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Mikazo
Joined: 18 May 2010
Posts: 13
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 Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 4:59 am Post subject: Qualifications appropriate for working within Japan |
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I'm sure somebody somewhere has answered this question, but I'd like to put it out there regardless. I have been considering the possibility of traveling to Japan and looking for work within the country. I have a B.A., no teaching experience, and understand that TEFL and suchlike certifications are not needed when applying to large chain schools. However, how important are they if you are looking for work within Japan? Don't most schools which hire from within Japan prefer some kind of certification and/or experience? How strongly would you advise gaining extra credentials or certification before hacking it on my own out there?
Thanks in advance, and if there's another thread that covers this please point me to it. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 8:02 am Post subject: |
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Look at the FAQ stickies, Part 2, FAQs #11 and #12.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=82795
| Quote: |
| I have a B.A., no teaching experience |
Assuming your BA is not related to teaching, congratulations! You are just like 90% of newbies in Japan.
Now, consider what that means.
1. Teaching credentials have not been needed for most positions here. Perhaps getting some will help nowadays because the market is flooded with teachers and wannabes, and the market is getting smaller and smaller.
2. Read some of the other threads about whether certification is "needed", and not just in Japan.
| Quote: |
| I have been considering the possibility of traveling to Japan and looking for work within the country. |
Ok, when? You are probably qualified only for entry level work, which means ALT (either through JET [which hires only once a year, and applications for 2011 will be coming up soon, but the process is lengthy] or through dispatch agencies [yuk!]) or eikaiwa (conversation schools large and small) or at the outside chance perhaps a business English agency. Read more of the FAQs for info on them. ALTs through dispatch typically get hired for April hires, since that is when the academic year begins. Eikaiwas and biz English agencies hire year round, although eikaiwas often have April start dates for their own academic terms, too. Come here to look around, and you not only have to consider the time of year, but how much money you have on you. It'll take 1-3 months to find a job and get the first paycheck. Competition is tough these days!
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| TEFL and suchlike certifications are not needed when applying to large chain schools. However, how important are they if you are looking for work within Japan? |
Some/Most of those large chain schools hire within Japan, too. And, I don't think they usually require certs, although as I wrote earlier, you may want them just because of the way the market is. |
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Mikazo
Joined: 18 May 2010
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:41 am Post subject: |
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Hi there, thanks for your response. I'll keep this information in mind during my hunt.
I did look through that sticky you referred me to prior to posting, however I still wasn't sure after reading it what the story is regarding trying to make it on one's own in Japan, so I felt some clarification was necessary.
| Glenski wrote: |
Look at the FAQ stickies, Part 2, FAQs #11 and #12.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=82795
| Quote: |
| I have a B.A., no teaching experience |
Assuming your BA is not related to teaching, congratulations! You are just like 90% of newbies in Japan.
Now, consider what that means.
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