ALT Companies
Posted by: yearofthedog on: April 15, 2008
If you are looking for a job in Japan you might want to teach at a public school in Japan as an ALT. ALT has different meanings depending on who you ask. It may mean human tape recorder if you go to a junior high school. It may mean teacher/clown at an elementary school. The job is definitely more challanging if you work at an Elmentary school according to my friend who taught in the Elementary schools. I however worked in Junior High schools and it was an absolute cakewalk. I could have done the job in my sleep. Most of the time I was in the teachers lounge because there where no classes for me to participate in for whatever reasons the Japanese English teachers had. In truth I think they used my services sparingly, because they were set in their ways and don’t like doing team teaching, because it messes with their normal flow of things.
So here is what I know, about the ALT companies in my area (Fukuoka). The companies I know of are called Interac, KBS, and OWLS. They all pay about the same and they all are very stingy with money. Don’t expect to get more than 250,000 yen with transportation and everything included. Here is why; they get paid directly from the board of education. They get something around 327,000 yen plus full transportation costs. So out of the money they get from the BOE they pay you. Leaving them with whatever is left over. It’s bring big chunck they take. So if you were able to get a job directly from the BOE, you would make a lot more, but it’s not exactly easy and in Japan they love the middle-man.
Interac has more schools than OWLS or KBS and are more corporate feeling on the whole. OWLS has schools in the Kyushu are concentrated around the Kitakyushu area mostly. KBS is the smallest of them all and so far I hear good things from the people that work for them, however the pay is a little less in comparison.
If I was looking for a job as an ALT I would probably go with Interac, but only because I’ve worked for OWLS and I know how shadey things are there. They try to keep their employees in the dark in order to make more money off of them. They don’t give bonuses, but I don’t know if KBS or Interac do either. OWLS on the whole does not trust foreigners. So I would stay clear of them if it is your first time to Japan, because honestly people really depend on their companies for a lot when they come to Japan for the first time. Luckily for me it was not my first time to Japan.
I will tell you this. There is a shortage of native English speakers in Fukuoka so it is quite easy to get a job as an ALT. Even non-native English speakers get the job. I’ve met Georgians, Saudi Arabians, Indians, and Africans who teach as ALTs. Their English isn’t always 100% grammatically acurate, but it is very good on the whole.
I would like to hear from the ALTs out there. What is your opinion of the companies you work for? What’s been your experience?
11 Responses to "ALT Companies"
August 5, 2008 at 3:01 am
as of August 2008, OWLS is as cheap and shitty as ever. If you need a job, then go ahead but if only if you really need it. I myself have had enough of their mickey mouse management. If I am still with this company next year then something has gone wildly wrong with my plans.
September 14, 2008 at 2:55 pm
My friend works as an ALT and has for two of the companies as an ALT. But one word of warning. One of the companies always advertises for new teachers and they have you come to the office the day before to sign the contract and its LESS than what they advertised. We found out that they do this with almost every teacher they hire. Then they say, Oh you dont want the job No? Well the person is pretty much screwed for the year. Unbelivable business practices for sure. Working for NOVA was more straight forward than that place.
But as young good looking man lucky for me they run a host business. Maybe I went for the wrong section of the company.
Of the three mentioned, I would put my money on Interac being the most reputable. In order of ranking and I really do know all three. First, Interac Second Owls Third KBS.
But if you are not a native speaker of English, KBS might be the ticket. Ive met a lot of their people and have yet to run into an American or Canadian yet.
September 15, 2008 at 8:08 am
Working for OWLS is a very interesting experience. I have to agree that the management is a little messed up. They run the company like a bunch of Japanese, maybe because they are. In Japan, they expect that you will do things their way, without question of what is the best or right. Just forget about it, Japanese firms might be the best of the best for implementing Quality Improvement in manufacturing, but not in the day to day running of a firm. OWLs is no different. They will screw you with your pay, and they do threaten to dock your pay for nothing, but maybe that is the same as any other firm here in Japan. I will finish my contract, unlike some others whom have run for the hills, but will not take another one. Their management does have management and trust issues. Even the internal management of the company does not trust each others. Bad sign for long term growth. Maybe a Nova on the small side.
I have an American friend who works for KBS, and have heard good things about them. The pay is about the same for OWLs and KBS. Either way, an ALT position will get you low-balled for pay, no matter where you are. Being a native English speaker w/ BA used to be a requirement to being an ALT, but not so much with OWLs.
If you are looking to come to Japan as an ALT, try to get in the JET program. You will have a great time, great apartment and great salary.
September 16, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I actually did work for Owls. I found them to be very pleasant people but their middle level staff turns over alot. Its really funny though. Hostess companies getting into the business. These companies are unbelivalbly beauracratic and micromanage even the smallest detail. I spend a lot of time apoligizing about the the extra attention and paperwork the CLIENT has to do, let alone the teacher. The town education people get annoyed sometimes with them. I think people who have some experience at the chalkface should still give direct applications a try because the middleman school is taking a full third of what they receive. Ironic. A 35 year old teacher with 8 years experience earns 220,000 and a 23 year old Jet right out of college in his first job is making 300,000.
December 26, 2008 at 7:55 am
I work for Interac and I’m looking for a job in Fukuoka. I’m not sure about The other two companies, but Interac is pretty par for the course. Personally I’ve not had a lot of trouble with them, but don’t expect them to be any different. I have very little contact with them and I’m fairly independent, but no matter how you look at it they are driven by buisness and money, not at all by education. My co-workers who have more interaction with them have much more complaints. As long as you do your job your school will be happy and the company won’t care one way or another. They’ll try to trick you out of money occasionally, but you just have to make sure you know your contract, and make sure you explain the specifications of what you are expcted and not expected to do to the school you are situated at.
February 13, 2009 at 2:18 pm
I got a job with OWLS, six weeks later I hadn’t heard from them, I emailed and asked where the contract was. It arrived 2 days later – no cover letter, nothing. I’ve sent them 2 emails since then and it’s been a week and no reply. Talk about crappy management. I’m not signing the contract. At the interview I could tell they were rubbish. The Japanese interviewer was so cold and business-like. No thanks.
Interac is owned by mormons so that sums them up pretty much. They ask you to do a videotaped demonstration which they can then use for training purposes. You can’t ever get it back. They are shit.
I went for an interview with KBS and they were the nicest of all. Unfortunately they are small and can’t compete with these other two jokers.
May 2, 2009 at 10:32 am
KBS is small because they hire a whole mess of ladies with zero business experience to deal with the BOEs in Kitakyushu and Iizuka. They have neither the business skills or a background in English language teaching to perform their tasks. They are called advisors or coordinators over ALTs who themselves are brand new and they are lost. I believe the president who is a woman is strongly opposed to hiring men for management. She has about 12 ladies babysitting foreigners and no males whatsoever. They are a laugh and most of my friends in Kitakyushu would be outta there if there were better jobs in Kokura.
May 13, 2009 at 9:13 am
Interesting comment Bill. KBS & OWLS coordinators are the same then. The female I had to deal with was a trained monkey. If OWLS said the sky was green today she would pass the message on without hesitation or logical thought.
The amount of micromangement is insane, hilarious in a way. The best ever was when i was told to make sure the Principals stamp my monthly work report at the same ink thickness. Some were slighty darker then others!
The best advice i would give an ALT is that these companies are insane FULL STOP. move on and get a new job.
July 14, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I’m moving to Japan next month and I don’t have a job yet. I’m considering taking a job with OWLS because it seems fairly easy to get in. If the job is horrible, how easy is it to find a new one? Can you still use your visa?
Also, do they provide accommodations? What are the typical work hours?
Can you find a job in Fukuoka apart from Interac, OWLS and KBS?
July 16, 2009 at 8:02 am
Don’t go work for OWLS. Apply for the JET program, if they still do that. You’ll get paid at least 100,000 yen more per month than working for any of the private ALT companies. Your visa is still good to switch to another company, but you can’t just change your field all willy-nilly. You can’t have a specialist in humanities visa and then go work as an artist or general laborer. JETRO frowns upon that. You can change to another school without any problems. It’s easiest to find a job in Japan about 1-2 months before school starts back up. However it’s slim pickin’s afterwards. You might find a another ALT job if somebody quits and they need someone to fill the spot. It happens, but I wouldn’t count on it. If not you’d have to work at an eikaiwa juku, like G-Nova or AEON or a smaller no-name company. If you are fluent in Japanese there might be more opportunities for you, but you’re better off in a more international city like Tokyo or Osaka. Have fun.
April 15, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Thanks for sharing the info. What more specifically do you find the role that is described for you to play vs. what it actually works out to be?