Job Discussion Forums

[anlia]

Hello all

I realise much of what I am about to ask will have probably been asked before but I can't find the answers.

I have been teaching in Taiwan for the past two years. I've taught all age groups.

Keeping in mind that I haven't decided on a location yet please look at the folowing questions.

I have two cats and there is no way I am leaving them behind. I love them too much and besides that there is no one here I would leave them with. I checked out the rules for transporting cats and as far as I could see they may have a short period of quarenteen. The flight is very short compared to taking them home so the discomfort shouldn't be too unbearable. I'v been looking at housing and I can't find any information about whether or not pets are allowed in most apartment houses. Surely there must be pets in Japan so my question is how and where can I find housing that will accept my pets. I don't mind paying extra. Are there any links to newspapers that would be able to provide the information I am looking for?

Secondly, are there any language schools that you recommend highly? I have been studying Chinese in Taiwan and would like to continue studying language.

What is the best visa to get?

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. Any comments and suggestions are of course welcome.

[Nismo]

[anlia]

Hello

Thank you so much for your reply. If I choose to find my own housing will it be very difficult to find a place that would allow pets?

I am thinking of bringing over at least 500 000 yen for key money ect.

I've been studying and working full time for the past few years so that would be okay. Anything to keep me busy.

Again, thank you.

[azarashi sushi]

Most apartments don't allow pets, although it is possible to find ones that do. The building that I live in at the moment allows pets... And quite a few people have dogs, I've noticed.

It's just a matter of going around to real estate agents and checking... But being a foreigner AND with pets, your choices will be greatly reduced.

[homersimpson]

-f

[anlia]

To azarashi sushi. Your idea about real estate agents is an excellent one. Thank you very much.

[Glenski]

[anlia]

Glenski

The question is really just what the best visa to apply for is. I am well aware that Immigration isn't a fruit stall where one can pick and choose. You take what is given to you.

I'm a South African. Mother is British.

I have a B.A. degree and a TEFl certificate. I have read ads from schools saying no experience is needed as I have read ads from schools asking for one, two or more years of teaching experience.

I fall well within the age range.

Work visas in Taiwan are sponsored as well. I am not aware of anyone here renting one, that much I gathered. A work visa must be sponsored by your place of emploment. Got it.

I was planning on enrolling at a language school anyway. I was unaware that you could get a student visa that way. What would be considered part time in Japan? In Taiwan as far as I am aware it is less than sixteen hours a week.

Thank you for your reply.

[anlia]

Suggesting that English is not my first language simply from my country of origin shows a lack of understanding towards the nature of language.
I would add that the nationality of my mother is what defines my mother language as it is the language I have heard from birth hence the phrase mother tongue.

I suppose attitudes like this would be why ABC's and the like get paid lower wages. Simply because they are Chinese or Asian looking that means that they are not able to speak English as well as some other person who grew up speaking the exact same language all of their lives. It is an old argument and one I am quite tired of.

Do not think all South Africans to be non native speakers. We are not. We were a British colony for a long, long time and simply because we do not all have British accents ( I do have a British accent by the way ) does not mean we should be rated lower than any other country.

I am sure you posted your statement even though it had nothing to do with my questions and even though my original post suggested that I had been doing my research, out of the goodness of your heart and not to be demeaning in any way. I thank you. [/quote]

[David W]

[Nismo]

I know 4 people, off the top of my head, from South Africa and they all only speak English. They even fit the English-speaker stereotype that might give them a boost in their application process to teach English in Japan (if they wanted to). But what matters is the official language of the country (South Africa has 11 - ELEVEN - official languages, the two most widely used are Afrikaans and English). You'll find the most trouble comes from the Japanese government, not potential employers. In theory, you could have been born and raised in Iceland and only know English - but can you convince the Japanese government? Hong Kong was once a British colony as well...

[homersimpson]

[anlia]

Hi

When I say English is an official language it is also a native language. We are indeed a rainbow nation. South Africa is listed as one of the native English speaking countries according to Taiwan which I admit does not mean much in Japan.

A funny thing about our education system was that while I was still in school you had two languages as part of your subjects. Both English and Afrikaans had to be passed or else you failed your grade and had to repeat the year. Logic thus dictates that since we are a country with so many official languages and our media caters to all of them that the likelihood that you will find people who can speak only one language is greatly reduced.

But back to my original question. Am I correct in understanding then that even if i find an employer (which I have by the way, not just one ) willing to sponsor a work visa for me the Japanese goverment may still deny it simply because of my nationality? Or do they approve all work sponsored visas?

Thank you for your replies.

[anlia]

Actually South Africa only gained independance from England in 1961. Not that long ago then, is it?

The Anglo Boer war was between the English and the Afrikaners ( don't know how you can have a war against a language ). During this war concentration camps were used that is said to have given Hitler the idea for his concentration camps.

But seeing as you are not going to let this non native thing go then I thank you for your information. I state again that I am not simply a fluent speaker of English. I am a native speaker but that does not seem to have trickled through to you yet. A work visa when sponsored by an employer can be granted. Got it. Thanks.

Now that you had your fun "beating up" this South African I think I have the information I need as asked for by my original post.

Thanks to all the constructive posters with real advice.

[anlia]

Before you accuse me of being smug and condecending please do me the favour of rereading your posts starting with the first one whereby you assumed because I was a South African English was not my first language.

That the posting of three questions could have turned this thread into two pages is just silly. It is a waste of time and I am sure that both you and I have better things to do than post on an internet forum, don't we?

I am well aware that it is not you I have to get past. If it were then Japan would be South African free as you believe that we are not native speakers. In your own words if I have an employer to sponsor me why would immingration be concerned or did I misread your post about immigration just needing to know I wouldn't fall through the cracks.

Now I appreciate the fact that you feel the need to beat a dead horse and in my previous post I stated that I received the information I needed and I thanked all for contributing.

By the way you never seemed fit to mention your nationality. If you did I am sure I could dig up some remarks about that somewhere but really why would I want to?