Ah right, should try GABA aswell, or somewhere different?

Gaba, Interac and Aeon all seem fairly decent when it comes to big national chains. Whereas finding smaller companies that hire oversea applicants is tougher, it can be nice to work in local companies.

I like doing my ALT thing, but if one on one lessons sound appealing to you go for it. I think that would be much more rewarding in that you may actually see the students progress. Working in a Jr. High with the Japanese teachers has benefits and negatives. You see the drills they make the students do, the overwhelming amount of vocab they force feed them and then it comes as no surprise when they say, "I don't think the students can do that." I wonder why? Maybe your methods and the pace you are trying to move at is completely unreasonable and ineffective. But they have to keep it up because they have the entrance exams to focus on forced upon them by a rigid education system that instead of educating simply weeds out the weak and rebellious. But hey, it's their kids and their country what am I supposed to do.

Can you tell that I am having one of those infamous ALT to JTE communication breakdowns today? Maybe I'll write about that later. Right now I am just too frustated.

I think I'll keep away from schools if I'd have to force feed students loads of stuff in a short time.
But I would like to teach a group.
Do companies like that usually provide accommodation like NOVA do?

Most if not all companies will set up your housing when you are first coming over. Sometimes you move into the place of the teacher you are replacing. I think Nova is the only one though that sets you up with roommates which could be good or bad.

As far as force feeding, it is their education system in general. The teachers just really do their best to get them through the system. As an ALT, you just do your best to give the JTE what they expect from you. It is when you get your signals crossed that it gets difficult.

So I take it it's best to be really organised and enthusiastic, or else your teaching and their progress will suffer.
Is is only the larger towns and cities that these companies operate in?

Haha, organized, ha, enthusiastic! Where is my roll around on the floor laughing with milk coming out of my nose emoticon!

Seriously though, yes these are good attributes no matter what you do in life. I am more organized and prepared than most of the teachers I work with. Enthusiastic, that wore off a few months ago. I like my kids and enjoy having classes, but I don't infuse them with false enthusiasm anymore. If something works and we have fun doing it, then awesome but I am not going to be some sort of entertainer and overly genki (cheerful) if I am not feeling it. Some teachers pull it off really well, but if the kids aren't genki I am going to reflect that.

Okay, Interac is an ALT staffing company so you will end up all over japan if you work for them. You will end up anywhere from Tokyo to some small town at the base of a mountain in northern Nagano (my dream come true) if you work as an ALT.

But yes, most Eikaiwas are located in cities and/or nearby rail stations to get the students in numbers. Eikaiwas earn more money by attaining more students. ALT companies get more money by hiring more ALT's and contracting with more schools which means they will stick you anywhere they find a school board willing to place you there.

But, you will find some eikaiwas in small cities far from civilization. Do your research and decide where you want to be because traveling around is not an option every weekend.

I'll get researching soon then.
How old are the kids that you teach?

Yochien (kindergarten) are either three to five or four to six (No ALT)
Shogakou (elementary) are six to twelve
Chugakou (Junior High) are twelve to fifteen
Koutougakou (High School) are fifteen to eighteen (public HS rarely hires non-JET ALT's, some hire only teachers with a master's degree in TESL, private schools are the best paid non-JET ALT's)
Daigakou (college) are eighteen to twenty-one (No ALT, master's required, cushiest job in all of Japan)

I may apply to work with 6 - 12 year old kids, as I've always thought younger children have the most potential.
I guess you'd need to be more creative with them aswell, seeing as they're younger and visual aids and things are better.

Elementary school kids will try to poke their fingers in your @$$. It is called Kancho. If you see a kid clasp his hands together with the indexes pointed like a pretend gun, watch your back. Stand close to a wall or something and the very first time you get kancho'ed, grab the little bugger and give him a stern, "NO! BAD, BAD BOY!" You know, like a puppy that just shat on the carpet.

Most Jr. High ALT's serve at the elementary school too. In my case I am only a Jr. High teacher because I was extremely lucky. If you do the Eikaiwa gig, your students are going to be all over the map as far as age and ability.