Job Discussion Forums

MikeW · Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 2

Is it required to have a degree in order to teach English in Japan?

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Please read the stickies and some of the messages on the forum before posting questions like this.

Thanks.

whatthefunk · Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Posts: 130 Location: Japan

to get a visa, other than a working holiday visa, yes.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Indiana Jones · Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:04 am Post subject:

Hi Glenski,

I was just cruising this website for information on traveling in Japan (I'm visiting for a few weeks between Oct 26th and Nov 21st) and I came across this thread.

Can you please post (or message me) more information? I heard a new visa was created last year, an EFL teacher visa that doesn't require a degree. I haven't followed up on it, but I remember seeing it listed on the website for Japanese Immigration. It came into affect last September, so many people might not know about it. I might make some calls tomorrow and find out more about it.

As for proving 3 or more years of FT experience - is that teaching EFL experience, or any job?

Thanks for your help mate. I'm slogging it out at university this year and next year trying to finish a degree so I can teach EFL in Japan and elsewhere. It's hard going, because I'm 33 and I have a Diploma of Arts: Professional Writing & Editing. I know my ABCs and english language. It's a shame, a Diploma in Australia is a bit different (and possibly more respectable?) than in the USA, I don't know. I worked bloody hard to finish it! Alas, it's a year short of a degree and doesn't cut it with Immigration. Ah well, another year and a half to go ... *slog slog slog*

Cheers mate,

Rick

PS To the Original Poster - if you're 30 or under, get a Working Holiday Visa NOW. Live and work in Japan while you can, don't put it off. Don't wait til you're 31, because if you don't have a degree, it's tough luck. It really sucks to be considered old and unwanted! Wink

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Indiana Jones wrote:

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Indiana Jones · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 7:03 am Post subject:

Glenski,

From what I've heard a new visa was created specifically for teaching EFL, as opposed to the normal working visa for people 30+ who have a degree. The old working visa, provided you have a degree, allowed you to work pretty much most jobs, but this new visa is specifically limited to EFL. I spoke to the Japanese Consulate here in Melbourne Oz late last year, and the person I spoke to said he had heard of it, it had come into affect September 2005, but he couldn't find any more details about it. I never followed up this lead and haven't heard a thing since. So I don't know if it was implemented briefly, then promptly scrapped, or if it lurks in the filing cabinets of Japan Immigration, kept under wraps for reasons known only to beaurocrats.

Who knows the reasons for creating it. Possibly to put people who come to teach EFL and people who come to work other jobs (law, music, architecture, engineering, etc) in separate, easy to recognise files. That'd make sense. A friend told me it was to allow people over the age of 30 with tertiary qualifications other than degrees (such as diplomas) to teach EFL. I doubt that, because I don't think the TEFL elite would like a China situation in Japan! Who knows.

As it stands, if you're over 30, you need a degree to live and work in Japan. Tough luck, you can't get a Working Holiday Visa if you're over 30. If you're under 30, you can get a working holiday visa with no degree (but tertiary education of some kind is strongly recommended) provided you have employment -- TEFL, bartending, fisherman, escort girl, anything goes. Do it while you're young, kids, don't hesitate.

Me, I'll keep an eye out. If this new visa proves the goods, I'll grab it, but right now, I'll just keep slogging along the long winding path to finishing a degree in 2008 (geezus that's scary, where are the hover cars and sky cities?). I'd encourage other people pushing 30 (or over the hill) to finish a degree if they can too. Better late than never!

Cheers mate,

Rick

Jared · Joined: 07 Sep 2004 Posts: 319 Location: Canada

A visa specially designed for teaching EFL? No degree required? I really wanna know more about this. I'm teaching English in China and have no degree. Japan pays better which is why I wanna go there. So is there anyone else here who knows more about the EFL visa besides Indiana Jones? Going to Japan on a WH visa, I'd have to fly all the way back to Canada first. Don't wanna do that if I don't have to. And the thing about the student visa, why not just go to University back home? It's just as expensive to go to University in Japan as it is back home. Besides you gotta prove you got the funds to support yourself before you get the visa. And the 3 year work experience teaching? How would I find a company that would take me? And is it that hard to find? I haven't seen any ESL job on the net that said "Either a B.A. or 3 years teaching experience". Every listing I've seen said "B.A. required".

Yawarakaijin · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 504 Location: Middle of Nagano

Jared if you do have 3 years work experience in a related field you can get a working visa. I managed it after working about 5 years at an ESL school in Canada. Basically I just sent off resumes to as many companies/schools as I could, even the ones that stated that a 4 year BA was necessary. In fact I was hired and given a visa by a school that actually stated that a 4 year degree was needed. If they like you and as long as you meet the guidelines set out by the government you can land a job. All I can say is that it's a possibility, I did it.

I dont know how it would go over with a possible employer but you might even mention to them that government rules actually dont require a 4 year degree if one has the experience. If it doesnt work, well who cares really. Whats important is maybe finding that one company that is ok with someone going the experience route as an option to having a 4 year degree.

Jared · Joined: 07 Sep 2004 Posts: 319 Location: Canada

Thanks for the reply. Just one more question. Some people say that Japan doesn't accept online degrees anymore, some say that online degrees still work. How true is that? Also, do you know of any schools of the top of your head right now that will accept someone with 3 years experience? what's your school/companie's name anyway?

Yawarakaijin · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 504 Location: Middle of Nagano

Sorry I have no idea about the online degree situation.

I dont work for an eikaiwa. I was offered a job by an individual working for a large engineering firm who was tasked with finding an English teacher for the company's in house English language program. I was also on very good terms with the manager and director of the school I left behind in Canada and they wrote me a very good recommendation letter as they both completely understood why I was leaving. That may or may not be a hard thing to swing with your current employer in China but no doubt it helped me land the job here in Japan.

Perhaps I was extremely lucky as I would have to admit most eikaiwas seem to set the bar at having at least a 4 year degree.

I'm sorry but I hope you can understand me having some reservations about posting the actual name of the company that I work for online.

My advice. You have a job in China already. Stick with it. Send out as many resumes as you can and you may get a offer here in Japan from someone who likes your resume and is aware of being able to sponsor a teacher with 3 years experience.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Yawarakaijin wrote:

Indiana Jones · Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 12:35 am Post subject:

Glenski,

I'm a bit confused. I thought if you were over 30, you need a degree to teach ESL? Does this mean you only a need a degree if you're applying for a WHV? So I can still apply for ESL jobs without a degree and if the employer wants to hire me, I can get a normal WV? I've had it explained to me that if you're over 30 you need a degree to work in Japan, on any kind of working visa, not just the WHV.

I'd like to get a Cultural Visa, as I'm writing books set in Japan, but I believe you need proof of a publishing contract. Alas, all I have is wishful thinking. Maybe I should take up Aikido, and get a Cultural Visa via that! I'd do Ikebana, but I get hayfever. The sad thing is I was studying Japanese this year, but had to drop it because I missed the first 3 or 4 weeks of classes due to a serious illness in the family -- otherwise I'd be eligible to apply for a Student Visa and study in Japan via my university.

As for the Special Happy Happy Funtime Visa, my guess is it died a quiet death, or was quickly changed to the student version. I saw it with my own two eyes on the Japanese Consulate Immigration website, it was called a Teacher Visa and specifically described being for ESL teachers with or without degrees, of any age.

At the end of the day, for those who can't teach ESL in Japan, you just have to wonder if you should just let it go, and concentrate on other things. I'm back at university for the next couple years to finish a degree, and by late 2007, when I've graduated, I'll be in a position to seriously consider ESL in Japan again. That's my advice for anyone in my shoes.

Cheers Glenski, I really appreciate the help.

Rick

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

You have it kind of backwards. If you are under 31, and from particular countries, you can get a WHV, regardless of qualifications. To get the working visa, you need at least a Bachelor's degree, or 3 years' relevant experience, regardless of age.

Other visas are as above, dependent, spouse, student etc, some of which require you to have extra permission from Immigration to work.

Many companies/ schools require you to have a BA or other degree as a minimum education requirement in order for them to hire you, others may hire people without degrees if they have a visa which allows them to work- this varies with the company.

So you don't need a degree to teach, as such, but for most people over 30, and people from countries like the US where there is no WHV agreement, they will not be able to get a visa without a degree, hence this requirement.