Pros
- Work hours. Depending on your location, daily work hours are usually 5hrs a day average, not including 15 minutes prep time in between classes and commute. - Excellent native support which is available 24/7 although sometimes difficult to contact, most of the head office staff are friendly and always willing to help you out. - Salary. You pretty much are paid full time while having part-time hours. This leaves a lot of time for you to explore Japan. Downside is, if you're assigned in the countryside, it can get boring having this much time and not a lot of things to do. - You get to see your students an hour or 2 hrs max every month, so if you have a student that you cannot stand, you only have to deal with them for an hour or 2 a month. - Because Ittti is a corporation, everything is black and white and documented, you do not have to worry about anything because they also assist you with everything you need. - Benefits. You get yearly bonuses and at least 40% of your health insurance back at the end of the year. - Has branches all over Japan. After a year of being with the company, you can ask to be reassigned anywhere provided there's a slot. Everything will be provided for and the assistance they offer with the transfer is superb. - Monthly staff meeting to help you and guide you with your lessons or difficult classes. - Hotel classes for coverage if it is not your regular school, and an additional pay every night. hotel is paid for with free breakfast sometimes.
Cons
- Because this is an after school program, most students see it as a social gathering instead of learning. - The students are treated as customers so you don't have that much teacher power. Students must leave happy regardless if they were nice in class or not because at the end of the day, it's still business. - If you are assigned in the countryside, you get Japanese teachers who speak bare minimum english. - Transportation can be lengthy especially if you are assigned in a place where the train comes once in an hour only, or the only bus that gets you to classes on time is the one that arrives 4 hours before your class. - Because of the high demand of teachers, some teachers are hired just because they are native speakers or even if they do not have a proper teaching background. This goes to both native teachers and japanese teachers.