Job Discussion Forums

jaytex · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Guadalajara mexico

Just curious as to the possibilites of my girlfriend (mexican) finding a job teaching spanish in Japan. Any info that anyone could spare would be great. Thanks

JaredW · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 6:26 pm Post subject:

Well, I don't know if there is any teaching jobs available because you have to have the clientiel for that. But, I know that there are significant numbers of Spanish-speaking and Portugese-speaking communities in Japan. She could always work freelance for the Japanese gov't--if they allow that.

taikibansei · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 811 Location: Japan

JaredW · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 7:35 pm Post subject:

Good Point. Taiki

Zzonkmiles · Joined: 05 Apr 2003 Posts: 309

NOVA's Multimedia Center in Osaka offers Spanish lessons. So you have an option there. HOWEVER, I inquired directly to one of the higher ups about why there weren't any Spanish teachers from Mexico there and they said something to the effect of "not wanting to be a refugee center" (that is very close to the actual quote) and only hired people "primarily from Spain, but occasionally from Argentina or Chile." I couldn't believe that.

I used to work at the MM Center, so this story is not secondhand information. This is exactly what I was told. Maybe your girlfriend can work at MM if she has a BA, but, fair or not, be prepared for the very possible scenario that she can't.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Aside from what other people have advised, I'd say the chance is "nada" unless you have Spanish-teaching qualifications outright.

In many parts of the country there are more Peruvians (or Peruvian-Japanese) than you can shake a stick at, and if there were interest in the language, these people would likely be all over that. But I just haven't seen much interest on the part of Japanese people in learning so many languages other than English -- not when they're having a tough enough time with English anyway.

jaytex · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Guadalajara mexico

Thanks for the info its exactly what I needed

Well My girlfriend does have a BA in communication but in mexico, communication is really journalism. And she has taught (minimal experience) 4 monts, but she is very creative. I am sure we could live off what I make, especially if we work in a small town but she would go nuts with nothing to do.

Its a shame that nova sees mexicans as refugees. granted they do have the reputation, but they are also very hard workers they complain much less than than most of the americans I know when it comes to work.

abufletcher · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:55 pm Post subject:

Jaytex,

I was working at ITESM Campus Guadalajara (and before that la Autonoma) when I lucked into my current job here in Japan. My wife is Mexican (de Sinaloa) and I'd agree that the formal opportunities might be limited, particularly in a small town. However, there is definitely a growing interest in Spanish as a "fun other language" and my wife ended up making some pleasant extra cash (a couple thousand $ a year) just having a weekly "coffee and Spanish" morning with a group of local housewives who had sought her out.

Perhaps the fact that she was a "professor's wife" -- despite a lack of any formal training -- was what made this group more likely to contact her than the Peruvian-Japanese who are just thought of as lowly factory workers. BTW, my wife was one of just three Mexicans on the whole island of Shikoku! I say "was" because she's now with the kids in Southern Cal so they can attend English-speaking schools.

What kind of visa would your girlfriend be getting?

Saludos,

Don