Job Discussion Forums

Jules11 · Joined: 20 Nov 2014 Posts: 2

Hello there,

I am almost a 28 year old Canadian and I am in my 3rd year attempting to finish a Degree at Simon Fraser University in Education.

I want to be an AWESOME ESL teacher and I am really interested in teaching in Japan.

I went online to the government website about Visa's but I am confused.

I know it is pretty much impossible to teach ESL without a BA in Japan... and pretty much everywhere, but, has anyone found a job in Japan without a degree?

Most importantly, do I have to be UNDER 30 years old (with a degree) to get a working visa in Japan?

I am worried about finishing my degree in time. Or can I apply for a working visa as long as I haven't turned 31 yet?

Any advise would be superb!

Thank you Razz

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

I think you might be confusing the "working holiday visa" that a lot of Vancouverites tend to use prior to graduation. It isn't applicable here. The BEd at SFU is five years, I highly recommend finishing it before you leave to teach. It's really tough to get it done once you've already settled into teaching. There's no need to worry about 31.

timothypfox · Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 492

If you want to be a great ESL teacher, you might also consider trying to get a great job in Japan. A good way to do this is to get some public school teaching experience in BC as an ESL teacher, and then look for work in Japan. Connect your experience to Japan by teaching Japanese students in Vancouver. You can volunteer doing this with students at SFU. You might also try taking a Japanese language class.

water rat · Joined: 30 Aug 2014 Posts: 1098 Location: North Antarctica

I hope you do get to be an awesome ESL teacher. Surely, it's best to be patient, work hard and get that B.A. first. And timothypfox's suggestion about teaching Japanese in Vancouver, or any ESL students wherever you can is a good one. Tutor a foreign student at your university, and stick that on your CV - even if it's only for a week.

I am only writing to point out that there are no requirements specifically for Canadians, and it seems odd that you should have such a perspective. The requirements are the requirements, and it has nothing to do with your nationality other than Japan along with many East Asian nations prefers to grant teaching visas only to native speakers form Great Britain, The United States, Australia, New Zealand and that place Dubya referred to as "our best friend to the north". Sometimes South African and Irish passports are accepted, and sometimes Greek, Ghanian and Fijian passports are accepted in certain countries under certain circumstances.

If and when you do make it to Japan, and I wish you every success, you will not get to be a Canadian anyway, at best you will be an American with an orange maple leaf on your lapel or bag with a boring story you insist on repeating. You can explain to your students the difference between yanks and canucks, and they will exhibit polite interest, but you will not fool them. For them, all foreigners, including pure-blooded African princes and princesses are Americans. That's just how it is. If you don't like it, you can go to small-town South (or North, I suppose) Korea and be taken for a Russian, or Mali and taken for a Frenchman. Or perhaps you could teach ESL in New York City, Baltimore or L.A., but again your students and every one else will think you are an American, and have no interest in the truth.

Jules11 · Joined: 20 Nov 2014 Posts: 2

Thank you EVERYONE who just replied. Honestly I feel so relieved that I can be older than 30 in order for me to teach in Japan. Once I get my BA, I will post my resume here and hope to find an employer to sponsor me for a VISA.

I do currently volunteer at "MEET UP's" and help out lots of Japanese students as well as teach one on one privately. It seems impossible to get a teaching job here in Vancouver without a degree.

That is funny how some Japanese will think I am American but I don't mind being a nice "fake American".

I am going to keep trucking away at my degree but I have such itchy feet! I am going to leave and travel the world this September and I will just roll with the punches.

Thanks again for answering all my questions and all the nifty advice Cool

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

Hang in there! I remember the days of living in a dank basement suite off Kingsway and busing it up the hill every morning to the snowy campus Smile

It's an excellent school and you'll benefit greatly from staying put for the last little bit.

RM1983 · Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 360

nicenicegaijin · Joined: 27 Feb 2015 Posts: 157

You won't get a job posting your resume on Dave's.

Maitoshi · Joined: 04 May 2014 Posts: 718 Location: 何処でも

nicenicegaijin · Joined: 27 Feb 2015 Posts: 157

I don't know who you think I am, or who this MAteacher guy is you keep talking about.

Back to the topic I doubt most employers would spend time trawling through people's resumes on Daves, when the get sent hundreds in their inboxes. Go ahead and post your resume, but it is much better to apply directly.