Teaching English, 2009 edition

So, I've been thinking quite seriously about this. I've got time until I'll be done at my current degree (which, as I read, is either necessary or not necessary to get a good or not so good teaching job in Japan).

There's this thread:
http://www.assemblergames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14355
...but it's coming close to two years old.


I'm wondering what the current state of things are for this sort of "program"? Anyone have any specific insight, such as good companies to check out or not check out? My main concern would be working hours and living location (seems at least a couple places toss you into a small apartment that they deem "standard", but I'd be afraid of it being a huge dump).

I'm not concerned with my own knowledge of English at all, but I fear the Japanese language a bit. Some places say "oh, it's ok if you don't speak Japanese"... but that doesn't sound very efficient. How does one go about teaching a language to a person that speaks a different language? Perhaps would you be paired up with students who are working on the finer skills, as opposed to beginners? I will have taken at least 3-4 JP classes (and maybe even study over there for a semester) before anything happened. Does this help get you a good placement, or perhaps jump-start your lifestyle, I'd guess?

A good friend of mine did this... I think he said 6 years ago. His life was in a rut, was working under the table and dirt-poor. One of his friends was going to do it, he applied, got accepted, and I believe he said he hasn't left the country since. Maybe he's optimistic, maybe I'm optimistic... but when you've got a fine-arts degree lined up for yourself, you realize if you stay in the country, you're going to be working at shops for the rest of your life. ...and simply because aparently computer engineering (and then computer science) just didn't work out like expected.

 

I taught english in South Korea and I plan to do it again. PM me if you want to hear the story.

 

Sometimes knowing the other language can be a disadvantage, I've taught English in Asia and Europe for over 9 years now - believe me, don't be put off by the fact that you don't speak the language. Make sure you have good materials and be prepared - that's all you need to do - the rest will come naturally (if you like doing it.)

 

are you the same arnoldlayne from youtube?

 

I've had AEON as a recommendation, but have also heard it's a bad choice. Also, they supposedly require a bachellor's degree, but it'll be at least a few more years until I can obtain one of those (I've changed majors twice now, and wasted all that time).

Any specific places people have experience with, that are good? DIRECT experience, or know someone who had direct experience?

 

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Well unless you find a job that requires you to have several years of job experience instead, although that does count out teaching english... the alternative is to marry someone in Japan...

 

p

 

Thanks for the insight, guys. I'll keep workin at it. At the very least, my uni has a decent exchange program that'll get me a semester over there at my current tuition costs.

 

The minimum requirement for a work visa is either a 4-year university degree, or 10 (no less) years of professional work experience. This generally has to be proven with pay stubs. If you are under 30, it will be hard to prove this. Closer to 40, and they are much more leniant.

Get a degree.... for obvious reasons which have nothing to do w/ living in Japan specifically.

 

Yeah, I have trouble thinking even that far into the future. The time will come, and I will have my useless studio arts degree.

 

10 years? I thought it was 3 years. Either way, since he's American, the OP's only real option is to finish his degree. Also, it's not a 4-year degree necessarily. For Americans possibly, but there are a heck of a lot of people that got visas here on 3-year degrees from other countries.

Also, Alecjahn, have you tried any actual ESL sites instead of... you know, a site about video games? eslcafe.com, gaijinpot.com and letsjapan.com (the most honest of the three sites I gave, as they don't delete posts that talk about their advertisers) are all good places to start.

 

I know this isn't the best place to ask, but I feel I know I can trust answers here since I have a general idea of who people are.

One friend of mine said I could probably get away with a forged degree. Not that I'd do that, just thought it was funny. My next step is to attack the beast from the front, and I'll start talking to actual companies directly. maybe I'll get randomly lucky and find a quick fix that doesnLt require me to rush the degree I just restarted from another damn change in major.

 

I know this isn't the best place to ask, but I feel I know I can trust answers here since I have a general idea of who people are.

One friend of mine said I could probably get away with a forged degree. Not that I'd do that, just thought it was funny. My next step is to attack the beast from the front, and I'll start talking to actual companies directly. maybe I'll get randomly lucky and find a quick fix that doesnLt require me to rush the degree I just restarted from another damn change in major.

 

3? Uh... no. It's 10. Unless they've changed the laws in the last 5 years which I doubt considering the Japanese government is paying Latin immigrants money to leave and never come back. America has the same requirements, FYI.

It is the 'equivalent of a bachelor's degree' which we call a 4-year degree. Takes plenty of people more than that but the name is the same. With what we call an associate's degree, you can not get a working permit in Japan.

This is a great idea. You should probably not pay taxes, while you're at it.

 

After checking around the net for a few minutes, it is definitely 3 years. American requirements don't matter in regards to Japanese requirements. Not that my link is an official source, as digging through the Japanese government site is quite a chore, but every single reference I found stated three years.

I was pointing that out for those who aren't American. Most other countries offer 3-year degrees which do fulfil the requirements of Japanese immigration in lieu of three years experience in the industry.

Either way, getting a degree is the best way to go about things.

 

Sorry to tell you but they're all wrong. There's some truth that it's not set in stone (it's hard to prove experience) but I can tell you about colleagues that were in danger of being deported when their wives divorced them. I also heard my first employer, on the phone, exactly 1 million times explain this.

If you feel you're right, by all means, at the ripe age of 22, apply for a working visa explaining you have 3 years of "professional" experience... generally 1 year less than it takes to get the degree which is the one constant that they DO ask for. If anyone does like a challenge, there will be one waiting in trying to have a fruitful life w/o higher education.

Who said they did?

That's fine and dandy, but it's also a 4-year degree here... hence the name. And on that note, it will be an original, so if you go w/ a forged one, it better be fucking good.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan is wrong? Regarding language instruction, the requirements listed are either 3 years of working experience in the field or has graduated from college in a relevant field (humanities visa). Some other fields (NOT language teaching) are 10 years. I have no idea about your colleagues situation. As we all know, immigration is case by case.

Still, the minimum requirement for a work visa to teach English with (staying on topic in this thread) is either a degree, 3 years work experience in the ESL field or a working holiday visa for some countries (not America).

I read a story about one guy who actually had his name changed so that he could use his friend's degree and claim it as his own.

 

Specialist in Humanities is the visa you get w/ a liberal arts degree (and many others). It's the only one that allows you to work as an English teacher. I have a liberal arts degree, but worked in information technology for most of my stay, and still required a Specialist in Humanities Visa. In the link you posted, note he says "full time teaching experience". Not "professional work experience". There's a huge difference. Good luck being a full time teacher for 3 years w/ no degree.

But, if you don't believe me, as before, by all means, rise to the challenge. You can also mosey on over to jref.com and see the question brought up a few times a year, and the same 10-year answer spammed.

There's stories of people changing their names after being blacklisted (actually a realtively easy task) and coming back in. I can only assume those days are over now that we're in the age of the fingerprint upon entry.