Job Discussion Forums

[monkey_z]

Iwantmyrightsnow,

If you have the money to fly out to Japan and stay there for a month or two, then you have the money for community college (2 years). While you are there, you can work and save money for the two final years at a state school. Then, you would have a four year degree. Most schools take community college's credits.


If you don't want to better youself, then why try to better someone else?

[anthyp]

I finally have my excuse to post (again) in the Japan forum!

An avid reader of the goings - on here, though my place is in China, as you can all see.

Regarding working in China without a degree, PAULH already provided the link which I gave to another poster in the Newbie forum, specifying the qualification requirements of Foreign Experts (English teachers) in the PRC.

You must have a BA to work here legally. However, schools will hire pretty much anyone here - that other poster was a 17 - year old who already had 2 job offers! And she will be making more money than I do, cripes.

There simply aren't enough qualified applicants for all the positions. But this is not quite like the non - EU citizen - working - in - Europe situation, which everybody knows about, and ignores. Working illegally in the PRC is not a good idea!

Your school may be able to (lie to) get you your necessary Visa, and even your FE certificate, but these are documents that must be passed along to your next employers, or retained by your school, etc. Basically working illegally here is slightly more risky, because this might jeapordize future employment prospects.

[Iwantmyrightsnow]

[BenJ]

this sort of question keeps coming up it seems and at the risk of repeating myself, I'll add my two cents (ever heard of "search" OP?):

my partner doesn't have a degree but she does have 3 years experience and a certificate in the field she is working in (kindergarten/childcare) - we were informed by her company that this was enough to apply and get a work visa with. She changed her WHV to a work visa 2 months ago.

I don't think this is directly helpful to the OP though as it sounds like he doesn't have any experience relevant. However if Japan is that big a drawcard, why not going home and getting the WHV or spending a measly couple of years getting a higher degree?? Japan isn't going anywhere.

[monkey_z]

Iwantmyrightsnow,

Are you telling me that getting a BA or BS isnt worth anything when it comes to teaching in Japan. Are you saying that a Japanese school or company should give equal regard to a person with a degree and a person without one?

[Iwantmyrightsnow]

[PAULH]

[anton]

[monkey_z]

Anton,

I am not saying that a BA, BS or MA makes a person a good teacher. However, they do show that a person has some intelligence and drive. Not having one shows nothing. It is known that some people fall through the cracks and can go to college. I feel they have other things to worry than teaching in Japan.

There should be some basic criteria for getting a job. Only asking for a BA, or BS is not asking much.

Experience is good. I feel it is very important; however, you need more.

I taught in Japan for three reasons. 1.) I wanted to do my masters on the Japanese educational system (still do). 2.) My mother, brother, sister, and aunt are all teachers. It runs in my family. 3.) I like Japan. I have spoken to people who interview people for jobs in Japan. They told me that there are always two reason they ALWAYS hear. 1.) I love Japan. 2.) I love children. These are good reasons but othen the only reasons. The love for anime also was a reason that came up.

[monkey_z]

Anton,

I am not saying that a BA, BS or MA makes a person a good teacher. However, they do show that a person has some intelligence and drive. Not having one shows nothing. It is known that some people fall through the cracks and can go to college. I feel they have other things to worry than teaching in Japan.

There should be some basic criteria for getting a job. Only asking for a BA, or BS is not asking much.

Experience is good. I feel it is very important; however, you need more.

I taught in Japan for three reasons. 1.) I wanted to do my masters on the Japanese educational system (still do). 2.) My mother, brother, sister, and aunt are all teachers. It runs in my family. 3.) I like Japan. I have spoken to people who interview people for jobs in Japan. They told me that there are always two reason they ALWAYS hear. 1.) I love Japan. 2.) I love children. These are good reasons but othen the only reasons. The love for anime also was a reason that came up.

[Iwantmyrightsnow]

[monkey_z]

You say basic degree. What is a basic degree. A degree is a degree. It is an undergrad. degree. It isn't the easiest thing to get. That is one of the reasons we are having this discussion.

If you are working for five years, you can go to school for five years. Plus, why would you want to quit a job you were working for 5 years (moving up the ranks) to get a job that doesn't pay much.

There are not many jobs in education that would give you teaching experience wereyou do not need a degree. In the US, well, at least in NJ, you need to have at least 60 credits to Sub. A person could probably work at a daycare center (mainly women), but that just gives you experience with children. It does not give you much experience teaching children.

[Iwantmyrightsnow]

[monkey_z]

Having a masters in Education does not mean that a person will be a good teacher, but I would take that person way before I would take a person without one (if I was Japanese company or school). Just like I would take a person with a degree sooner than I would take a person without one.

Like I said before, a degree show that a person has some intelligence and drive. You can say that a person without a degree can have that same drive through experience. However, you have to look at it from the Japanese point of view. They have to have some type of criteria. In a lot of other countries you have to have some type degree or college credits to teach.

In my opinion, I feel that the standard is too low in Japan. I feel you should at least an MA in education, TEFL, or Area studies to teach there (they could not do this because it would limit the number of TEFL teachers). This would exclude myself. Would I piss and moan about it? No. I would be getting my MA

[PAULH]

[quote="Iwantmyrightsnow"]