Job Discussion Forums

[acmtech]

Well first off hello and sorry if this has been answered 10000 etc times before.

I am an Australian National (22years old, male, living about 2hours north of Sydney on the east coast).
Currently I have a few TAFE qualifications (Cert III Cooking, Nutrition).
I am studying Cert I Japanese.
I work at a supermarket (Fruit and Vegetable section though have worked in nearly every section).

Well now on to my story after my little introduction to Anthony

Can someone help me?
My girlfriend is from Japan and has recently gone back home for an unspecified time

I have no university degree.

I want to go to Japan and live\work there not only to see what it is like living in another culture but to learn more about my girlfriend and her family in her home country.
As I am not a millionaire (though sometimes I dream what if )
The only way I can see myself going over there would be if I could get a job. From what I can tell you need a university degree to get a job .

Is there anyway to teach english in Japan without a university degree but a working holiday visa? Or are their any companies who would sponsor someone to teach english (instead of having uni degree).

I have also heard about TESOL and TEFL course and more recently CELTA.

Now can anyone tell me what is the difference between these courses and why are some cheap ($500 approx) and others more expensive ($2500 approx).
I happened to pick up a brochure while I was in the local STA Travel center while my girlfriend was booking her ticket. It had a TEFL and TESOL course they run but they couldn't tell me anything about the two courses.

Am I able to get the proper visa to work in Japan with any of these courses? If I had one of these courses behind me would I still need a university degree? Or is my idea of moving to Japan for longer than a holiday
stupid.

PLEASE HELP.

Sorry if anyone doesn't understand anything in this post. If you need help understanding something I wrote please message me. I quickly wrote above as it is late (1:10AM) and I should of been in bed! Work early

So Good night all!

Anthony
acmtech

ADD: Sorry forgot to ask: Are there anyother asian countries which allow people without a degree to teach english? And if I did this could I then transfer in a way (experience I get) from that country to Japan?

[Like a Rolling Stone]

Get a WHV young chap you can work at NOVCA

no need for CELTA or oithers and they don"t stop you needimg a degree for a working visa.

[acmtech]

Sorry for seeming stupid but what is a WHV?
Anthony
acmtech

[acmtech]

slaps forhead! Damn I have got up on the wrong side of stupid today!

WHV = Working Holiday Visa? With this I can teach english? Also does it require me to organise interviews from Australia or while I am in Japan. Trying to work out cause I have about 1months holidays from work thinking if can work out getting time off going over and arranging for a job then coming back and saying goodbye (the nice way) to my current job.

Anthony
acmtech

[Like a Rolling Stone]

[acmtech]

This is nothing related but as I am up way past when I should of gone to bed (work will be fun tomorow )


Like a Rolling Stone
Joined: 27 Mar 2006
Posts: 666 <- OMG



That is all

Anthony
acmtech

[Like a Rolling Stone]

OK: her e is the Ministry of Justice in Japan. Maybe there is a better place for the info...but for starters let me give you this

http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/04.html

[Like a Rolling Stone]

[luckyloser700]

tech,

I know someone who got hired by a big-4 eikaiwa company. She's about your age, Australian, no degree and was already in the country on a WHV. She interviewed in country and was working within 3 weeks. Just dive into it, mate. You'll get here and be working soon enough.

Good luck.

[Glenski]

Anthony,
A working holiday visa will let you work as a teacher (or practically any other job except in bars) in Japan for 3 6-month stints (continuous). After that, the WHV is over.

You can also come to Japan as a student and get a student visa, which will permit part-time work. It's not much to live on, but it's something and just another option.

You could also see if you feel like studying some craft (martial arts, flower arrangement, pottery making, etc.) under a master who is willing to sponsor you for a cultural visa (which allows PT work).

You will need at least 3 years of teaching experience (including what you get with a WHV) combined from anywhere in the world in order to get a work visa without a bachelor's degree. So, the WHV will get you halfway there if you can find FT work. You cannot get a work visa with no degree and less than 3 years of experience even if you have a CELTA or any other TEFL certification.

Your only other option is to marry your gf and get a spouse visa, which allows any type of work.

Here's a link to WHV info.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html

Here's a link to visas in Japan in general.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html

[japan_01]

If you are stuck for work, GABA employs anyone with a foreign looking face. I am younger than you and on a WHV with NO qualifications except High School and they employ me. I am taking home $2800 monthly and I chose the hours I want to work. I can really recommend GABA I believe SAKAE, NAGOYA is employing as we speak. Move your oshiri (bum) to Japan ASAP!!

[TokyoLiz]

My Canadian colleague was on the WHV for a year, earning a subsistance living and travelling. He did all right living in a Tokyo guest house and studying his martial style with a dojo in Tokyo. It can be done.

Go for GABA or some of the small mom and pop eikaiwas and they'll hire you once you're here.

Also, I second what Glenski said - going to a Japanese language school allows you to work part time. If you're working in Japanese, all the better for your grades, and a better handle on your girlfriend's culture.

[acmtech]

Hey thanks all for your replies.
I don't know why but it makes it better when you have people who have done it tell you.

luckyloser700 - Can you contact her or get her to contact me at symshop [at] spymac.com would like to find out how she went about it.

Anthony

[markle]

Beyond the teaching bit (I for one recommend you get a TESL cert I means your students don't have to put up with being guinea pigs while you learn how to teach and certs can be used else where- like back home)

You have some Certs in Cooking and Nutrition right so think about doing something related to that - teach cooking, work in a restaurant, whatever. You'll be on a WHV use it and abuse it in other ways than teaching English.

[emypie]

I would recommend you get the CELTA since you don't have a degree and you have no experience. I'm not saying that you NEED a degree or have to be a genius to teach English, especially if you are teaching kids where it is very simplified.

I know people come to Japan for different reasons, such as chasing their Japanese girlfriends, learning aikido, and so forth, and teaching English is simply an easy way to live here and support yourself while you do what you REALLY want to do.

But please, just think about your students. Remember that these people are going to be paying you A LOT of their hard earned money to learn English from you. And IMO you owe it to them to at least TRY to be a good teacher and give them good lessons. Seems like people forget about this fact.

So yes, I would recommend you get some kind of tefl training, preferably the CELTA, pay the money and do it, and then you'll at least have an idea about what to expect in the classroom and it's a good qualification.

Anyways... good luck... have fun... hope all goes well with your GF.