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litlmssunshine
Joined: 06 Aug 2004
Posts: 10
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
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 Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 7:02 am Post subject: When to apply for jobs in Japan??? |
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My friend and I are thinking of going to Japan. We're not sure exactly what we want to do - whether we'll go on a Work visa (have degree and arrange job before going) or apply for Working Holiday Visa and just wing it when we get there (and actually using the Visa for what its meant for - to support us while we try to see parts of Japan)
A few Q's:
*When is the best time to apply for jobs in Japan? If we want to have start dates for Mar/Apr should we be applying for jobs now, or closer to the time?
(We are thinking of having a few months in SE Asia for a holiday at the beginning of the year, so we'd probably get there Mar/Apr time.)
*Do you think we'll beable to sort jobs before we get there if we decide to just do the WHVisa? Would be nice to have something part time sorted, so we know where we'll be based and stuff.
*Can you apply for WVisa or WHVisa outside of our home country? (As in, can we apply for our visa's while in say Bangkok?)
*My friend is a sceondary school teacher here in Australia but I am more interested in working with children - any hints for work in this particular industry?
*I am taking Jap lessons at the mo and hope to get at least some of the basics down before going - has anyone been able to negotiate with their job for Jap lessons to be included? I know that we are there to teach Eng and not use it in the classroom but surely this is a necessity to really get the best out of living in Japan.
**From a travel point of view, we are thinking of trying to stay in the Osaka/Kansai area - is it easy to travel around to some of the sights as there seems to be a lot in that area and surrounding?
**What are flights like to go for hols outside of Jap? (Say HK, China, or even to Okinawa?)
Thank you in advance for any replies - i know some of them are probably already on the site and I will endeavour to search them out.
x LMS x |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 8:00 am Post subject: Re: When to apply for jobs in Japan??? |
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Word of advice, read the stickies at the top. thats what they are there for.
| litlmssunshine wrote: |
*When is the best time to apply for jobs in Japan? If we want to have start dates for Mar/Apr should we be applying for jobs now, or closer to the time?
(We are thinking of having a few months in SE Asia for a holiday at the beginning of the year, so we'd probably get there Mar/Apr time.)
x |
School/ work year starts in April and many schools hire before then, in Jan-Feb. Count on up to 3 months to get a work visa and 2 weeks for a working holiday visa.
March April, still possible but school year has already started and much of hiring is already done
| litlmssunshine wrote: |
M
*Do you think we'll beable to sort jobs before we get there if we decide to just do the WHVisa? Would be nice to have something part time sorted, so we know where we'll be based and stuff.
x LMS x |
You are not supposed to secure jobs in Japan before you arrive on the WHV. The consulate embassy knows you will work but it should not be your primary goal for coming here. If you plan to work get the working visa for which you need a degree.
People here wont agree to hire you until you arrive in the country anyway, as they have no guarantee you will even get on a plane in time.
| litlmssunshine wrote: |
M
*Can you apply for WVisa or WHVisa outside of our home country? (As in, can we apply for our visa's while in say Bangkok?)
x LMS x |
Working holiday: only at an embassy or consulate outside Japan. Must be in home country and apply in country where you are a resident
Working visa: Inside or outside Japan, as long as you hand in the correct paperwork needed for sponsorship.
| litlmssunshine wrote: |
M
*My friend is a sceondary school teacher here in Australia but I am more interested in working with children - any hints for work in this particular industry?
x LMS x |
Australian teaching licences are not recognised per se except at international schools, for which they need at least 2 years experience teaching at a school in Australia.
99% of Japanese elementary schools in Japan are public and foreigners can only work as ALTs as an assistant to the Japanese teacher. Many of the big chain schools have kids classes. My advice is to learn something about how to teach ESL to children. its not just songs and games.
| litlmssunshine wrote: |
*I am taking Jap lessons at the mo and hope to get at least some of the basics down before going - has anyone been able to negotiate with their job for Jap lessons to be included? I know that we are there to teach Eng and not use it in the classroom but surely this is a necessity to really get the best out of living in Japan.
x LMS x |
I dont know if many schools offer Japanese, my guess is you will be too busy and they wont offer lessons on company time. You are paid to work, not learn Japanese. If you want to learn Japanese usually you do it on your own. To get the best out of Japan it will take more than a 6 month working holiday visa to get to grips with the language. Japanese is a very hard language to learn for English speakers and takes twice as long to learn as French or German.
| litlmssunshine wrote: |
**From a travel point of view, we are thinking of trying to stay in the Osaka/Kansai area - is it easy to travel around to some of the sights as there seems to be a lot in that area and surrounding?
x LMS x |
I live in Kansai (Kyoto) and there is a lot to see in Nara, Osaka and Kobe. You could spend a week in Kyoto and not see everything. Getting places is easy as trains are reliable, frequent and generally safe (except for last months accident)
| litlmssunshine wrote: |
**What are flights like to go for hols outside of Jap? (Say HK, China, or even to Okinawa?)
x LMS x |
Okinawa is part of Japan but not on the mainland.
Korea is 2 hours by high speed ferry from Kyushu. Never been to Taiwan but its about 3 hours from kansai. Hong Kong is about 4.5 hours from Kansai. peak periods (Golden Week, Shogatsu. Obon are crowded and expensive. All of Japan travels at the same time during these periods so its best to avoid them. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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| For goodness' sake, don't use "Jap", even on a discussion forum. It's in very bad taste. Write the word in full, please. |
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litlmssunshine
Joined: 06 Aug 2004
Posts: 10
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 2:41 am Post subject: Thankyou |
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PAULH: Thank you very much for all of your information - it was very informative and gives us a few things to think about before making any decision. I have infact done a TESOL cert specialising in Children, I currently tutor 2 Thai girls who are under 10 years old and have been a swimming teacher to kids for 3 years now. I realise all of these are very different to teaching in a class room setting but I am trying to get as much experience as I can before going.
To Glenski: I apologise if you were offended by my use of 'Jap' it was certiainly not meant in a derogatory way, merely a shortening of a word as we would Aust for Australia.
If you wouldn't mind, could you please explain why you had such a strong reaction to this? Do Japanese people find it offensive themselves or is that your personal stance? |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 2:54 am Post subject: Re: Thankyou |
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| litlmssunshine wrote: |
To Glenski: I apologise if you were offended by my use of 'Jap' it was certiainly not meant in a derogatory way, merely a shortening of a word as we would Aust for Australia.
If you wouldn't mind, could you please explain why you had such a strong reaction to this? Do Japanese people find it offensive themselves or is that your personal stance? |
That word is what the Americans called the Japanese during world war II when they were bombing Hiroshima. It is rather offensive and racist here and not used in polite conversation. My father used it to my Japanese wifes face and I almost decked him.
Australians do not call their country Aust but Ozzies etc. That does not have the same connotation as calling someone a "chink" or a "wog" in Australia. As a Moderator I have recently dealt with several Australians on this and other forums who have the view that such language is part of Australian culture and quite harmless when used in Australia, that it means friendliness on the part of Australian etc. I can assure you that there are many Australians who would disagree and are offended by such language used by other Australians.
Japanese themselves do not use the word J-P as its an English word and they have their own words for japan (Nihon, Nippon) and dont use slang expressions to describe their own country. Most Japanese know what it means when they hear it though. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:12 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| If you wouldn't mind, could you please explain why you had such a strong reaction to this? Do Japanese people find it offensive themselves or is that your personal stance? |
In addition to Paul's explanation, I find it offensive just because it is, or at least it was meant to be when it was introduced. Now that my wife is Japanese, I have even stronger feelings about it.
If you must abbreviate, use the letter J or put a period after the abbreviation.
Oh, and recently some Chinese or Korean politician used that word in a public broadcast. The Japanese government responded somewhat strongly against this slur. |
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litlmssunshine
Joined: 06 Aug 2004
Posts: 10
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
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| Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 2:56 am Post subject: |
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| Thank you for your explanations - I have a better understanding of WHY this is offensive and will refrain from using it. |
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