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MerryGoRound
Joined: 27 Jul 2013 Posts: 2
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Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2013 11:13 pm Post subject: To study in Japan or to teach? |
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I'm stuck at the moment between teaching or studying at a language school in Japan.
My initial goal was too:
1) Study for 1 year and 3 months at ARC Academy
2) Get into a Japanese University and major in History while minoring in music (Koto).
However I've been told that I should teach and then study at a Japanese University because:
a) I'll make more money and can learn Japanese at the same time
b) It wouldn't be too late to enter a University after making more money teaching.
But the problem is:
- living expenses
- being able to find a teaching job.
I also have a diploma in Marketing at a Canadian Community College. (I don't mean a big shot University or anything). I'm literally a college student with no teaching experience or teaching degree in anything.
I was wondering if anyone on this forum had been to Japan and attempted to teach English there with a similar background like mine and had been successful?
I would love to hear your story and if you've got any advice to give me about my given situation, I'd be really grateful!
My name is MerryGoRound and its nice to meet you all! [/list] |
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rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: US
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Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 5:46 pm Post subject: Re: To study in Japan or to teach? |
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MerryGoRound wrote: |
But the problem is:
- living expenses
- being able to find a teaching job.
I also have a diploma in Marketing at a Canadian Community College. |
It sounds like you don't have a bachelors degree. A degree is required in order to get a work visa unless you have at least 3 years of verified, continuous, full-time English teaching experience (and even then, you would be competing with people who do have at least a BA). So, I don't think you would be able to get a job/work visa with just your diploma.
You could pursue your other plan of studying at a Japanese university, but I would wonder what your future goal is. I don't think history and koto are generally very employable areas. Do you have a goal for after you graduate? What do you want to do for a career? And, why study history at a Japanese university instead of a Canadian university? |
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HLJHLJ
Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 1218 Location: Ecuador
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Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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The OP could get a working holiday visa and work on that, it doesn't require a degree. They could also register as a student and get permission to work part time while studying. |
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move
Joined: 30 May 2009 Posts: 132
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Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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How is your Japanese ability? If its not around JLPT Level 1, do you think you could get it up to that level by the time you enroll? Or are the history/music programs taught in English?
About working and then going to university, I think jobs that you would qualify for (jobs with a working visa) wouldn't let you save that much money. Definitely not enough to pay for a college tuition. If money is an issue look into how to finance your education, there are many options out there.
I have to agree with rtm, I don't think either history or koto are very in demand majors. It's not like electrical engineering or something. I think you could study koto by doing a class once a week or so. I say, figure out more or less what you want to do career-wise, and do your studies first. You have the rest of your life to work.
P.S. I think that people who study in Japan end up working here anyway. |
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rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: US
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Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 1:31 am Post subject: |
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move wrote: |
How is your Japanese ability? If its not around JLPT Level 1, do you think you could get it up to that level by the time you enroll? Or are the history/music programs taught in English? |
There are some universities in Japan that offer all courses in English. There aren't many such universities, but there are a few. I had assumed (possibly incorrectly) that the OP was talking about attending such a university. If OP was talking about enrolling as a regular student in a regular Japanese university, then, yes, they would need a high level of Japanese language ability. |
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TokyoLiz
Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan
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MerryGoRound
Joined: 27 Jul 2013 Posts: 2
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Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 3:57 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the replies everyone!
I was a bit stumped by RTM's questions, to be honest.
My future career goal is to be a translator but I want to study history because I have a strong background on the subject. But then I started to think, what does history and being a translator got to do with one another?
Maybe I just find it fun to translate historical text.
I don't think my JLPT level will be 1 by the time I go. I did get a job offer with Jellyfish language school to teach English. Has anyone heard of them? Are they reliable? I don't want to go there and find I've been tricked or lied to by so and so company etc.
I also have a cousin who is interested in doing a JET placement but if she's going to get free lodging etc, would I be able to share an accommodation with her?
Its probably going to be hard to find a job that requires translation services in Japanese but it would be ideal for me. As for koto, I just want to teach it on the side so I'm willing to learn it.
Hmmm...someone also wrote about how you wouldn't make enough for tuition? I was thinking a long the same lines and I have saved up quite a bit though, if 20,000.00 counts as anything at all. I probably shouldn't say that's my life savings on the internet. But I plan on spending it on tuition and living expenses. Think I could pull through with that amount? |
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HLJHLJ
Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 1218 Location: Ecuador
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Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 5:55 am Post subject: |
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MerryGoRound wrote: |
I don't think my JLPT level will be 1 by the time I go. I did get a job offer with Jellyfish language school to teach English. Has anyone heard of them? Are they reliable? I don't want to go there and find I've been tricked or lied to by so and so company etc. |
With no degree or sufficient relevant work experience they cannot legally get you a full time work visa. That alone would be enough to ring alarm bells for me. Have they told you how they plan to get around that? If not, I suggest you ask them before you take it any further.
MerryGoRound wrote: |
I was thinking a long the same lines and I have saved up quite a bit though, if 20,000.00 counts as anything at all. I probably shouldn't say that's my life savings on the internet. But I plan on spending it on tuition and living expenses. Think I could pull through with that amount? |
20,000 Canadian Dollars, is less than 2 million yen, even at today's crappy exchange rates. It wouldn't even cover the fees at my university.
To put it into context, it's roughly equivalent to 160,000 yen a month for 1 year. You could maybe (MAYBE!) live on that for 1 year (although I don't think I could). 1 year plus tuition? No chance. 4 years? Not in anyone's wildest dreams. |
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Rooster_2006
Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 984
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Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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OP, check your inbox. I am sending you a PM. |
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