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Riley
Joined: 22 Sep 2004
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 9:12 am Post subject: No University, but TEFL and 1 year teaching in Czech Republi |
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Hello,
I am very serious about moving to Japan and teaching there, but I don't have any University degree. Could someone please tell me what kind of a chance I have. I have been living in the Czech Republic since 1999, I am TEFL certified, and I have been teaching for about 1 year now. I am 25 years old, Canadian, can speak Czech (one of the most difficult languages to learn), and my backround before teaching was bar managment. I've read that I cannot do the JET program at all, and will have to work for a big private company (eg. NOVA) And that without a University degree all I'll get is a Working Holiday Visa for a few months and a lower salary.
So could someone please tell me if Japanese language schools will be interested in me. I plan to leave here soon and start work in Canada to make money for the move. And if so, will I have to settle for a school that has no interest what so ever in the academic side, or if my students are actually making any progress, and force me to use bad materials (+none of my own), and over load my schedual...? What is a normal teaching schedual like in Japan?
Thank You very much to anyone who answers or that can help me in any way.  |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 10:53 am Post subject: Re: No University, but TEFL and 1 year teaching in Czech Rep |
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| Riley wrote: |
Hello,
I am very serious about moving to Japan and teaching there, but I don't have any University degree. Could someone please tell me what kind of a chance I have. I have been living in the Czech Republic since 1999, I am TEFL certified, and I have been teaching for about 1 year now. I am 25 years old, Canadian, can speak Czech (one of the most difficult languages to learn), and my backround before teaching was bar management.
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Visas in Japan require a 4 year university degree so you can not get a full time work visa. JET also requires a university dgeree. this is a condition of immigration
Working holiday is possible but only for up to 12 months after which you will need to leave the country. Here are visas that dont require a degree.
NOVA probably wont even hire you on a working holiday visa as they ask for one year of tertiary study on their Flextime schedule for WHV holders.
Spouse
dependent
culture visa
student visa
working holiday
tourist visa.
| Riley wrote: |
Hello,
I am 25 years old, Canadian, can speak Czech (one of the most difficult languages to learn), and my backround before teaching was bar managment. |
Not a helluva lot of use for getting a job in Japan Im afraid unless you want to be a barman here.
| Riley wrote: |
So could someone please tell me if Japanese language schools will be interested in me. I plan to leave here soon and start work in Canada to make money for the move. And if so, will I have to settle for a school that has no interest what so ever in the academic side, or if my students are actually making any progress, and force me to use bad materials (+none of my own), and over load my schedual...? What is a normal teaching schedual like in Japan?
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I assume you mean English conversation schools. Japanese language schools are for people wanting to study Japanese.
Language schools here are private businesses (see my thread on eikaiwas) and profit is the main incentive for them. Schools are generally not interested in academia (though thats what they tell their students). Students here want to learn English but its treated more as a hobby which they do once a week. there is no homework, no tests and no grading in a conversation school.
A full time conversation school teacher will work 40 hours a week of which 27 hours is actually contact time with students. this doesnt include 10 minute breaks between lessons or about 1 hour a day. Schools will provide you with texts and materials but many teachers supplement them with their own materials.
I know you said you have experience and are dedicated and serious etc but immigration law says you need a degree to get a work visa here. Life is rather unfair, isnt it. |
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Jedda
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2004 2:04 am Post subject: |
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| I came to Japan in Feb with 18 months experience teaching in Australia, CELTA but no degree and have been working ever since. Obviously, not having the degree does make things a little more difficult, but it can be done. Main drawback is that you are limited to 12 months on the WHV, but another friend of mine worked in UK for one year, Japan for a year, back to the UK for a year and with a total of 3 years experience now has a 3 year visa, still without a degree. Good luck! |
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Riley
Joined: 22 Sep 2004
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2004 10:45 am Post subject: No degree, but tefl & experience |
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Hi,
Just wanted to ask Jedda if the school that hired you was one of the big 4, or a smaller school? And did you find work on-line before you went, or you had to show up in Japan first and then start job hunting? Thanks for all the responces and info so far. And yes life is unfair. I've never understood why people who can only speak one language, and have a degree in something completly unrelated to languages are assumed to be better teachers.
Anyone else with some advice or an experience to share??
Riley |
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