Deutsche Schule Kobe, Okinawa Amicus or Osaka YMCA

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sanaanddaddy
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:23 am
Location: japan

Deutsche Schule Kobe, Okinawa Amicus or Osaka YMCA

Post by sanaanddaddy »

I have offers from these three schools but am having trouble finding much information on them, apart from the one in Okinawa. I will have to relocate my family for all, which is quite expensive, so don't wish to get stuck somewhere bad.
Any information would be appreciated!
shadowjack
Posts: 2138
Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2012 9:49 am

Re: Deutsche Schule Kobe, Okinawa Amicus or Osaka YMCA

Post by shadowjack »

I wouldn't work for a school that didn't pay flights, etc...

Just saying. It ain't cheap if you are planning on going home some summers and Christmases.
lunarium
Posts: 16
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 11:39 pm

Re: Deutsche Schule Kobe, Okinawa Amicus or Osaka YMCA

Post by lunarium »

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wrldtrvlr123
Posts: 1173
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 10:59 am
Location: Japan

Re: Deutsche Schule Kobe, Okinawa Amicus or Osaka YMCA

Post by wrldtrvlr123 »

Congrats on the offers (maybe some day you can entertain and amaze us with how you come to have 3 offers dangling out there at the same time)!!

I taught in Japan a few years back (and was involved with the Japan Council of Int'l Schools) and never really heard of any of the 3. I do see that the YMCA school IS a member now, which is a decent sign but no guarantee of a good to great situation for you. The YMCA school in Tokyo was quite the mess at the time and not really a place a would care to teach or send my child.

So, based on the limited info. (including the review of Amicus on the paid side), I would rank them, 1-Osaka, 2-DS Kobe and distant 3- Amicus. Amicus gets the 3 based on the review combined with being in Okinawa. I think Okinawa is not necessarily a bad place based on the things I hear from DoDDS teachers but I think it would be a very different experience if you are not with the military or DoD in some capacity. On the upside, obviously the area is very westernized/western friendly if that is a concern for you.

Kobe and Osaka would both be excellent places to live, but would require a decent package and a reasonably decent place to teach. Osaka also offers the IB which would be good for your resume for future moves.

So, sorry no first hand insights for you but I do think these schools are all a bit under the radar. Let us know about packages and maybe we can help you figure out what that would look like. Good luck!
sanaanddaddy
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:23 am
Location: japan

Re: Deutsche Schule Kobe, Okinawa Amicus or Osaka YMCA

Post by sanaanddaddy »

wrldtrvlr123 wrote:
> Congrats on the offers (maybe some day you can entertain and amaze us with
> how you come to have 3 offers dangling out there at the same time)!!
>
> I taught in Japan a few years back (and was involved with the Japan Council
> of Int'l Schools) and never really heard of any of the 3. I do see that the
> YMCA school IS a member now, which is a decent sign but no guarantee of a
> good to great situation for you. The YMCA school in Tokyo was quite the
> mess at the time and not really a place a would care to teach or send my
> child.
>
> So, based on the limited info. (including the review of Amicus on the paid
> side), I would rank them, 1-Osaka, 2-DS Kobe and distant 3- Amicus. Amicus
> gets the 3 based on the review combined with being in Okinawa. I think
> Okinawa is not necessarily a bad place based on the things I hear from
> DoDDS teachers but I think it would be a very different experience if you
> are not with the military or DoD in some capacity. On the upside, obviously
> the area is very westernized/western friendly if that is a concern for you.
>
> Kobe and Osaka would both be excellent places to live, but would require a
> decent package and a reasonably decent place to teach. Osaka also offers
> the IB which would be good for your resume for future moves.
>
> So, sorry no first hand insights for you but I do think these schools are
> all a bit under the radar. Let us know about packages and maybe we can help
> you figure out what that would look like. Good luck!


I live in Japan so that probably helped with the small crap schools. The bigger schools are much tougher, unless your wife is buddy buddy with the right people!
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