Job Discussion Forums

[raelianautopsy]

Hello I'm new to this forum, nice to meet you. I am an English teacher in Shenzhen, China. I've been doing it for about two-and-a-half years, enjoy it, and I am giving a lot of thought to going to Japan and teaching just for the summer, hopefully in Tokyo.

China is a different place when it comes to salary and the price of living. Before I shell out the money to buy a plane ticket, I want to know as much as possible about the ESL business in Japan and plan accordingly.

First off, as for me- I teach kids at a private training center, do a lot of part-time tutoring, and I think I'm pretty good at this sort of thing. I have only done it in China though, and I know it's more lax here than other countries. In China they are not very strict about work visas, college education, etc. But if you do a good job entertaining kids you can be quite successful.

Actually I studied Japanese in college, I'm rusty but I think I can pick up the basics quickly. (Can still read katakana, hiragana, etc.) I visited Osaka and Hiroshima years ago, but never Tokyo and it's always been my dream. Also, I'm studying Mandarin and I know a lot of kanji at this point, all will be helpful for surviving in Japan.

OK here goes my questions:

Is it worth coming, just in August? Do they have private eidawa schools summer term classes, or 'summer camps', sort of places that provide work just seasonally?

And... I will be upfront and divulge that I do not have a bachelor's degree. I went to college but I didn't finish. I do have an online TEFL certificate. Now, in mainland China this isn't absolutely necessary... but how important is this in Japan? If it's just for a month can I come as a tourist and get work? Would I get into a lot of trouble? What about tutoring, and being paid under the table?

I mean, even if I apply for a visa it takes weeks from what I've heard; I might as well jump right into work without it if its only seasonal like this. Right??

For that matter, if I'm only there in August would it be tricky to make sure I'm paid right away (once-a-month salaries tend to make you wait, no September 10th payday if I'm already out of the country)


I have a lot of experience and I am confident that I can do a great job in any ESL job, primarily with kids, if only I'm given a chance. I hope a lack of college degree isn't a deal-breaker in Nihon...

That's it. Later I may ask about more specifics, but first I must know the important factors to see if I go at all! I really love Japanese culture and hope I can have an awesome summer there, any input that might help is greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot, take care~


Domo!

[Apsara]

[raelianautopsy]

Surely, there's no market for seasonal work at all...? So sad, there must be some options to make it work.

Anyone else have a perspective to share? I have a friend that worked in the summer in South Korea like this, there must be some examples of doing it in Japan.

[seklarwia]

The problem isn't that there isn't summer work out here.

The problem is that you are not eligible for a work visa (this is not China where people turn a blind eye or paper work can be easily obtained from the authorities with a little "incentive").

And even if you did have a degree, there are no short term work visas for these seasonal jobs and immigration would not grant you a year visa for such a short term job even if you did find an employer willing to hire and sponsor you (which in itself is highly unlikely considering they have so many people here with visas in hand to choose from).

The only people in your position who might stand a chance of doing what you are suggesting are those able to get a WHV. But this is not an option open to Americans and and those eligible would need to apply back in their home countries.

So as Apsara says; it simply isn't a realistic plan for one your position.

[raelianautopsy]

Alas, perhaps this dream is not meant to be. No exceptions really, anyone at all out there who can help me out??

At this rate I will probably go for a several weeks anyways, if only for vacation with no need to work to fund it. Time to save money.

Thank you for the heads up info so far, and I shall have to plan accordingly...

[Glenski]

[raelianautopsy]

I got it, at this rate I'll probably just go there for travel. Maybe a two-week trip, have fun and spend money and just not make any money should still be okay. Whatever, it will work out happily.

Unless anybody still convinces me different before I buy a ticket, and commit to a plan one way or the other...

@Glenski But I do personally know someone on a student visa who still did private coffee shop teaching. Sorry to come across like I'm promoting horrible illegal activity, just not sure how it works out there. And by the way I did check out the frequently asked questions but I needed to know specifically about the possibility of seasonal summer work. Isn't that the point of these forums to communicate with each other?

[seklarwia]

[Glenski]

[rxk22]

What if you had a spousal visa? What kind of seasonal work could you do, outside of the Eikaiwa salt mines?

[mspxlation]

Persons with a spousal visa can work at any legal occupation with no restriction on hours, but who would want to marry a Japanese person just to obtain a summer job?

[Glenski]

Spousal visa (meaning, you are married to a Japanese spouse) lets you do any work an employer thinks you are qualified to do.

But to come and apply for work for just one month (August) is not realistic. You'd have to give notice the day you were hired. If you are very lucky, there may be some PT work that is also as temporary as this, but your setup costs to come here would be more than the money you'd make.

Do you have a spouse visa? If you don't but are eligible, it'll still take 2-4 weeks to get one, maybe even longer depending on circumstances. Since the spouse question was asked by a different person (rxk22), just how long did you plan to work on a "seasonal" job? Even 2-3 months wouldn't make up your setup costs.

[Apsara]

Assuming the person was already in Japan and not just applying for the spouse visa to come over for 2-3 months as in Glenski's scenario, there could possibly be seasonal (winter) work in the skifields as an instructor, bartender or hotel staff for example in the areas that see a lot of non-Japanese visitors (mostly Hakuba and Niseko), but you would need good Japanese skills.

I actually worked at a ski resort for a season when I first came to Japan, but that was through a programme for people on working holiday visas, and it was before the economy got as bad as it is now.

Also there is English summer camp work, although not a huge amount of it- I have done this too, got the job through word of mouth.

I used to see seasonal jobs in Okinawa resorts for non-Japanese advertised but haven't for a while now. Basically there isn't a huge market for seasonal work for foreigners, or if there is, it's mostly through word-of-mouth and not widely advertised.

[Glenski]

Yes, if one was already here and had a valid visa, seasonal work is an option.

Depending on what type of visa one has, it might be necessary to get special permission to do such work if it is outside the permitted activities of one's visa. Easily enough obtained.
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/zairyuu/shikakugai.html

Work at some ski resorts may not require high Japanese ability. Many foreigners operate ski resorts or ski lesson camps, so they themselves don't need Japanese lessons to converse with their foreign instructors. One should have enough Japanese, though, to talk to the Japanese ski students!

[rxk22]