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ambernz
Joined: 15 Jun 2004
Posts: 27
Location: HCMC but soon NZ
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 Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 1:22 am Post subject: Japan with a 4-year-old |
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Hi there,
I'm thinking about working in Japan later on this year, but the problem is that I'll be travelling with my fiance and child (4 years old). So there are a couple of questions: Is it better to get married before we go, in relation to visas? at this stage he won't be working for the first few months (house-husbanding).
Also he has a degree (in Music as he is a sound engineer/record producer) what are his chances of finding part-time work teaching conversation (he has taught Music not English). I don't appear to be having any problems finding work, as I've got experience and qualifications, but there is no way that we can afford to live on one wage for long.
Final question, what kind of things like kindy, playgroups or pre-school is there for children? We're from NZ and I've heard that childcare is expensive and relatively unregulated in Japan. We're keeping our options open in relation to the countries we go to, and if Japan is going to be too difficult with a pre-school age child we thought that we'd leave it for another year or so. Any thoughts, I'd love to hear them.
Thanks |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 2:03 am Post subject: Re: Japan with a 4-year-old |
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| ambernz wrote: |
I'm thinking about working in Japan later on this year, but the problem is that I'll be travelling with my fiance and child (4 years old). So there are a couple of questions:
(1)
Is it better to get married before we go, in relation to visas? at this stage he won't be working for the first few months (house-husbanding).
Also he has a degree (in Music as he is a sound engineer/record producer) (2)what are his chances of finding part-time work teaching conversation (he has taught Music not English). I don't appear to be having any problems finding work, as I've got experience and qualifications, but there is no way that we can afford to live on one wage for long.
(3)Final question, what kind of things like kindy, playgroups or pre-school is there for children? We're from NZ and I've heard that childcare is expensive and relatively unregulated in Japan. We're keeping our options open in relation to the countries we go to, and if Japan is going to be too difficult with a pre-school age child we thought that we'd leave it for another year or so. Any thoughts, I'd love to hear them.
Thanks |
1. If you are not married he wil still need a visa that allows him to stay here. If he is single and has no degree his only choice is a 90 day tourist visa. he would have to leave and come back for another 90 days if he wants to stay here. Get married and he can get a dependents visa.
2. Again it depends on his visa and qualifications. If he is not allowed to work he may have trouble finding jobs. you can work part time on a DV with permission from immigration. His previous background will not really meaningfully help him get a job here, except for his native English ability and a proper work visa. Satisfy those and you will have no problems.
3. I have 2 children born and raised in Japan and one of them is 5 and at a kindy. No complaints with the schools. If one parent is at home he can go to a yochien or kindergarten which usually finishes around 3 or 4. Some days you have to pick them up before lunch time so someone has to be home for them. If both parents work they can go to a nursery school open until 6 or 7 at night. Cost of daycare depends on whether you go to a private or public kindy- I pay about $50 or $60 (I think) a month for a public kindergarten.
I would not worry too much if he doesnt speak Japanese as young kids are like sponges and they will pick up the language in no time. Biggest problem is you being able to communicate with their teachers etc and keeping up with school notices.
There are international daycares around but they are expensive and I cant see you supporting a husband/boyfriend and a child on a conversation school salary, which is sufficient for one person, not a family. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 2:06 am Post subject: Re: Japan with a 4-year-old |
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| ambernz wrote: |
Also he has a degree (in Music as he is a sound engineer/record producer) what are his chances of finding part-time work teaching conversation (he has taught Music not English).
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Sorry I didnt see this
with a dependents visa he can work up to 20 hours a week no problem. He doesnt have to work but that is what he is allowed to do on that visa.
With a degree he can work full time or get a working visa, or work part time around your sons kindy schedule. He may be able to pick up private lessons etc but as i say you will find it heavy going supporting three on one teaching salary. Just my two cents worth. |
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Sherri
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 749
Location: The Big Island, Hawaii
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| Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 2:09 am Post subject: |
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Hi ambernz
I have a 3 year old and a one year old. I usually recommend people with kids to check out this website:
http://www.tokyowithkids.com/
There is a lot of kid specific information there, not necessarily about Tokyo. Finding schooling for your child that you are happy with depends a great deal on where you live. I am lucky that I found a very good place near by for my oldest. But I live in Tokyo so there are more options available. Also my ward (local authority) has a babysitting service for 800 yen an hour which I think is pretty reasonable and has great sitters. So it is also worth investigating which ward you will be living in and what facilities they have for children. If you know Japanese, then your options will be much wider since you will be able to read the brochures and posters. Not being able to read and speak Japanese means you will have to rely on other people telling you what is out there, and you may miss out on some options plus you will not be able to communicate with your child's caregivers.
If you prefer international schools, be aware that they are very expensive!
As for the visa issue, in my opinion, getting married before you come here will make your lives much easier. If you get a work visa, then your husband and (his?) child can get dependent's visas. If you don't get married, then they will not be able to stay even if you get a work visa, until your boyfriend finds a job and a sponsor. It may also be awkward finding a place to stay if you have a work visa and your boyfriend and child are on tourist visas.
All in all, for a short term stay (1 or 2 years) I think Japan would be fun for you and your family. A longer stay creates more complications related to education, which requires more thought. For the record I am going back to the States next month as I have had enough of child rearing here.
All the best
Sherri |
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ambernz
Joined: 15 Jun 2004
Posts: 27
Location: HCMC but soon NZ
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| Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 2:57 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for that! I've recently completed my MA and was thinking about university work, but as an English tutor as that is what I'm doing here.
I know that some universities run EAP programmes, does anyone work on one of these? If so, what is the employment situation like? I was also thinking about the Westgate programme (without family of course) and looking for work when that was finished, as it appears that being there is the key to getting the job.
Thanks for the info on kindy. I'm surprised at the cost, as I'd been lead to believe it was much higher and I don't think my son could stand staying at home with a grownup all day! And at least he'd learn the language faster, he'd probably end up being our translator! |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 4:14 am Post subject: |
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| ambernz wrote: |
Thanks for that! I've recently completed my MA and was thinking about university work, but as an English tutor as that is what I'm doing here.
I know that some universities run EAP programmes, does anyone work on one of these? If so, what is the employment situation like? I was also thinking about the Westgate programme (without family of course) and looking for work when that was finished, as it appears that being there is the key to getting the job.
Thanks for the info on kindy. I'm surprised at the cost, as I'd been lead to believe it was much higher and I don't think my son could stand staying at home with a grownup all day! And at least he'd learn the language faster, he'd probably end up being our translator! |
Ambernz
I am teaching in a university and i dont consider working for westgate to be university teaching. Westgate hires teachers (like they do at NOVA) and teachers work on university campuses but you will teach small groups of students full time, back to back, 5 or 6 classes a day for a standard minimum wage. it is not the same as being hired directly by the university.
The conditions, salary structure, holidays etc are totally different and you are like a temp, dispatched conversation teacher- a hired gun for the school you might say because Westgate teachers are CHEAP to hire.
If you want info on university work i can tell you wnat is needed as well as some relevant articles.
Part time you need a Masters, preferably college teaching experience, experiecne with japanese kids in Japan is preferred than overseas.
For full time you need Masters in EFL, Linguistics or English/Phd, publications and previous teaching experience. Some japanese ability preferred but not essential. there is a lot of competition for jobs (like 30-40 people applying for each position) and more often than not its about knowing someone, contacts, as well as having the right pieces of paper.
EAP programs im not so sure about but some schools have programs where they send students on overseas study tours to canada and US etc and you may tutor some students studying for TOEFL etc. Mostly i will teach regular freshmen oral communication classes. my current university classes have between 30 and 40 students in them.
My daughter was at an international school last year which has foreign and Japanese kids from the age of three. Fees were over 1 million yen (100,000 yen a month) per year which is about $NZ13,000 a year- too expensive on a conversation school teachers salary.
Japanese kindies are really your only option. |
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Lynn
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 696
Location: in between
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| Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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For sure you need to get married before you come. Fiance doesn't hold much water in Japan. You really need to be married if you are living with you fiance. If your fiance is not the father of the baby, he'll be considered the father in Japan. There is no word for "step-father" in Japanese.
Good luck and raising your kids in Japan is a great idea. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Lynn wrote: |
If your fiance is not the father of the baby, he'll be considered the father in Japan. There is no word for "step-father" in Japanese.
Good luck and raising your kids in Japan is a great idea. |
Lynn, the word for stepfather is 'mama-chichi'. |
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Lynn
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 696
Location: in between
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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| PAULH wrote: |
| Lynn wrote: |
If your fiance is not the father of the baby, he'll be considered the father in Japan. There is no word for "step-father" in Japanese.
Good luck and raising your kids in Japan is a great idea. |
Lynn, the word for stepfather is 'mama-chichi'. |
No, it's not, Paul. I ususally use that word for step-father. And people laugh. It's not really used. Mama-haha(step-mother) however is a word and it is used. If you really want to get technical, the word would be "giri no otosan" which we usually think of as "father in law" but technically it just means father that is not related by blood. Beleive me I spent many years in Japan discussing the word "step-father". Usually Japanese people would tell me not to get into specifics, ie my father died when I was 2 and my mother re-married. They said that was too much information and I should just say "father". I finally, just used the word, "my mother's husband". |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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Lynne
I checked with my wife and she agrees with you (I was referring to the dictionary definition) that mama no chichi is not really used. She also says the word "keifu" is sometimes used as well as giri-no-otoosan. The more colloquial expression used is dai-ni-no-otoosan or 'second father'.
Sorry for the confusion. |
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Lynn
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 696
Location: in between
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| Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 1:52 am Post subject: |
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| PAULH wrote: |
Lynne
I checked with my wife and she agrees with you (I was referring to the dictionary definition) that mama no chichi is not really used. She also says the word "keifu" is sometimes used as well as giri-no-otoosan. The more colloquial expression used is dai-ni-no-otoosan or 'second father'.
Sorry for the confusion. |
I noticed that as the situation increases (re-marriage) the word is coming into the language. I've also heard "dai ni no otoosan". Interesting how culture forms a language. |
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