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Jared
Joined: 07 Sep 2004
Posts: 319
Location: Canada
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 Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 6:14 pm Post subject: Student Visas/Martial Arts/Private Students |
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Hello. I know I've asked questions about Student Visas before, although I'm here again this time to ask if it's possible to get a student visa to learn Ninjitsu in Japan? And also, I understand that you can work part time as an English teacher, however I was wondering if you are legally allowed to teach private students on a Student Visa? Also, do any of you know of any good Ninjitsu schools in Japan to learn at? Thanks.
Jared |
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Doglover
Joined: 14 Dec 2004
Posts: 305
Location: Kansai
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| Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 6:48 pm Post subject: Re: Student Visas/Martial Arts/Private Students |
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| Jared wrote: |
Hello. I know I've asked questions about Student Visas before, although I'm here again this time to ask if it's possible to get a student visa to learn Ninjitsu in Japan? And also, I understand that you can work part time as an English teacher, however I was wondering if you are legally allowed to teach private students on a Student Visa? Also, do any of you know of any good Ninjitsu schools in Japan to learn at? Thanks.
Jared |
Not sure what ninjitsu is (martial arts?) but student visa is for those who want to study at a language school, trade school or a university and you need a sponsor for your visa. If you want to study martial arts etc you need a culture visa which is anything from on to six months for the visa. You need to show you have enough savings to live on and support yourself.
You are able to teach privates and no need to declare them to immigration etc but keep in mind they are not easy to find if you are new to the country, and if you dont speak any Japanese you may have trouble with explaining your lesson fee structure, doing a demo lesson or contacting them by phone. How do you plan to find and contact new students? Most people here teach privates on top of a full time job, and do not simply live on income from privates unless you operate as a small business with classrooms etc. |
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Vince
Joined: 05 May 2003
Posts: 559
Location: U.S.
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| Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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For ease of living, you might consider coming over on a work visa and studying martial arts in your free time.
I studied some martial arts in Japan and saw little serious mention of ninjutsu. Masaaki Hatsumi is probably the most known ninjutsu teacher in Japan, but many people aren't convinced that he's teaching historically accurate ninjutsu. Then there's the question of how developed of a fighting art ninjutsu actually was. I didn't come up with any answers, but there were too many questions for me to invest time in it.
There are some really interesting arts in Japan. Unless you're interested in a specific aspect of ninjutsu that other arts don't have (i.e. stealth), check out many different schools before you make your choice. |
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pnksweater
Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 173
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:29 am Post subject: |
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| If you're studying a traditional Japanese art you can apply for a cultural visa. Like a student visa, you can apply for permission to work part time on this visa. |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 5:56 am Post subject: Ninjitsu |
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| When I first came to Japan 10 years ago I lived in a guest house in Saitama which often had ninjitsu practitioners staying, mostly from Europe. I remember the dojo was in Noda, a town in Chiba just over the border from Saitama, and that the sensei was very well-known world-wide. Somewhere to start perhaps. |
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Jared
Joined: 07 Sep 2004
Posts: 319
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Vince wrote: |
| For ease of living, you might consider coming over on a work visa and studying martial arts in your free time. |
Tough luck for me. I don't have a university degree. Although I did see a website http://www.get-live-help.com and it focuses on Japan. I clicked on the "No Degree jobs in Japan" link and it makes it look as if a degree isn't necessary. They quote in one paragraph saying:
| Quote: |
| Want a Job Teaching English in Japan but have no degree? I have been living in Japan for over 7 years and I have known too many people to count who have worked as English Teachers in Japan with NO DEGREE. Heck, a few of my friends started out teaching here with no degree in 1999 by teaching private lessons at coffee shops. They now own their own private schools and make much more money than some English professors. |
Speaking of the private schools, if you have some teaching experience but no degree, are you able to start your own school in Japan on a business visa or anything like that? Keep in mind, I'm also aware of the Humanities visa for those with 3 years experience (which I don't have yet).
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| Is it very easy to find a English Teaching job without a degree? In a nutshell... most job listings state that a "4 year degree in any subject" is required. However, the main purpose of this is to satisfy the Immigration Laws - not so much as a "qualification" to teach. Japanese Immigration, for example, doesn't require you to have a 4 year degree for visa issuance. However, you do need to be sponsored. If you can show some proof of your "skill" - a "TESOL Certification" for example, you will have no problems. After all, about 95% of English Teacher positions list "No Teaching Experience Necessary." Especially positions at the smaller English schools or those just outside of the major cities (Tokyo, Osaka, etc..). If you were to apply at these types of schools, you would most certainly be hired on the spot! |
Now it's kinda funny cause according to my researches you need to have a degree and a sponsor in order to get a work visa. I didn't think it mattered whether you had TESOL or not. With out the degree you're out of luck. At least that's as far as I understood. I know some of you may recommend that I come in on a Working Holiday visa however I wanna stay in Japan for more than one year. |
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Vince
Joined: 05 May 2003
Posts: 559
Location: U.S.
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| Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 10:53 pm Post subject: |
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That Web site makes it sound easier than it is. It's possible to make a living without a degree, but the odds are so much more in your favor if you have a degree.
The Web site uses the example of someone who started teaching at coffee shops and became a high roller with his own business. That's akin to saying you shouldn't wear seatbelts, because a few people were thrown to safety during car accidents and would have otherwise died. That's a freak occurence, and obviously nothing to bank on.
I don't intend to press you, but to inform you. You'll be more marketable and held in higher esteem by your foreign and Japanese acquaintances. If your passion is for martial arts, you might consider a degree in Japanese studies. Your experience here would be much richer if you had that background. Just food for thought. No matter how you decide to do it, best of luck. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 11:47 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="Jared"][
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| Want a Job Teaching English in Japan but have no degree? I have been living in Japan for over 7 years and I have known too many people to count who have worked as English Teachers in Japan with NO DEGREE. Heck, a few of my friends started out teaching here with no degree in 1999 by teaching private lessons at coffee shops. They now own their own private schools and make much more money than some English professors. |
To own your own language school you stilll need a valid visa that lets you work in the country, you need money to set up and run a school/business, buy books and furniture and pay salaries. I would like to see proof that they make more than university professors. they certainly dont get 4 months holiday a year, health insurance, pension, research grants. Paid holidays.
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| Speaking of the private schools, if you have some teaching experience but no degree, are you able to start your own school in Japan on a business visa or anything like that? Keep in mind, I'm also aware of the Humanities visa for those with 3 years experience (which I don't have yet). |
You dont qualify for a business visa. that is for people setting up a local branch of a foreign company or setting up an overseas franchise in Japan. You need to show your business accounts, have a business address and a proper business (teaching from home doesnt count) and you need to employ two japanese nationals full-time in order to get teh business investor visa.
Someone on a tourist visa with no degree and no established business has zero chance of qualifying for this visa.
| Quote: |
| Is it very easy to find a English Teaching job without a degree? In a nutshell... most job listings state that a "4 year degree in any subject" is required. However, the main purpose of this is to satisfy the Immigration Laws - not so much as a "qualification" to teach. Japanese Immigration, for example, doesn't require you to have a 4 year degree for visa issuance. However, you do need to be sponsored. If you can show some proof of your "skill" - a "TESOL Certification" for example, you will have no problems. After all, about 95% of English Teacher positions list "No Teaching Experience Necessary." Especially positions at the smaller English schools or those just outside of the major cities (Tokyo, Osaka, etc..). If you were to apply at these types of schools, you would most certainly be hired on the spot! |
Easier said that done nowadays. You still need enough money to live on until you find a job and get a pay check. that can be up to two months before you get paid.
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| Now it's kinda funny cause according to my research you need to have a degree and a sponsor in order to get a work visa. I didn't think it mattered whether you had TESOL or not. With out the degree you're out of luck. At least that's as far as I understood. I know some of you may recommend that I come in on a Working Holiday visa however I wanna stay in Japan for more than one year. |
Then get the degree. Everyone else has one and thats what you need to get a visa here. Either that or get married to a Japanese and get a spouse visa, but I wouldnt get married to stay in the country.
Last edited by PAULH on Wed Oct 26, 2005 12:17 am; edited 1 time in total |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Jared wrote: |
| I have been living in Japan for over 7 years and I have known too many people to count who have worked as English Teachers in Japan with NO DEGREE. Heck, a few of my friends started out teaching here with no degree in 1999 by teaching private lessons at coffee shops. They now own their own private schools and make much more money than some English professors.Speaking of the private schools, if you have some teaching experience but no degree, are you able to start your own school in Japan on a business visa or anything like that? Keep in mind, I'm also aware of the Humanities visa for those with 3 years experience (which I don't have yet). |
so they own private schools, which means they either rent somewhere or they teach them at home. Where are you going to rent classrooms if you can only live here on a working holiday visa? Most landlords dont like you operating a business out of your apartment and you probably wont make enough in a year to make it a going concern.
I wouldnt trust someone who writes English Teachers with a capital "T" in the middle of a sentence, to tell me how to teach English.
| Quote: |
| If you can show some proof of your "skill" - a "TESOL Certification" for example, you will have no problems. After all, about 95% of English Teacher positions list "No Teaching Experience Necessary." |
you still need a degree for the work visa. A TESOL certificate wont get you a work visa and most TESOL certs are not recognised here anyway except the big-name ones. A TESOL cert doesnt make you skilled, its a piece of paper. Work experience and proper qualifications, and actual teaching does. Who trains the trainees and what are their qualifications? Do you do a practicum in this course? Who is it accreditted by? |
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Jared
Joined: 07 Sep 2004
Posts: 319
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for letting me in on all this. |
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