Customer Reviews

Ganbatte Means Go for It! Or. . . how to Become an English Teacher in Japan

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"Ganbatte Means Go For It" is the latest and most up-to-date guidebook for becoming an English teacher in Japan. Concise and user-friendly, with a focus on utilizing the Internet as an indispensable resource, "Ganbatte Means Go For It" leads prospective Japan English teachers through the step-by-step process of researching the current job market from home, setting up interviews with employers, preparing for the journey, getting hired, finding a place to live, getting a work visa, succeeding as a teacher, and even a section on using a computer in Japan. It also includes an invaluable list of survival tips, cultural do's and don'ts, and a lengthy resource appendix. Each section features links to the best and most reliable websites to supplement the information in the text and to help readers make the best use of the Internet in their job quest.

Note however that, in addition to advising readers how to use the Internet to find a job in Japan, the author also relies on the Internet to supplement the text. So be prepared to have your browser open while reading "Ganbatte Means Go For It," and be sure to visit all the suggested links to get the most out of your reading and research.

One feature I found especially helpful was the questionnaire in Chapter 2, "Do You Have What It Takes?" This section is designed to help readers take a thorough personal inventory and assess their skills, assets and personal characteristics to determine whether they're made of the 'right stuff' to embark on an adventure in Japan.

And for a personal touch at the end, author Celeste Heiter recounts several of her favorite experiences in an epilogue called "Vignettes of Japan." Not only are her ten essays entertaining, they offer an enticing glimpse into the rich cultural experience that awaits adventurous English teachers in Japan.

Although it is written in an easy-going, conversational style, every page of "Ganbatte Means Go For It" is packed with useful, first-hand information. One thing I found lacking however, is that although the content is well organized, specific topics within the text can be difficult to locate. This book would have benefitted greatly from an alphabetical index.

"Ganbatte Means Go For It" is a 'must have' for anyone who is serious about seeking employment as an English teacher in Japan. Don't leave home without it!

Have you ever thought about becoming an English teacher in Japan? Do you ever get tired of a friend who has done that and boasts persistently about it and thought, `heck, I could do that!' but find yourself balking at the last minute? Or are you all hyped up but have no idea as how to start your `Asian adventure'?

Whether or not you are thinking of going to Japan or you are already on the way there, this is the book for you.

Ganbatte is a seminal piece of work that incorporates both the author's own narrative that tells her story as well as a guide for you to tell your own.

Just as the title suggests, the Ms Heiter's own story begins with an exuberant devil-may-care decision to hope on the plane to Japan with a prince charming and the book deftly simmers to the nitty-gritty details of settling down in a new culture; culminating in the birth a baby! From staring at an old woman checking her computer accounts with an abacus to ogling naked young men on the streets during a Shinto festival, I appreciate the author giving an eyewitness account of this mysterious land that seems so paradoxical to the western mind.

There is another LonelyPlanet-like aspect to the book; the dos and don'ts of being in Japan, the land of the rising sun.

I find it amusing and impressive that there is even a one-year countdown to take-off as the author suggests which steps to accomplish every month all the way down to the final day. It is idiot-proof; (there is even a paragraph on jet lag.) Seemingly redundant advice such as `don't yawn in public', `offer your seat to the elderly in the train' may seem a bit odd and off-topic, I feel these things cannot be told often enough. And as foreigners in a foreign land, any such faux pas ought to be avoided.

As an English teacher aspirant, should you buy a one-way or a round ticket? How much would you earn as an English teacher? Is there a market for foreign teachers? How is the weather and seasonal changes like in Japan? What sort of clothes should you pack? How do you settle down economically? How to furnish one's apartment? What are sayonara sales?

After reading the book, you are excited but unsure? No problem. In the chapter titled `Do you have what it takes?', there's a 10-question quiz by which you can determine your readiness measured against your score.

Written by a Californian who is now back home but still functioning as an English teacher to Japanese businessmen, I feel this is a passionate work of a lovely memory as well a complete guide for one to enjoy and succeed in taking this momentous, life-changing step.

This book is amazing! It has everything you would ever need to know or think to ask. It has all kinds of helpful tips and even breaks down what you need to do month by month. I loved it. I hope to reach my goals in Japan thanks to this author.

I bought this book because I want to, eventually, go and teach English in Japan. I have been to Japan multiple times in the past and needed some extra information on how to find jobs and settle down in the country when I, eventually, move there. I read through this book and found that it's a great book for the novice, who knows nothing at all about Japan, but lacks the useful information for people who have been or knows about the Japanese culture.

The author addressed the culture shock part quite well, talking about how different the culture of Japan is from the United States. I especially like it when she said that you'll have to be prepared to eat whatever that is presented to you without knowing what exactly is the content inside. This is so true, because the Asian culture is just not used to telling you every small ingredient in a dish (or your medication).

However, the book seemed to have focused way too much on the culture shock issue that many important points of how to settle down and such have been missed. For example, the author did talk about finding apartments, provided a list of documents that one should bring when looking at apartments, and the questions one should ask the landlord. But she fails to mention what one should do when they like the apartment. Should they present the landlord with the key money right away? Are there anything that is done differently in the process of securing the apartment in Japan than in the US?

The author did provide a list of websites that could be very useful to the reader in finding more information about the move to Japan on the varies subjects though.

I would recommend this book to the complete novice, who knows nothing whatsoever about Japan and the Japanese culture (although it beats me why one would want to go to a country where they know absolutely nothing about). However, to those who have been exposed to the culture, I'd say, save your money and search for information on the web.

I just got this book today and I have already read through 100 pages of it. It is so helpful and so easy to read you can't help from being immersed in it. If you are someone who really wants to teach English in Japan then this is the book for you. This book spells out every step that you need to take to get there. If you follow what this book says then you will definitely get there. This book takes all of the frustration and aggravation of getting a teaching job in Japan and makes it concise and easy to understand. This book is a must have.

Also, if you are worried about the age of the book. DON'T. It is almost as if it was written yesterday. Almost every website and source mentioned in the book is still in use today and still extremely helpful. There are a couple things that are outdated in this book but in comparison with the vast amount of helpful knowledge you won't care about whether or not 1 out of 100 websites listed isn't working anymore.

For anyone who is interested in teaching in Japan, this is the book for you. While all the steps to landing a job and establishing yourself overseas can be daunting, Heiter clearly outlines everything you'll need to do both before and after departing so you'll have a successful and fulfilling time while abroad. It's true that you'll be going to the internet frequently as she mentions many websites throughout the book, but Heiter explains how to use these websites efficiently for your stay in Japan. When she isn't guiding you through the internet, Heiter gives you excellent advice on an array of topics both for preparing yourself for the cultural change you'll experience, and for grounding yourself over there successfully. To give things an extra little edge, she also includes little things about what you can expect to see in Japan after you get there, what you should shoot for (as far as housing and employment go), cultural differences between the US and Japan so you don't embarrass yourself and commit a cultural blunder, a quiz about your personality to see if you're a good candidate for teaching abroad, and a timeline dated a year out from your departure so you can see how to go about the process of packing your life up and moving across the Pacific. All these factors put together make for an excellent book to guide you both over to and through Japan. Remember, even though the process is difficult at times, if you're smart about your travels, the effort will be well rewarded!

I'm not going to add more than what previous reviewers have already said other than an update on how well the book holds up 8 years after publication.

-There's very little emphasis on the internet, obviously since it wasn't as widely available/necessary back then.

-Virtually no information on how to get/use a cell phone in Japan- again just the way society evolved.

The book is well written, well balanced, and a great overview of what is necessary for moving/working in Japan. No corny or annoying text that many other books tend to have. Very refreshing.

Ganbatte is an amazing book that went above and beyond my expectations. I thought "This book looks so thin, there's no way it can cover what I need to know" but it absolutely does!

It has a lot resources and information, including:
Tons of websites
Hotels
ESL/Teaching ideas and resources
Preparing mentally, physically, and emotionally 1 year to 1 day ahead
Japan's culture, weather, attractions, ups and downs by area
Different work opportunities and how to find them
How to do well with your resume and interview
How to prepare yourself for living in Japan
Tidbits of information on etiquette, tradition, language, history, geography, etc.

This book is well-organized, well-written, includes sections for your notes, has a glossary of Japanese-romaji terms, and has a webliography/bibliography at the bank.

This book is PACKED. Definitely a great buy and well worth the price!
I recommend it to anyone considering working to Japan long or short term, or anyone planning on living there long term for any other reason.

This is not only an excellent book for someone going to Tokyo to teach english, but it is a good travel guide for anyone going to Japan. The only problem I saw with this book was it only talked about teaching English in Tokyo.