Job Discussion Forums

[Vol]

I'm a 1st yr college student in Vancouver.
I talked to some people who went to Japan w/o a degree but with a TESOL certificate and got jobs quickly. It sounds very interesting, as I know Japanese fluently, have spent some time there, and have the TESL myself from a related program.

There seems to be some sentiment around here that you aren't "professional" if you don't have even a BA so I was a bit worried about posting here.

Essentially, if you go without a degree you can get employment by applying -IN THAT COUNTRY- . I'm very worried that if I did this, I might run out of money and be forced to return home. I have first-hand experience of Japan being an expensive country to live in.

Employment prospects are very dim here. From Decemeber to the end of March I only made $2500CDN, making my savings about $5000CDN. Does that sound like enough?

My reasons for going are to avoid the "college experience", which is largely a carbon-copy of High school, get some experience, move out (for a while), and so on. My area has about 60% asian population and I have experience teaching Japanese/Taiwanese/HK/Chinese/etc. ESL students. Further, apparently I have some teaching skill.

(I know the expectation of a white/blond/blue eye person. I have no asian blood so that isn't a factor.)

[Glenski]

[PAULH]

[anthyp]

I think you should stay in college a bit longer, too. You may be able to get jobs in Japan but from what I understand they wouldn't be good ones. And I don't think your reasons for wanting to go are good enough, either (let's keep in mind, the first reason for getting into TEFL is to teach). You must ask yourself how these people will take you seriously over there. I mean you don't have a BA and you are working in education? As somebody has already mentioned your students will possibly be older than you are and even with my BA I am finding that hard enough to deal with over here in China. So maybe you should take a vacation in Japan this year and save the employment prospects till after you've finished school.

[Gordon]

I have a feeling people will laugh at you because of your age. Sorry, we were all 19 once and wanted to be 25. Age is so important here and it is the first thing they will ask you.
How long do you want to come here? The start up costs are expensive and even if you found a job right away, it would probably take 6 months before you'd start to save (after the costs of getting an apt and plane tix). I'd say go to college, Japan will still be here in 4 years and the economy will probably be better then too.

[SA_Massive]

Paul H ....

Where do you get your information about Working Holiday Visa holders only being able to work part time?

Quote from Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/programme.html

"Remunerative Activities:
Working Holiday visa holders can engage in any kind of job, part-time or full-time, as long as their stay is deemed to be primarily a holiday in Japan. They may not, however, work in places where business is being regulated by the Law on Control and Improvement of Amusement and Entertainment Business, such as nightclubs and dance halls.'"

I would hope that the site is correct, as I am planning to work part time for NOVA and supplement my salary with another job during the day.

I would appreciate it if you could let me know your info source.. as this is an important technicality for me

Regards

[canuck]

By law, you're only supposed to work 20 hours on a working holiday visa. However, you can work 20 hours at a few different places. Nova, for example, will only legally hire you for the part-time contract on a working holiday visa. A small school just wants to see you have a visa and you could get a full-time job.

[PAULH]

As a general rule, most language schools will not allow you to work full time i.e. a 40 hour work week, including overtime unless you are on a sponsored work visa. You may work at several places at once part time, or work 'full time' hours for a short period, say 6 months. I might add that this is a guideline, probably no one will check what hours you are working, but IMHO it goes against the spirit of the working holiday visa to come over here on a WHV and do nothing but spend 40-50 hours a week teaching English or working in an eikaiwa somewhere. Where do you get time to travel, sightsee, experience the culture, learn the language, if you are working full time hours?

FWIW I believe now that NOVA does not allow Flextime teachers to work overtime, as it means that they get paid more than full time sponsored teachers working the same hours. I might also add that immigration will probably want to see a travel itinerary before they issue a visa.

To summarise, IMO you can work full time, just not at the same place and the same employer. Part time slots at several different places is OK, but I fail to see how much of Japan you will see doing it that way. If you want to work full time, get the proper visa.

[SA_Massive]

Paul H,
Thankyou for your opinion. Yes I would much rather have the security of a Sponsered Visa. However, since I am finishing my Bachelors Degree in July (half way through the University Year here in Australia) I will not receive my piece of paper until March 2005,

NOVA tells me I need the actual piece of paper to be eligible for the Work Visa.. I cant wait that long.

I don't see anything wrong with working more so I can afford to see and experience Japan. I think I embody the spirit of the W H Visa!

But! re NOVA, I would be pissed off if I was a full-timer earning less than a part-timer for the same hours. But ah well! Its the old trade off :
RISK vs RETURN
I am taking a financial risk by going on the WHV whereas they are guaranteed set hours on the Working Visa.

[PAULH]

[Gordon]