Job Discussion Forums

[Nozomi]

Hello, I've spent several months on and off going over the forums, and am quite certain that I want to go overseas to Japan and teach English for a few years once I graduate. I have (or will have) the following qualifications, which from reading the site I've found confer varying levels of usefulness. Would it be possible to get an opinion or two as to whether or not I'm on the right track, anything here that might warrant more focus, any additional things I've overlooked etc? I would really appreciate it.

- Will have a BSc. from a very good school

- TESL certificate from Oxford Seminars (should I splurge on a CELTA? I doubt I could do it while still in school which would push me back a few months after graduating)

- Sincere interest in Japan (traveled there twice, have friends in Tokyo, knowledgeable about the country, customs and etiquette etc)

- Somewhat conversational in Japanese. I still have a year and a half to go so I'm hoping to get it up to "highly conversant". I am aware that Japanese is generally not spoken on the job, however it would help integrate into the society.

- Many years volunteering/teaching children (in sports, not languages). Considering volunteering with ESL/immigrant students in some capacity during my final year.

- Agreeable to relocate to any region of Japan. Willing to work in smaller communities.

- Don't particularly expect a high salary (don't get me wrong, it would be nice, but as long as I'm covering my living costs and a bit for travel/entertainment, anything else is a bonus)



So yes, if anyone has any feedback (positive or negative) I'd be very appreciative. I'm aiming to depart any time after I graduate (which is April-May 2013) and plan to apply to all major Eikiwas (Aeon, Amity, ECC, lots of smaller ones), ALT placements (Interac, and whatever else I can find), as well as the JET program, although I am aware I have a snowball's chance in hell of getting into that. I just wanted to get a handle on where I am now and what needs to be done to maximize my competitiveness.

Many thanks, I'll be around

[Glenski]

A bachelor's degree from any accredited school is sufficient for minimum qualifications for a work visa in Japan. Doesn't have to be a good or bad school.

Everything else on your list is gravy.

1. Most schools don't know about certification. Won't hurt to have it, though, and with today's highly competitive market in Japan, it might be considered when comparing you with the competition. No promises.

2. Your "interest" is assumed. How long have you actually been in Japan on visits so that you can claim you are "knowledgeable"? This little item might help employers to perceive you as being less apt to fall prey to culture shock. Be careful about who you claim are your "friends" here, though. Boyfriends and girlfriends are not something to brag about to an employer.

3. What is "somewhat conversational"? If you can't give a JLPT level, it doesn't really count unless you can describe what you can/cannot do. Be advised that most employers don't want teachers using Japanese in the classroom anyway. Knowing the language will help with daily affairs and perhaps with office staff, which is good.

4. Volunteering with children will be favorable for children's teaching jobs. Not a lot of help, though, IMO if it isn't with languages.

5. Willingness to work in rural areas is a plus. Consider exactly where, though, since you might be asked.

6. Don't sell yourself short on salaries. They have fallen recently, and some employers are asking too little for the work they give. My advice is not to take anything less than 220,000 yen/month, but it also depends on other circumstances.

Don't wait until you graduate to apply. Academic year begins in April here, so you will miss the boat on the majority of jobs anyway. Only a dozen or so employers recruit from abroad, and a handful more will do Skype interviews, so applying to small eikaiwas may not even be worth it unless you are physically in Japan.

[Nozomi]

Thank you so much for the reply! Yes, I was aware that a Bachelor's degree was the only advertised requirement. My point of asking was more to add whatever padding I can to my applications to be as competitive as possible. I'm aware the market in Japan isn't what it once was, and I figure every little bit helps.

My main reason for the pessimism with JET acceptance is that a quick Google search reveals acceptance rates from 15% to 1% (not a typo!) depending on your country. Half of the people accepted are from USA, and I'm in Canada. Plus a good number of people are re-applying, which means they'd already have a leg up. Plus my grades are okay, but not stellar, and I know they request transcripts.

As for location, I'd happily take Sado Island if they stuck me there More realistically, I'm aiming for Kyushu or Shikoku. Possibly Hokkaido. But seriously, there's nowhere I would not accept.

[Tudor]

[tttompatz]

^^^ what he said and add the fact that the number of US economic refugees seeking ANY work in Asia just to get started on their student loans has meant a sharp increase in the number applying ... in Korea and Thailand the increase has been about 100-fold.

Just to comment on your original post; skip the TESL certificate from Oxford Seminars. It won't be worth the paper it is printed on (Photoshop one and it will have the same value).

If you really want something to add make sure it is 120 hours with a minimum of 6 hours of observed practicum with real students. Anything else is just wasting money and feeding the dream machine.

Don';t sweat over the CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) unless you plan to work with adults or intend to add the CELTA-YL module to it. The basic CELTA (Cambridge branded TESOL cert) really is virtually worthless when it comes to working with kids.

.

[Glenski]

[contented]

See if your university offers TESOL certification through the English Dept. If so, then you can probably complete it by the time you graduate.

And do apply for the JET Programme. You never know what can happen.

[Nozomi]

Thank you again to everyone for your advice. I'll definitely be applying to JET, with ALTs and Eikawas as backups. And I will look into some of the ideas suggested regarding a TEFL.

I didn't know that Hokkaido was a popular choice; I'll keep that in mind though. My DREAM posting would be Tanegashima, and I'll probably mention it just to add some uniqueness to my application. But yeah, stick me anywhere