Job Discussion Forums

[Musouka]

Wow, I've never felt such anger from total strangers. Anyway, I don't really know what I want to do. I was hoping for a few examples of some people on the boards of what direction they took. I'm young, just out of college and have found a job I enjoy and was just curious on which direction to go from here.

Can you tell me some affordable Japanese schools in America and some affordable Japanese schools in Japan and I'll research from there.

PS: maybe you could give me a few examples of what you've done in your life. People like to talk right?

[osakajojo]

There is a really interesting place that you can go that will probably help you out. I believe you can get the information that you need that you haven't yet been able to find on this site. If you can, try it out and let us know if you found what you are looking for. I believe it is excellent for someone like you.

[Chris21]

Like others who have responded to the original post, I'm confused. Getting Japanese-certified is not going to help you get a university job if you don't have a Masters in applied linguistics or TESOL.

Going back to the US to study Japanese won't really accomplish much in the way of university employment. You'll probably end up spending time and money, come back to Japan, and find that the only place you can get a job is at a conversation school... where you are now. It's great to have Japanese ability, but if you want to go to the next level, your next step is pretty clear. If I were you, I'd get a Masters, and then work on your Japanese (or a PhD).

[kdynamic]

Or get some business training and open your own school?

I don't know much about the ESL world, but it seems to me that a lot of people who come here, get married, and are locked in to staying end up opening their own English schools.

[seanmcginty]

The University of Sheffield (UK) offers an MA in advanced Japanese studies through distance learning. You can take it part time while working full time in Japan. I was interested in it a few years ago and ordered the info package, but in the end I never took it (though I really wanted to). I have heard from someone who has that it is an extremely useful program. You can find out about it here:

http://www.shef.ac.uk/seas/dlc/ajs.html

[Quibby84]

I looked up that school and it is pretty expensive...are all schools that expensive?

[Musouka]

Thanks Sean, that was exactly what I was looking for. What was the reason that you didnt take it? It is pretty expensive...but if it were legitimate then it would be worth it...I called them and asked for a information packet.
Does anyone else know any schools?

(I dont know if I want to work at a University, but I do know that I want to learn Japanese and have a certificate of some sort that says I know Japanese)

[seanmcginty]