Job Discussion Forums

[slapides7]

My fiancee will be leaving to teach for JET in Oita-ken this July. I am determined to join her and teach English, though I'm not sure what route is best.

I have a B.A. in English from an American University and about three years of varying teaching experiences. After learning that JET disqualified me due to a detail ommision, I interviewed with Nova and was offered a position. I have the obvious reservations about working for a non-educational business, plus no guarentee I'd be anywhere close to my fiancee.

JET has suggested that I leave roughly a month after my fiancee has established herself in the community. This way she'll be able to do some networking for me.

What does anyone think of my options, ie, what is the most sensible route to take? The thing that concerns me most is the Visa issue...what is best with my circumstances? What is the ESL situation like in this prefecture? (we don't yet know where exactly she'll be).

Any advice is very appreciated in advance!

sam

[cheryl]

Hi Sam,

you're in a very similar situation as i am. I'm going to Saga Prefecture this July with Jet and my fiancee is not. He's not a native speaker of english, has minimal Japanese, and has not had any formal instruction in English either... therefore finding a job in japan is nearly next to nil.

I think that if you want to be with your fiancee without being married first, you should go over with her and try to find a job while you're there. At least that way you'll be in the same city. You won't have to worry about rent and such since she'll already be hooked up. I'm not well versed on things like work visas or holiday visas so i hope some other more experienced person will be able to help you out in that respect.

Would you consider getting married before you go? or is that out of the question? At least you'll be on a dependants visa if you are...but...of course, i'm not saying, "get married so you can have a visa". I'm just saying that you'll have the visa if you do get married.

We want to get married before i go over (everything seems to be moving so quickly that i don't know if it's possible) and then having a large reception next year. Over a lot of worry and discussion, we've decided that we will end up together in Japan. He'll come over a month or 4 after i've settled and scoped out the scene for him. He may be able to teach Spanish conversationally or English privately.

I hope i've helped a little bit, and i good luck to you!
Cheryl

[homersimpson]

Sam,
You may want to wait a month or so after your fiance gets to Oita, so you know exactly what town she's in and allow her to survey the situation. Upon which you could request to NOVA a school as close as possible to where she is. I don't know much about the prospects of employment in Oita Prefecture, outside the conversation schools like NOVA. I think it would be far easier to find work in Fukuoka Pref. I would wait until she gets to Oita and can give you an idea of what the surrounding area is like and the prospects for employment. The JET Program is a huge resource and allowing her to tap into it may serve you best. Because you have a degree you will be able to get a work visa once you secure employment.