A plan to learn Japanese

I searched and read through a few older threads, but I don't feel my question has been addressed. My question is:

To those on the board who moved to Japan with little/very basic Japanese knowledge, about how long did it take you to become comfortable and conversational after arriving?

Also, let's say I become proficient (not quite fluent) in Japanese, how hard it is to get a non-ESL/EFL job? Or is that all there is for a native-English speaker?

I'm 25, male, in Texas, USA, hoping to get a job in Japan this year, most likely teaching ESL/EFL. I have a 4-year degree in journalism-newswriting from an accredited university. I've been in a Japanese class, taught by native instructors, for the past 20 weeks or so, using the textbook Genki, and I'm learning kanji on the side at a pace of one a day.

I truly want to learn the language. I don't want to learn it just to watch anime, play videogames or something like that, but to learn how to have real conversations with people and possibly get a career in Japan (whether or not that's ESL, I don't know) and have a life over there.

So I'm looking at GEOS (JET deadline already passed for this year). I feel I'm at a point in my life I have nothing holding me back at home, and I'd love to see the world from a different view outside of my home country.

Any thoughts/comments/suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

It really depends on how much you study. My biggest jump was my three month study abroad. I wasn't in Tokyo, and I studied for hours a day. There was very little else to do. Everything shut down so early, and of course, I had no job. I moved to Tokyo after spending a year back in Texas to get my degree. Once again, I studied my balls off. I felt comfortable (making my own phone calls, handling my bills, etc.) towards the end of that first year, but of course, missed a lot and made tons of errors.

The main difference is that I had a 36 hours or so of University behind me when I came. If you realize that you will have to study (and most likely in your situation enroll in a class) then that will take you a long way. You can't learn Japanese be osmosis. You will not just "pick it up", but you seem to know that already.

Be warned that Geos and the like tend to work you to the bone. On that note, it might be hard to work their schedule and take a class of your own. Find out the hours beforehand, definitely. If you have the funds to support it, you might want to think of getting a student visa, joining a langauge school, studying for 6 to 12 months, then work on the job after that. You will need a substantial savings though. The schools aren't cheap, nor is the cost of living.

There are major English publications here (Japan Times, Metropolis, and even NHK) but I don't know hard it is or isn't to get a job there. Something tells me getting some type of editing job would be easier (and you sound at least semi-qualified to do so).

 

Thanks for the response.

I am prepared to study, and I would enroll in a Japanese class over there as soon as I had the chance. I, unfortunately, do not have the funding saved up to attend a school there without a job, so that isn't an option at the moment, unless I wanted to wait another year or two.

I do have experience with editing and publishing for a newspaper and an international magazine, so that's why Geos caught my eye. It says that after two years of teaching the opportunity exists to move into other areas of the company, such as its publishing department.

Of course, if anyone knows of a different job (or ESL company) that could get me to Japan sometime this year and sponsor a visa, I'd be willing to listen. =)

 

You can always come on a tourist visa and find a job w/ better conditions than Geos. It is somewhat of a gamble (depending on your hirability, but it sounds like you're a shoe-in). My sister-in-law used to work for Geos. I believe she was compensated quite fairly considering she's a Japanese woman, but she worked some stupid hours. Typical, really, but as a gaijin you can likely get out of that.

Good luck with it!

 

If you're that serious, I would take an exteneded visit first. Never move anywhere blind. I haven't been there yet but if I was to move there. I would have had to been there at least twice as with any place I intended to move too.

Don't mean to spoil your sense of adventure at all.

 

It's a little bit more of a gamble than I'd like to take. I'd have a fear of it not working out so well, though if I had more in savings it would be doable.

No worries, as I agree with you.

Last summer I was able to spend a little more than a week in Yokohama staying with a friend. I would've stayed longer, but limited vacation time at my job didn't allow for more days. But I was able to stay with him and his family and got a small glimpse of what a Japanese apartment is really like, and what home life could be someday.

 

He's not relocating his family. He can clearly pull out and go home any time he wants.

 

Before I lived here I had visited 3 times before hand for two weeks at a time. Once in August 1996 then twice in 1997 (March and September) I finally moved over here in October 1998. At the time my Japanese was very basic but I could order food, shopping and stuff like that. I did have a job lined up for T-Zone in Akihabara but the guy setting it up was talking shit and when I got there the boss had no idea why I was there. That twat sure got a beating I can tell you. Anyway, I mostly played around for the first 3 moths then worked as a waiter for a few more months just to get the cash in. By this time I had gone though about 2500 pounds. I was young, wasted money but had a great time !

I finally got a job in an independent English school in June 1999 down here in Shimonoseki (Came here because of a girl friend). Now I have a much better job, will be building my own home this year and have a son and wife.

So as you can see, if you are willing to make the effort you can be successful in Japan but you really need to be ready to make a fool of yourself, learn from your mistakes and not to by shy at all.

As for learning Japanese, I have NEVER been to a school apart from the basic cause I did 10 years ago in Liverpool Uni in the UK. I found that to be able to speak you need to get out there and mix. I may not be able to read a news paper but does that bother me? Not at all. I know enough kanji to get by and if I don't know what something says I can always ask. These days the only time I get to speak in real English is once every two weeks or so when I go out drinking with my mates. All other times I'm surrounded by Japanese or piss poor Japanese English. I believe this is how I could learn the language, by being submerged in it.

Yakumo

 

You went to Liverpool Uni too? that makes us co-Alumni!

 

Yeah but just for a year mate :nod: I did a night cause while I was working in HMV.

Yakumo

 

it sure needs a lot of balls to leave everything and everyone you know behind to seek adventure in a far away place like Japan. I think our japan-living members should elaborate a bit on that point =)

 

Elaborate? Go live in Texas for a year. I dare you.

 

I ve been in Texas for a month, and it sure was fun!

 

I've lived in Texas all my life, save for a year or so that was spent in Saudi Arabia when I was an infant.

So.. about 24 years.

 

If you like spread out cities and having to drive everywhere for the most part, then you might like it. If your outside of Austin, throw in a bunch of non-belief in free thinking and being yourself. Most people are Republicans. It's also fucking hot. I don't know anyone that wouldn't want to get away from that for at least year. I know I did. Austin was a blast, but after 3 years, it was like being at a job that you could no longer grow at.

 

So, I have an interview set for March with GEOS. Any advice for an ESL interview would be appreciated.

It's a two-day interview that includes background on the company, living in Japan, and then an assignment and presentation of a 20-minute lesson/lesson plan.

 

Take your pulse with you and you should do fine.

 

For most people the decision to come to Japan ends up being the easy part. After you've been here for a while, met a lot of people, gotten used to the lifestyle, it's going home that ends up being a lot more difficult. It's probably true with living in any foreign country. You don't know what you don't know...yet.

 

Again, thanks for all the advice. =)

 

I had my interview this past weekend. It was definitely a learning experience, and I'm glad I went, even though I did not land the job. But now I realize the difference between a zero conditional and first conditional statement.

I'm starting to look around at a few other job sites that may have opportunities to me, such as gaijinpot and the job listings on the Japan Times site. Does anyone have any recommendations? Are the smaller ESL schools OK, or do they work employees to the bone causing burn-out?