Job Discussion Forums

[lanems]

I'm currently an undergraduate student but I am interested in doing my graduate school work in Japan. I wanted to write and see if anyone else has experience doing this and/or advice on this.

I have looked around and found a few options on doing this:

Foreign University with campus in Japan
i.e. Teachers College in Japan (Columbia University): Take courses in English through a foreign university's Japanese campus. Do you take the GRE and apply as you would be applyng to Columbia? Probably really expensive...

Japanese College
i.e. Sophia University: Take courses in English or Japanese. I assume even foreign students need to take the entrance exam. Probably a little expensive...

Distance Study
i.e. Take courses at a foreign university while in Japan through distance learning coursework. Depends on the host university...

Online courses
Do coursework online...? Not sure how reputable your degree will be or the quality of instruction here.

Does anyone have experience in any of these options? I'm concerned about entrance exams or required tests. I have passed the JLPT level 2. I am interested in doing an M.A. in TESOL while living abroad. I really would like to try taking classes in Japanese if it's possible, even though I know my proficiency isn't yet up there.

I'm not sure about how likely a monbusho or fullbright would be for this kind of work. I'm very green right now and just looking to see what my options are. Thanks for any input!

[Sherri]

Hi
I did an MA TESL/TEFL with the University of Birmingham (UK) while living in Japan. It was through David English House http://www.davidenglishhouse.com/

It was a lot of hard work and you have to be 100% committed and motivated. There is an active study group in Tokyo that I know of and other local support.

I know people who have done a similar course with Aston--also very good. I used to work with the people running the Teachers College course in Tokyo, excellent all round and you have direct contact with the professors and other students. The downside is that the classes are all on the weekends. I have also heard very good things about Temple too.

You are not expected to know any Japanese for the courses I mentioned. I just finished my MA in the spring this year. What a huge relief--but it has paid off well and helped me to get the job I have now. No regrets

Sherri

[Gordon]

There are lots of options out there for distance study. I just finished my masters in applied lnguistics from USQ in Australia this year as well. Cheers to you too, Sherri. You can go to my website and see a number of links to other distance masters programs that are available.
http://www.englishabroad.ca/masters_css.html

[6810]

Doing a PhD by research here now, hoping for a march completion.

Started out doing research on Japan but switched topics because the fieldwork requirements were so massive.

I am studying the implementation and development of critical pedagogy techniques in cultural studies coming from a specific angle (not published yet so I don't want to give anything away this close to the finish line).

All of the above are correct. Basically, if you can understand and read and Japanese, you will be fine. But it takes a hell of a lot of work to keep a project going when its under your own steam (like I am doing), and the lack of resources, financial and educational can be crippling at times. But as long as what you're doing is what you believe in and trust, you can do it.

I have family support and the jagged teeth of my black cat on my side helping out. If you came to Japan (and an MA ain't a PhD but it ain't nothing either) one thing you'll have to figure out is a support network. Cos dinner don't cook itself when there's a deadline and a 23 page ethics application... wow, Freudian.