Job Discussion Forums

[c99ux]

Once again, thank you all for your opinions and advice.
Glenski and homersimpson, thank you for your comments. I should explain more: I don't want to work for a company, school or an eikaiwa, I have more than enough private students to keep me busy, and I have to turn down more than 90% of the referals I get. I don't want to be employed, but I have been thinking about setting up my own specialist "academy" in the future.
I'm not a teacher as such, more a consultant and coach for students who want to take Cambridge exams and tests.
Anyway, I can't get a full time job working for anyone here because I don't have any formal qualifications (for those of you who understand the British education system, the only thing I've got is a grade 3 CSE in English Language...).
I was lucky enough to teach conversation classes (for students and teachers!!!) at Warsaw Technical University in Poland for 6 years (2 full time, 4 part time). Simply being a native speaker was enough for them to hire me. Through the university and the British Council, I learnt about the Cambridge exams, and how students should prepare for them. I have worked for many language schools in Poland, mostly teaching classes (schoolkids and adults), and some privates, but they were all only part time jobs. I stopped teaching in in Poland 1995.
I came here in 1999 when I was working for a financial consultancy, met the ex-wife-to be, got married, and stayed here when my company went bankrupt. Since then I've been teaching privately. As I wrote above, I now have so many students that I regularly have to turn new ones down. It seems like half of Japan wants an IELTS score of 7+. I don't need an employer, I just want to keep on doing what I've been doing here for the past 2 years.

[ronin]

So let me get this straight, you spent all of your life throwing money around to teach and travel in different countries but you didn't bother taking some time out to get a degree? Well any way what�s done is done and you can't think about the past. Right now my friend listen to what everyone on this board has been telling you and get the hell out of Japan, you might find it refreshing to re-group at home after your divorce which probably took a big toll on you depending on how messy it was. Go back to the UK go visit this site http://www.japansingle.com/ and find yourself another wife, then come back. Trust me when I say you don't want to spend time being forced to stare at a wall for 12 hours straight in a Japanese prison.

[guest of Japan]

Make your business legal and self sponsor. You'll probably need to take on a Japanese person as a shadow partner to facillitate the process.

I have never done this, but I knew someone who did. You'll want to have the Japanese person as a partner for your business. Ideally this person is a well-off friend who is nothing more than a name. I'm not sure if this person is involved in sponsoring a visa or not. Visit a small business attorney to make your business legit. Keep records for your business, have students sign contracts, and pay taxes. You'll probably need a bit of time to get everything rolling, so you will probably have to stay married a bit more.

[canuck]

c99ux,

You're trying hold on, but you don't have a leg to stand on. The best suggestion, other than getting the hell out of dodge is to setup a school, with your private teaching base. Then, hope for the best and go through the legal wrangle.

Do you pay taxes on your private lessons?

I feel for you man, you as soon as you overstay your visa, don't have another one and stay here illegally, I wouldn't shed a tear if they threw the book at you. Life is about making decisions, and trying to make lots of good/practical ones and avoid the big, bad ones.

[Big John Stud]

[ronin]

[c99ux]

ronin, thanks for the advice. Yup, that's exactly right, to quote George Best: "I spend loads of money on booze, women and fast cars. I wasted the rest..." Seriously, for me to get a degree, first I have to get secondary school (high school) qualifications, then go to college. It'd take a few years at least. I have never found doing that my highest priority (maybe that's just changed, now is a good time for me to get something real on paper).
guest of Japan, I have considered setting up my business, and I can do it myself without a partner or sponsor, but I need a million yen minimum.
canuck, yes, I have declared my earnings. Before the divorce (April this year) my wife handled the accounts and tax, etc. For this year, if I leave now, I won't have to declare.