also, they refused to accept my experience in Korea for three reasons. My work experience letters didn't meet the following requirements. 1. I put the months and years that I worked in Korea, but I didn't include the exact day. (I asked if they could just go by the exact date of my work visa in my passport, and they said, "No.") 2. I didn't include the ages of the students. (It doesn't make sense. What did they think? That my kindy kids were 21 or something?) 3. I didn't list the subject that I taught. They also rejected my two recommendation letters from Taiwan. 1. My former co-teachers signed their names on the bottom of the letters, but they didn't type out their full names. When I mentioned to GEPIK / Korvia that their names were typed at the top of the page in the introduction part, they said that it had to be at the bottom, too. I told Korvia, that it's the end of the semester in Taiwan, and my former co-teachers were really busy. I said, "Do you expect to have them rewrite everything, print it out, sign it, and mail it to Korea?" (Korvia / GEPIK wouldn't accept a screen shot or a scan.) The person at Korvia said something along the lines of, "What? Your last school can't help you out?" They made it sound like it wasn't an inconvenience. @@stephenworldwide Anyway, I moved back to China, and now I make $2,000 USD more a month than what I would have made in Korea.
Hey bro, thanks about mentioning the 1 year contract thing. I personally have 3 jobs. I teach First Aid at Red Cross (20hours a week), Mac Pac (very popular hiking/clothing store)(12 hours a week), and at Timezone (Massive gaming arcade with tenpin bowling, mini golf, and laser strike) (10 hours a week). What's cool is that I have really cool employers. They all work together to make the schedule work. However I'm looking at doing the CELTA certificate. Pick up a 4th job teaching English. Because local job postings in my area require it. Hope this helps.
@@stephenworldwide yea bro hard. I would avoid it for I could. But In New Zealand. Every job posting requires it. There’s 2 massive employers English Language Partners and Wigram Hotel. They won’t give you interview without it. It Costs $3600 nzd or $2000USD. The course runs for 4 weeks full time or online part time over 11 week period
@@stephenworldwide Yea I’m doing through ARA polytechnic here in Christchurch part time while working my 3 jobs. Also, the hourly pay is $47 an hour. In New Zealand our min wage is $21.20 to put some perspective. The only issue living in New Zealand is finding full time work (especially in fun jobs that I have). Unless you want to work in a call centre or grocery store or be a truck driver. Most employers only offer 16 hours a week then on call for extra shifts. Hope this helps
Good to hear from you (being someone who came to teach in Japan from a different country, it's interesting to hear others' experiences). I've had people ask me whether or not I prefer teaching in Japan to Vietnam, and while it's tough to answer, I tend to lean towards Vietnam (even though Japan has some clear positives). I have a pretty good gig at a private high school here, and the salary is well above average, but when you factor in how many hours I put at work and reduce it to a per/hour salary, it's kinda meh (especially with the yen value.) Japan does have many positives, but the rigidness of the culture is not one of them IMO (there is often that slight stress of having to 'towing the line').
I know how it feels. Towing the line....it doesn't matter how friendly you are or if the students like you. It only matters if they're making money or getting their expected results out of you.
Hi. Greetings from Taipei, Taiwan 🇹🇼 and Merry Christmas 🎄! Hey, I couldn’t remember your other channel in which you talk about your investments. Can you kindly post a link? Thank you 🙏
'I dont know about China' - Here's the insight: Money is probably by far and away the best you can get in Asia, if not anywhere, if you choose Beijing or Shanghai. Not to boast too much but as I said in another comment, I'm earning like 50-60k USD as a bass salary / year, and you can freely top that up with private classes with people who have more money than sense and double that if you were dedicated. Housing can also be pretty cheap, but depends on the quality of life you want. Housing is as everybody probably knows, pretty insane in china. We searched long and hard for a pretty good deal at my current place, $2000 a month. Most places we checked for this size were quite a lot more, and we can start to see the cracks now with literal cracks, bad piping etc even though exterior looks posh and new. My job, for all the money, is absurdly easy. I do have to come in at 8:30, but I personally don't teach until 12 so I spend most my time playing guitar, piano, writing stuff, youtube, podcasts, learning Chinese, or whatever else. After 1.5-3 hours of teaching, I'm done for the day, and go home at 4:30. I'd probably say that's not 'normal' but also not *that* rare a situation. There's a ton of international/bilingual schools popping up at any given moment. That being said, government authoriarianism means your job can vanish with the click of a finger, especially as ESL teachers, as we have had random inspections multiple times where the staff have to rush and secretly hide and get rid of English books in the library, clear their desks of any english-written language (even things like maps, schedules have to go), Chinese flags have to be hastily put up in every room along with propaganda slogans in the halls etc. They're essentially cracking down HARD on foreign influence. Many estimate there will simply be zero foreigners teaching in China in the next 5 years, as it slowly becomes practically illegal. Huge franchises have been shut down including DISNEY education, leaving countless thousands out of a job with barely 24 hours notice. There has and continues to be a mass exodus of foreigners, and I have visibly noticed the reduction in foreign faces in the streets. My commute daily I would, pre-pandemic, see multiple foreign faces. Now I'll be lucky if I see a single one. This is good in a way since there's plenty of job openings but once you arrive, get ready to have a swab test every single day for the rest of your life. No kidding. Monday-Sunday I gotta queue up 10 minutes a pop and get tested or I can't enter the premises of my school. Sometimes, the money and the job, no matter how great, just isn't worth it. Come here if you want a quick buck, but it won't last, and you're paying with your soul! haha, so dramatic.
Andy, thanks for that insight! Sounds like one can make a lot of cash and have a great apartment in China. But now it's getting very risky as jobs can disappear quickly.
In Taiwan-long story short!-I was able to get my APRC (P = Permanent, like a Green Card in the USA) after 5 years working under an ARC (Alien Resident Certificate). My employers used to have to renew my ARC every year with Immigration and get me a new work permit every year from Labor (“We wish to hire a Foreign Expert…bla bla bla…). With my APRC and my Open Work Permit (I got it immediately after I got my APRC), I’m a permanent resident who can work here wherever they’ll hire me. As a permanent resident, I’m very much like a citizen who can’t vote and can’t be the President! Is Japan similar?
Sorry for the late reply! Congrats on your residency work permit! Saves a yearly paperwork hassle. I think Japan is similar; there are so many visa options that I haven't explored. I was granted a 5-year visa so I'm good for a while, before I have to go through that process again.
It all depends on the job, and where. Generally speaking, experience doesn't get you more money in this industry. It's a business, so they hire the cheapest possible and then train them. I'd say $20/hour should be a minimum for a native English speaker in Japan/Korea/China/Taiwan.
I'm stuck there (cats/gf). Earning about... $5,100 / Month as music teacher (choir, AP, guitar). Can earn a lot more if I could be bothered to do private classes, which used to fetch me about $90/hour for a 1-on-1. Unfortunately I don't make any savings when you consider the price you pay with your soul to live in a totalitarian dystopia
Good to see you back Steven.
the people in Oosaka are much more friendly than in Tokyo!
Thanks for your insight. I agree you need to have a full-time job in Japan for insurance, retirement, etc...
It's quite expensive, and difficult for a foreigner, to have part time work and take care of all the insurance and taxes by yourself.
Good to hear great news!
Hi Brian!
Great to see an update again!
Thanks buddy.
Good insights on the culture there in Japan. Lines up with what I've been seeing and hearing from Shogo (that channel I linked you to).
Great points! I taught in Taiwan and it was incredible. I would say Taiwan is a fantastic place to teach ESL.
Love to hear that. I enjoyed my vacation in Taipei. Who knows...maybe I'll end up there.
It's nice to hear the update. I've enjoyed your hustling videos. I did four years in Korea, several in China, and about 9 months in Taiwan. I'm back in The U.S., looking for my next gig. Some days I think about going back to Korea to teach and do some side gigs, too, but I have push-pull feelings for the place. I find Koreans pretty extreme. I've met really nice people there, but I've met my share of really mean foreigner-hating people.
I applied or almost applied to an adult school in Japan called _Aeon_. I had to write an essay on why I wanted to live in Japan. Aside from just sending in my C.V., they wanted all applicants to go into Chicago for phase 1 of an interview. (This was circa 2019. I can't remember if it was for Aeon or for the Jet Program.) The company sounds too obnoxious anyway. On their website, they had all of these dress code rules. The bottom of your shoes couldn't have a sporty type of traction; you couldn't change at work, and you had to wear your full suit when entering the building.
I'm trying to think of other weird things with that company. You had to call students up to ask why they were sick. You had to stand in the hallway between classes and bow to the students coming in. I think that they wanted you to upsell books and crap to the students, as well. I'm not enamored with Japanese culture, anyway. Perhaps I'll check out Vietnam.
Sorry for the late reply. I haven't been very active on the channel. Yes, you must be talking about Aeon. I interviewed with them early in my Japan career. Horrible experience. They just want a new, fresh face that will follow orders. They had zero interest in my Master of Ed. degree, nor any of my previous experience. Not one question. They cared more about whether or not I memorized their dress code rules on the website.
There's no need to apologize. Last November, I applied and got accepted for a spring starting date with GEPIK, but then they told me the pay. It was something pathetic, like 2.0.
Also, they refused to accept my experience in Korea for three reasons. My work experience letters didn't meet the following requirements. 1. I put the months and years that I worked in Korea, but I didn't include the exact day. (I asked if they could just go by the exact date of my work visa in my passport, and they said, "No.") 2. I didn't include the ages of the students. (It doesn't make sense. What did they think? That my kindy kids were 21 or something?) 3. I didn't list the subject that I taught.
They also rejected my two recommendation letters from Taiwan. 1. My former co-teachers signed their names on the bottom of the letters, but they didn't type out their full names. When I mentioned to GEPIK / Korvia that their names were typed at the top of the page in the introduction part, they said that it had to be at the bottom, too. I told Korvia, that it's the end of the semester in Taiwan, and my former co-teachers were really busy. I said, "Do you expect to have them rewrite everything, print it out, sign it, and mail it to Korea?" (Korvia / GEPIK wouldn't accept a screen shot or a scan.) The person at Korvia said something along the lines of, "What? Your last school can't help you out?" They made it sound like it wasn't an inconvenience. @@stephenworldwide
Anyway, I moved back to China, and now I make $2,000 USD more a month than what I would have made in Korea.
Hey bro, thanks about mentioning the 1 year contract thing. I personally have 3 jobs. I teach First Aid at Red Cross (20hours a week), Mac Pac (very popular hiking/clothing store)(12 hours a week), and at Timezone (Massive gaming arcade with tenpin bowling, mini golf, and laser strike) (10 hours a week). What's cool is that I have really cool employers. They all work together to make the schedule work. However I'm looking at doing the CELTA certificate. Pick up a 4th job teaching English. Because local job postings in my area require it. Hope this helps.
Glad it was helpful. I wouldn't recommend the CELTA unless you're sure it's needed where you teach. It doesn't hold any weight in Japan or Korea.
@@stephenworldwide yea bro hard. I would avoid it for I could. But In New Zealand. Every job posting requires it. There’s 2 massive employers English Language Partners and Wigram Hotel. They won’t give you interview without it. It Costs $3600 nzd or $2000USD. The course runs for 4 weeks full time or online part time over 11 week period
@@selfhelp9175 That's about 40% higher than it was 10 years ago when I did it in Seoul. It's definitely useful to show how to be a proper teacher.
@@stephenworldwide Yea I’m doing through ARA polytechnic here in Christchurch part time while working my 3 jobs. Also, the hourly pay is $47 an hour. In New Zealand our min wage is $21.20 to put some perspective. The only issue living in New Zealand is finding full time work (especially in fun jobs that I have). Unless you want to work in a call centre or grocery store or be a truck driver. Most employers only offer 16 hours a week then on call for extra shifts. Hope this helps
Good to hear from you (being someone who came to teach in Japan from a different country, it's interesting to hear others' experiences). I've had people ask me whether or not I prefer teaching in Japan to Vietnam, and while it's tough to answer, I tend to lean towards Vietnam (even though Japan has some clear positives). I have a pretty good gig at a private high school here, and the salary is well above average, but when you factor in how many hours I put at work and reduce it to a per/hour salary, it's kinda meh (especially with the yen value.) Japan does have many positives, but the rigidness of the culture is not one of them IMO (there is often that slight stress of having to 'towing the line').
I know how it feels. Towing the line....it doesn't matter how friendly you are or if the students like you. It only matters if they're making money or getting their expected results out of you.
Hi. Greetings from Taipei, Taiwan 🇹🇼 and Merry Christmas 🎄! Hey, I couldn’t remember your other channel in which you talk about your investments. Can you kindly post a link? Thank you 🙏
th-cam.com/channels/m9qJK9kfbFkH9p30IdeHXQ.html
'I dont know about China' - Here's the insight: Money is probably by far and away the best you can get in Asia, if not anywhere, if you choose Beijing or Shanghai. Not to boast too much but as I said in another comment, I'm earning like 50-60k USD as a bass salary / year, and you can freely top that up with private classes with people who have more money than sense and double that if you were dedicated.
Housing can also be pretty cheap, but depends on the quality of life you want. Housing is as everybody probably knows, pretty insane in china. We searched long and hard for a pretty good deal at my current place, $2000 a month. Most places we checked for this size were quite a lot more, and we can start to see the cracks now with literal cracks, bad piping etc even though exterior looks posh and new.
My job, for all the money, is absurdly easy. I do have to come in at 8:30, but I personally don't teach until 12 so I spend most my time playing guitar, piano, writing stuff, youtube, podcasts, learning Chinese, or whatever else. After 1.5-3 hours of teaching, I'm done for the day, and go home at 4:30.
I'd probably say that's not 'normal' but also not *that* rare a situation. There's a ton of international/bilingual schools popping up at any given moment.
That being said, government authoriarianism means your job can vanish with the click of a finger, especially as ESL teachers, as we have had random inspections multiple times where the staff have to rush and secretly hide and get rid of English books in the library, clear their desks of any english-written language (even things like maps, schedules have to go), Chinese flags have to be hastily put up in every room along with propaganda slogans in the halls etc. They're essentially cracking down HARD on foreign influence.
Many estimate there will simply be zero foreigners teaching in China in the next 5 years, as it slowly becomes practically illegal. Huge franchises have been shut down including DISNEY education, leaving countless thousands out of a job with barely 24 hours notice.
There has and continues to be a mass exodus of foreigners, and I have visibly noticed the reduction in foreign faces in the streets. My commute daily I would, pre-pandemic, see multiple foreign faces. Now I'll be lucky if I see a single one. This is good in a way since there's plenty of job openings but once you arrive, get ready to have a swab test every single day for the rest of your life. No kidding. Monday-Sunday I gotta queue up 10 minutes a pop and get tested or I can't enter the premises of my school.
Sometimes, the money and the job, no matter how great, just isn't worth it. Come here if you want a quick buck, but it won't last, and you're paying with your soul! haha, so dramatic.
Andy, thanks for that insight! Sounds like one can make a lot of cash and have a great apartment in China. But now it's getting very risky as jobs can disappear quickly.
this was extremely insightful man! i hope things get better for you!
In Taiwan-long story short!-I was able to get my APRC (P = Permanent, like a Green Card in the USA) after 5 years working under an ARC (Alien Resident Certificate). My employers used to have to renew my ARC every year with Immigration and get me a new work permit every year from Labor (“We wish to hire a Foreign Expert…bla bla bla…). With my APRC and my Open Work Permit (I got it immediately after I got my APRC), I’m a permanent resident who can work here wherever they’ll hire me. As a permanent resident, I’m very much like a citizen who can’t vote and can’t be the President! Is Japan similar?
Sorry for the late reply! Congrats on your residency work permit! Saves a yearly paperwork hassle. I think Japan is similar; there are so many visa options that I haven't explored. I was granted a 5-year visa so I'm good for a while, before I have to go through that process again.
If you don't mind me asking how much per hour should you expect to get paid with 6+ years of teaching experience?
It all depends on the job, and where. Generally speaking, experience doesn't get you more money in this industry. It's a business, so they hire the cheapest possible and then train them. I'd say $20/hour should be a minimum for a native English speaker in Japan/Korea/China/Taiwan.
The Japanese ESL Market is just not viable long-term. Maybe university is the best, if directly employed by them.
Glad you're doing well!
Pity the fools who are still stuck in China.
Haha, I did hear that China offers a lot to ESL teachers. I can't verify that personally.
I'm stuck there (cats/gf). Earning about... $5,100 / Month as music teacher (choir, AP, guitar). Can earn a lot more if I could be bothered to do private classes, which used to fetch me about $90/hour for a 1-on-1. Unfortunately I don't make any savings when you consider the price you pay with your soul to live in a totalitarian dystopia