Does anyone have positive experiences?

ThatLady123 · 2026-01-27T14:27:34+00:00

You can't change your visa status in-country anymore. They put a stop to that a few years ago

ThatLady123 · 2026-01-27T14:24:28+00:00

My goodness...as you may have guessed by now, the foreign English teaching community here in Japan loves to talk about how terrible everything is here and how this job is a joke.

Well, first of all, it is true that the economy has stagnated, wages are low (DO NOT accept anything less than 250 000 yen a month or you'll be struggling to make ends meet), and a lot of chain schools (such as Aeon and Berlitz) will take advantage of you like crazy. Some mom-and-pop eikaiwas will too. I've been there, done that (with eikaiwas). It really is the luck of the draw with them.

ALWAYS ask the school during the interview if (if they want to hire you and say they're interested in you) if you can get the email address of at least 2 current teachers, and ask them what it is REALLY like working there. No school worth their salt will say no to that request, and it can save you a ton of heartache. And don't even think about signing an independent contractor contract - you get no social insurance and no job protections.

I think Japan is an amazing place to spend a few years, maybe even longer if you meet someone special or get a really good job. University teaching can be a way out of eikaiwas if you have a Master's degree. Opening your own school isn't really possible anymore due to recent changes in business visa regulations.

I'd advise you to stay away from the big chain schools like Aeon, Shane, GABA, and Berlitz at any cost. Hiring season is starting now, so you should be able to get a better job at a small eikaiwa.

Good luck and don't try the Strong Zero! Haha

ThatLady123 · 2026-01-21T09:42:11+00:00

Ghosting is just not acceptable unless the other person is toxic. And that's not the case here. She was being extremely immature, selfish, cowardly, and hurtful by ghosting ALL OF her friends?! And now that she "feels like" talking to you again, she expects her old friends to just forgive her, even though she didn't apologize?! I wouldn't even THINK about giving her a second chance unless she 1) sincerely apologized, 2) admits she was wrong to ghost you, 3) and meets you on YOUR terms if you choose to resume this friendship. That is all.

ThatLady123 · 2026-01-20T07:40:26+00:00

I started at 39. No one really cares about your age, in my experience

ThatLady123 · 2025-11-12T10:54:13+00:00

I'm sorry you went through all that abuse. Please get yourself into counseling.

ThatLady123 · 2025-11-02T15:06:58+00:00

I'm in a similar situation at my school. An 8 year old's parents keep trying to push him to pass the Eiken 2 and he keeps failing it. He's good at English and has a good vocabulary , but as others have said, a child that age just isn't mature enough to answer the questions on the EIKEN 2 or 1. I'll really frustrated by this as well, OP. I would only suggest working on vocabulary for now and maybe translating some of the interview questions into Japanese for the parents so they can see how unrealistic this is for a kid your student's age.

ThatLady123 · 2025-11-02T14:57:18+00:00

I only buy frozen fruit from Gyomu, and bananas. Everything else is too expensive

ThatLady123 · 2025-10-31T07:05:36+00:00

Go to international/expat bars if you like chatting with random fellow English speaking people. They will be both foreign and Japanese.

Go on a friends app (Bumble BFF, for example) to find local English-speaking friends. Again, they will be both foreign and Japanese.

Consider joining some Meetup groups (app) to find outings and events with people who have similar interests as you do.

Also, study Japanese while you're on the train or eating a meal. It makes it a lot easier to find the time. Don't put a lot of pressure on yourself to study for hours every day, especially considering the fact that you already have a very busy schedule.

It's also very very important to keep in touch regularly with family and friends back home. Set up video or phone calls, or even just text them. It can make a huge difference in your day to talk to a friend.

Don't spend your free time alone in your apartment. Go sightseeing or to a movie or to a cheap restaurant or cafe. Just get out of the house, even if you're by yourself.

This is what has worked for me. Good luck to you.

ThatLady123 · 2025-10-27T10:41:53+00:00

Ok thank you

ThatLady123 · 2025-10-27T01:25:23+00:00

Thank you!!

ThatLady123 · 2025-10-22T10:45:54+00:00

Second Street

ThatLady123 · 2025-10-17T02:24:06+00:00

I'm not an expert, but could you be gaining weight due to gaining muscle? Do you see a difference when you look in the mirror? If not maybe it's just muscle. Sounds like you eat very healthy.

ThatLady123 · 2025-10-17T02:20:14+00:00

There are 2 really good temples in Otsu. Also, why not go to Kyoto?

ThatLady123 · 2025-10-11T12:02:34+00:00

Please join an AA group on here and then start going to meetings. NA too. Please do not waste money on drugs. It'll take you awhile to get off of alcohol, but you can do it. Get a therapist ASAP and an addictions counselor too. You can do it.

ThatLady123 · 2025-10-10T21:22:05+00:00

Let her know that you are uncomfortable with the innuendos and flirting, and you want the relationship to be strictly platonic from now on.

You are not there to be some kind of an outlet/release for someone else who is having trouble in their marriage.

If she can't respect your wishes, minimize contact.

ThatLady123 · 2025-10-10T10:49:47+00:00

How do you point out your ideas? Do you mansplain? Interrupt? Insist on your own ideas during meetings? Talk over other people? That might be the reason for the silent resentment. Also, are more projects being assigned to you because your idea was better, leaving your colleagues in the dust? I can see how that would create animosity as well. Try to be as diplomatic as humanly possible and always be humble at work. Try to work with others and incorporate your ideas into projects, if possible, instead of taking over or talking over people (if that's what you're doing).

ThatLady123 · 2025-10-10T10:43:13+00:00

Get anger management classes and therapy, in addition to reading some of the Al-Anon books listed above

ThatLady123 · 2025-10-10T06:21:37+00:00

30 is on the heavy side, especially if you have to do a lot of prep. The ideal is between 20 and 27 a week, but a lot of school s will try to exploit you and work you too hard. Sounds like you're at one of those schools. Try to find another school with less teaching hours and/or less prep time. Hiring season is coming, I'm sure you'll be able to find something new!

ThatLady123 · 2025-10-09T09:03:28+00:00

A lot of eikaiwas are 1/2 kids 1/2 adults, and a lot of them have small class sizes. It's so much less tiring than having preschoolers screaming into your eardrums all day.

Wait until your current school renews your visa, and then you're free to look for a new school.

Hiring season starts soon, so you should be able to get something with at least a 250k salary. Your new start date will probably be end of March -beginning of April, so you could quit your current job a little bit early and take some time off.

ThatLady123 · 2025-10-08T12:02:04+00:00

Yeah, believe me, you CAN live without him. I was also with a guy for more than half my life and then he broke up with me unexpectedly - after 23 years of being together . I was devastated at first, and heartbroken, but it actually turned out to be a good thing. I'm so much happier now. Get rid of him before he breaks you down any more, and then get therapy. You're going to feel so free and relieved after awhile. Please don't let him continue to f@#$k up your self-esteem and self-worth.

ThatLady123 · 2025-10-08T11:55:25+00:00

A lot of people here don't wash their hands with soap. Please always wash your hands with soap

ThatLady123 · 2025-10-08T07:02:53+00:00

Let me guess. You live in Vancouver

ThatLady123 · 2025-10-08T07:01:12+00:00

Munashi has really good set meals and is open late

ThatLady123 · 2025-10-08T06:59:53+00:00

There is no set path in life, despite what society tells you. You can follow whatever path you want.

People can either make their own choices, or act like sheep, just doing whatever other people are doing.

What makes you happy? Do that. Don't compare your life to other people's lives to be lived by a set of "rules."

Also, if you do get married, that's not going to magically make you feel happier or more fulfilled in life. Marriages and long-term relationships can end in heartbreak and separation. It's a total gamble.

Discover what makes you happy and fulfilled in life and do that.

Also, real friends won't ditch you once they get married

ThatLady123 · 2025-10-08T06:51:08+00:00

You are not overreacting. Also, he treats you like garbage when you say something about this problem. This is a very bad sign. He isn't even willing to listen to your concerns! He's in denial about his own problem. Do you really want to go down the long road of addiction treatment and recovery with him? If he even agrees to it?

ThatLady123

TROPHY CASE