The idea that nursery schools and kindergartens might be a viable workplace for using English
I started working part-time at an English conversation school a little while ago!
It's an English conversation school attached to a kindergarten, and the children are so cute.
I had been working from home dealing with my PC for a long time, but I'm enjoying the fresh feeling of working there.
Why I decided to take a part-time job
Actually, I wasn't specifically looking for a part-time job, but I found this one through an Indeed job recommendation notification!
I've been using Indeed a lot lately, including for remote work listings, but I didn't realize that besides searching yourself, they also send email notifications when there are recommended jobs.
So when I opened the email, it turned out to be an English conversation instructor position in my area!
What's more, the hours weren't too late on weekdays, and weekends and holidays were off!!
I went to check the other part-time job site where the Indeed listing originated, and since I was very interested, I went for an interview.
The listed working hours were right up until the nursery school pickup time, but I thought I would at least go and hear what they had to say.
Honestly, I had gotten bored with working from home, and it was just the right time when I started thinking that a job where I could meet people and teach directly might actually suit me better.
The online English conversation company I'm currently contracted with for remote work also changed its structure, and the opportunities for meetings and such dropped significantly, which really lowered my motivation.
Reasons for deciding to work there
When I heard the details, the working hours were indeed right up to the limit of my current nursery school contract, and I realized that if I started working under these conditions, I wouldn't make it in time for pickup, meaning I would have to extend my nursery school contract or pay overtime fees.
Because of that, I decided to decline after the interview, but thankfully, the person in charge liked me after I was hired, and they were willing to make adjustments as much as possible.
After that, some time passed and I had almost given up, but then I was contacted again, and since it looked like I could manage the nursery school hours for my child, I was able to start working there safely!
During the phone call, they listened quite a bit to my circumstances, such as having a small child and undergoing fertility treatment, and I was so moved because I never dreamed that a workplace that would be so supportive and empathetic existed.
I later found out that the person was the principal of the kindergarten, and I'm shaking (I should have looked it up properly...!)
Nursery schools and kindergartens might be a viable workplace *e.g., for extracurricular lessons
Based on this experience, if you have small children like we do, or if you have to take time off for things like fertility treatment, and you are looking for a workplace that uses English, I thought that job openings at educational facilities with children, such as nursery schools and kindergartens, might be a possibility.
Surprisingly, there is a demand for English even in nursery schools and kindergartens
The kindergarten where I started working offers many extracurricular activities, including gymnastics, ballet, and calligraphy, in addition to English.
In the case of educational kindergartens, I imagine it is common in this day and age for English to be included as an extracurricular activity in a similar way.
My son's nursery school also has an English time in the morning, and there is a teacher in charge of English.
Perhaps such nursery schools are increasing now.
It seems that childcare qualifications are often not required if it is within the framework of an extracurricular activity.
While I think these are inevitably rare job openings compared to general English conversation schools or cram schools, I think they are worth looking for!
Able to work during weekdays and daytime hours
When trying to work outside using English, English conversation schools (like ECC or Nova) and cram schools inevitably become the main candidates.
However, that would mean working in the evening or at night, which is impossible if you have small children...
If you have a teaching license, you can work at a school during the day, but unfortunately, I do not have one😭
I do have a J-SHINE certification for elementary school English, so I should theoretically be able to work as an English teacher at an elementary school... I think. I have never done it, though💦
High possibility of understanding towards mothers raising children
I cannot say for sure as I have not applied to other schools, but I feel that because it is a facility for children's education, there is an understanding of the unavoidable circumstances of raising children.
They have told me that I do not need to hesitate if my child gets sick.
I have only just started working there and have not had that happen yet, but you never know when a child will get sick💦
I think it is highly likely that it is an environment where it is easier to take time off compared to office work or general companies.
Summary
Based on my own experience, I wanted to share that if you want to work outside using English, nursery schools and kindergartens might be an option!
In particular, I think job openings where you can work using English on weekdays during the day are quite rare.
I have worked at university international centers, global automotive manufacturers, and foreign-affiliated IT help desks in the past, but I feel that, all things considered, the English education sector is the job where I use English the most (setting aside differences based on workplace or position).
Office work is definitely easier and pays better compared to the English education sector, but I still feel that working in the English education industry suits me best.
While it is an industry that can feel a bit like exploitation of passion when weighed against income, I want to continue working happily while finding a good balance!