1) Hello! My name is Alex. Glad to share my experiences so I’ll just dive right in from the start. I started learning Japanese in my senior year of high school through an independent study program utilizing Rosetta Stone software and a couple of weekly phone calls to the Japanese embassy. Since then I took Japanese on as my major at UVM with a minor in History. I studied Japanese all three years I was at UVM as well as the during the year I spent abroad at Aoyama Gakuin University. Which, by the way, was a truly irreplaceable experience. If you get a chance to study abroad, no matter where it may be, I highly recommend you take it! Not only will you get a full immersive language learning experience, but you’ll also make lifelong friends and memories. Anyway, I graduated in the year of 2016.
2) I currently work with Peppy Kids Club in Kagoshima (Southern part of Kyushu). I actually found the job through hearsay. I honestly can’t remember where I first heard about the company. Regardless I applied online with a slew of other applications and ended up choosing Peppy.
3) Honestly the interview process was very relaxed, save a few visa application time constraints overlapping a family vacation. To start off, I applied online, gave all my info, the usual when applying anywhere I would think. A couple of days later I got a call from one of the recruiters who said that the company would be interested in setting up an interview in person after a brief phone interview. I didn’t get asked anything that would surprise anyone. “Do you like working with children? What experience do you have teaching, if any? What would you do in x situation? (kid gets hurt, you miss your train etc)” All in all pretty standard stuff. The face to face interview was much the same but with one difference. The interviewee had to give a 5-minute demo lesson. At this point I wasn’t at all familiar with their expectations, personalized curriculum, or anything of the sort so I was a bit nervous. Later on, I found out this is more about gauging the person’s charisma, tone, and all that. Also, they do ask if you have any preference for living situations they will try to accommodate that to the best of their ability. To this I replied that “I would prefer a city, but I’m pretty adaptable and would be honestly fine with anything.” Leading to the next point…
4) I was placed in Kagoshima city in the Kagoshima prefecture of Kyushu. As far as cities go, it’s not Tokyo or Osaka but I thoroughly enjoy the time I’m spending here so far. That being said you do have to pay for the initial flight into Nagoya, but after that the company pays or reimburses and moving fees or tickets and the like. Which actually brings up another key point, there is a two-week training period before you start and get moved to your permanent location. All that being said, I found the moving/placement process to be smooth and painless.
5) Peppy, even though we teach in Japan, we actually answer to American/Canadian bosses. Our work environment is very fun and mostly casual. However, when the Native English Speaking teachers go to a large company staff meeting we have to wear our Sunday best and act in a much more becoming manner. The work week’s vary depending on which schools you are assigned to. For example, I have 3 schools in which I work 6 days a week. So after that 3rd week, I have the rest of the month off save for a couple of office days. The hours are fantastic in my opinion. Some days I only teach for about two and a half hours! As far as attire goes, a sensible casual is usually fine. By that I mean, jeans and an inoffensive t-shirt or sweater, etc.
6) When working at Peppy, most of your time is spent working in classrooms with no other teacher’s or staff. Thusly, I can’t say I interact with too many Japanese colleagues outside of a few choice instances. From what I’ve experienced though, the company doesn’t have the typical after-work obligations, keigo, or any such thing like that.
7) As far as any tips go, I can’t say I have too many. The main thing I think would be to keep in open mind and stay flexible.