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tsotsa
Joined: 08 Aug 2006
Posts: 11
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 Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:41 am Post subject: Is this true?? |
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Hi!
I've been sending out applications for teaching jobs in Japan but have got ZERO replies. I was beginning to think that the easiest way would be for me to pack my bag and go there until...
i got a reply from a recruiting agency telling me that i CANNOT be employed as an English teacher in Japan because i am not a citizen of US/Canada/Britain/Australia/New Zealand!
Somebody out there please tell me this is not true! 
P.s. I am a citizen of Malta..this is an island in the Mediteranean which was a British colony for many years but is now an Independent state. English is my first language and i have a Bachelor degree, Tefl certificate & 4 years teaching experience. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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First of all, don't believe everything a recruiter has to say.
Secondly, you are in a fairly bad situation not being a native English speaker (despite what I wrote above). Some non-natives DO get teaching jobs, but it's not easy. No offense, but Japanese schools and companies perceive native English speakers as coming only from those countries.
Can you prove your English is equivalent to that of a native speaker? That'll be one key hurdle. (I know you wrote that English is your native language, but that's the first time I've heard of it, so you can bet that immigration will be even less informed, and the onus will be on you to demonstrate proficiency somehow. See below.)
Getting a visa is another. I think immigration chooses to issue such work visas only to people who have had 12-13 years of their education solely taught to them in English. Another option is to show 3 or more years of full-time teaching experience, which will bypass any requirement for a bachelor's degree. |
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tsotsa
Joined: 08 Aug 2006
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 1:59 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for your reply Glenski!
Yes i am a native English speaker?! I have spoken English all my life. In Malta the native language/s are Maltese and English. I was raised in an English speaking family and attended a private school where i was taught all subjects in English. My college and uni courses were also in English..thats the rule here in Malta. In fact my Maltese is not so good.
Of course i dont speak english with an american/british... accent... just clear english?! haha
All my certificates are in English perhaps that might help?
Yes i realise that not being a us/canada/britain/.... citizen is a problem.
I think its totally unfair. I'm sure there are many others out there who are in my situation.  |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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tsotsa,
It sounds like you have a good case. Present it well, and you just might surprise yourself and others.
Thanks for the enlightenment about Malta's education system, too. Good luck. |
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Like a Rolling Stone
Joined: 27 Mar 2006
Posts: 872
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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Malta is ome of the smallest countries in Europe so many people dont know about it. It is the only country to win the George Cross and the capital is Valeta. It is famous for Tony Drago.
Also there is/was a GEOS there. Maybe you can go there and tell them your plans. GEOS is a big company for English teaching in Japan. If you talk to them maybe they will help. You never know... good luck young sir! |
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womblingfree
Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Posts: 826
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:24 pm Post subject: Re: Is this true?? |
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| tsotsa wrote: |
i got a reply from a recruiting agency telling me that i CANNOT be employed as an English teacher in Japan because i am not a citizen of US/Canada/Britain/Australia/New Zealand!
Somebody out there please tell me this is not true!
English is my first language and i have a Bachelor degree, Tefl certificate & 4 years teaching experience. |
This is absolutely NOT TRUE!
There are a couple of reasons you may have been told this.
1. Racist hiring practices.
2. No recruitment offices in Malta.
I suspect a combination of the two. |
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rich45
Joined: 26 Jan 2006
Posts: 127
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Like a Rolling Stone wrote: |
Malta is ome of the smallest countries in Europe so many people dont know about it. It is the only country to win the George Cross and the capital is Valeta. It is famous for Tony Drago.
Also there is/was a GEOS there. Maybe you can go there and tell them your plans. GEOS is a big company for English teaching in Japan. If you talk to them maybe they will help. You never know... good luck young sir! |
The Maltese Falcon! A joy to watch the big man belting round the snooker table. 
 |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 12:38 am Post subject: |
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I used to work with a girl who was born and grew up in Malawi, Africa, but was of British descent, so her native language was English (with a mild South African-type accent). All her schooling was in English and she had no trouble getting a visa and a job.
I would say as long as you sound like a native English speaker and can prove your schooling was in English, you won't have any trouble if you interview in person.
People don't know a lot about Malta, and would probably favour people from the US, UK, Australia etc when just looking at resumes, so I think you might have to come to Japan to interview if you are serious about getting a job. |
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tsotsa
Joined: 08 Aug 2006
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:56 am Post subject: |
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Thanks everyone for your encouraging replies
It seems like i won't have a problem as long as Im there for the interviews. Finding a job online has been impossible so I think i'll just pack and go 
| Apsara wrote: |
| I used to work with a girl who was born and grew up in Malawi, Africa, but was of British descent, so her native language was English (with a mild South African-type accent). All her schooling was in English and she had no trouble getting a visa and a job. |
Thanks Apsara..i was worried that it was some government law and i would be refused a visa on grounds of my nationality but it seems like it is not like that at all. |
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tsotsa
Joined: 08 Aug 2006
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 10:02 am Post subject: |
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| Like a Rolling Stone wrote: |
| Also there is/was a GEOS there. Maybe you can go there and tell them your plans. GEOS is a big company for English teaching in Japan. If you talk to them maybe they will help. You never know... good luck young sir! |
Thanks for your suggestion! It didnt even cross my mind. We have a Geos school here as well as EF which i believe are also quite big in Japan.
I didnt know there were so many Drago fans out there! Im impressed. Usually people dont even know where malta is ... (i dont blame them..its tiny!) |
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Man of Steel
Joined: 04 Aug 2006
Posts: 20
Location: Amsterdam
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 10:12 am Post subject: |
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| I don't think EF is active in Japan. Their website doesn't mention Japan. |
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Man of Steel
Joined: 04 Aug 2006
Posts: 20
Location: Amsterdam
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 10:21 am Post subject: |
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Glenski said:
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| I think immigration chooses to issue such work visas only to people who have had 12-13 years of their education solely taught to them in English. Another option is to show 3 or more years of full-time teaching experience, which will bypass any requirement for a bachelor's degree. |
Glenski, are you saying that there is an "either ... or" rule with respect to having (i) a BA OR (ii) three or more years of full time teaching experience?
I have recently re-read the visa rules that apply to (language) instructors and this is my interpretation. If an English teacher is to qualify for a WV, he needs to have BOTH of the following things:
(a) a BA OR something equivalent OR a license to teach
(b) at least 12 years of (school) education in English
Where is the 3 years of teaching experience that you mentioned? And how does this criterion replace the need for a BA? Is this some (unwritten) practice of the Japanese authorities? Also, would that be 3 years of teaching experience in your home country ... or would anywhere do?
Finally, your comments seem to imply that the 3 years thing not only bypasses the need for a BA but also the need for the applicant to show that he has had 12-13 years of education in English ( ... you speak of the 12-13 years in the first sentence, and then you say "Another option is ..." as if the one criterion replaces the other). I guess I am reading too much in your post?
Thx
MOS |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 12:06 pm Post subject: |
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Glenski, are you saying that there is an "either ... or" rule with respect to having (i) a BA OR (ii) three or more years of full time teaching experience?
I have recently re-read the visa rules that apply to (language) instructors and this is my interpretation. If an English teacher is to qualify for a WV, he needs to have BOTH of the following things:
(a) a BA OR something equivalent OR a license to teach
(b) at least 12 years of (school) education in English |
I am saying that you need either a bachelor's degree or a minimum of 3 years of full-time teaching experience. Of course, if you have both, you are doubly satisfying immigration's requirements.
Let's look at the MOFA page http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/appendix1.html#6 (Section on Specialist in Humanities visa snipped and pasted here):
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The applicant must fulfill the following conditions. However, these conditions shall not apply in cases where the applicant plans to engage in work involving proxy duties in procedures relating to international arbitration cases as designated in Article 58-2 of the Foreign Lawyer's Law (Law No. 66 of 1986).
1. When planning to engage in work requiring knowledge in the humanities, the applicant must have acquired the relevant knowledge by graduating from college majoring in a subject relevant to the knowledge required for performing the work concerned, or by receiving an equivalent or higher level of education, or by accumulating at least 10 years of practical experience in the planned work (including the period of time spent majoring in a subject related to the required knowledge at college, "Koto senmongakko", senior high school, the latter half of unified secondary school, or during specialized course of study at an advanced vocational school ("Senshugakko")).
2. When planning to engage in work requiring specific ways of thought or sensitivity based on experience with foreign culture, the applicant must fulfill the following conditions:
a. The applicant is to engage in translation, interpretation, language instruction, public relations, advertising, overseas transactions, fashion or interior design, product development, or other similar work.
b. The applicant must have at least 3 years of experience in work relating to the relevant job. However, this does not apply if the applicant has graduated from college and is planning to engage in work involving translation, interpreting, or language instruction. [/color] |
Item 1 in bold green states what kind of work you will do with this visa. It is terribly vague by stating "work requiring knowledge in the humanities". Nothing more. Look at the non-bold underlined requirements in that same paragraph. You need to graduate with a major relevant to what you are going to do, however that does not hold for any JET ALT job, non-JET ALT job, FT high school job, or FT elementary school job that I have ever heard of. For those jobs, you only need to have a bachelor's degree -- any major will do, from anthropology to zoology. If you want to do this vague "humanities" work, you need the degree, equivalent education, or 10 years of experience.
But, look at paragraph 2. This fits teachers. The blue bold underlined section states something equally vague about what kind of work you will do with this visa ("work requiring specific ways of thought or sensitivity"), but subsection A clearly points to language instruction as one of these things. Hey, could be teaching English, German, Dutch, or even Japanese.
Point B says you need 3 years of experience doing such work unless you have a college degree. There is the point I have been saying.
| Quote: |
| Also, would that be 3 years of teaching experience in your home country ... or would anywhere do? |
As far as I have seen from the very few reports of people going that route, anywhere will do.
| Quote: |
Finally, your comments seem to imply that the 3 years thing not only bypasses the need for a BA but also the need for the applicant to show that he has had 12-13 years of education in English ( ... you speak of the 12-13 years in the first sentence, and then you say "Another option is ..." as if the one criterion replaces the other). I guess I am reading too much in your post?
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No, you are not reading too much into my post. I wrote that sloppily, and I apologize.
For native English speakers, you get a Humanities Specialist visa either by having a bachelor's degree or 3 years of experience.
For non-native speakers, you will usually have to prove to immigration that you have the 12-13 years of education in English. (I write "usually" because I'd bet there are exceptions somewhere out there.) Once you have proven that sort of background, I think immigration will then consider whether you have the degree or experience.
MOS,
I am not immigration, nor do I work for the Ministry of Justice (which ultimately issues you the visa). I am also not a non-native English speaker, so what I've written here is based on years of what people have reported online and what MOFA has written. Not many non-native speakers have reported much of anything in their successes. There is always the chance that immigration/MOJ will simply say one of three things to your application for such a visa:
1. We agree with what Glenski wrote, and the visa is yours.
2. We don't agree because our 2 countries simply don't have a visa relationship, and we won't grant a visa to you.
3. We agree provisionally and will take your case under consideration, individually, on a case-by-case basis. |
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kevinyam
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:09 am Post subject: |
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| I worked with a girl at NOVA from Trinidad and Tobago and she had a very strong accent, so if you can prove you are native level, I don't see why NOVA or the like wouldn't give you a fair shake. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Man of Steel wrote: |
I have recently re-read the visa rules that apply to (language) instructors and this is my interpretation. If an English teacher is to qualify for a WV, he needs to have BOTH of the following things:
(a) a BA OR something equivalent OR a license to teach
(b) at least 12 years of (school) education in EnglishMOS |
re-read the rules again
the 12 year rule is if you are teaching a foreign language, i.e English is not your native language and you are not a native speaker. It doesnt apply to native speakers of English who want to work here.
12 years of your education must be taught in English, meaning you have sufficient exposure to English and most of your education has been taught in that language.
In cases where the applicant is to engage in instruction at a vocational school ("Kakushugakko") or an educational institution equivalent to it in facilities and curriculum or in cases where the applicant is to engage in instruction at other school with a capacity other than a "teacher", the following conditions are to be fulfilled.
However (a) is to be fulfilled in cases where the applicant is to engage in instruction at a vocational school or an educational institution equivalent to it in facilities and curriculum which is established to give the children with the status of residence "Diplomat" or "Official" mentioned in Annexed Table 1 (1) or "Dependent" mentioned in Annexed Table 1 (4) education of primary, junior and senior high school in foreign language.
The applicant must have graduated from or completed a college or acquired equivalent education, or must hold a license to teach the subject that he or she intends to teach in Japan.
When the applicant is planning on teaching a foreign language, he or she must have acquired education in that language for at least 12 years. When the applicant is going to teach other subjects, he or she must have at least 5 years' teaching experience in that subject.
The applicant should receive no less salary than a Japanese national would receive for comparable work. |
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