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Musouka
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 19
Location: Ashikaga, Japan
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 Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 7:25 am Post subject: Wanting to Take it to the Next Level |
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Hello there,
I tried using the search function to find an answer to my question but I believe the information I found was a bit general.
I graduated college with a bachelor degree in Multimedia/Computer Science on December 2004. I've always dreamed of going to Japan so I took a job opportunity to teach in Japan and that is where I currently stand. I am really enjoying my job and my life in Japan. I want to know how I can take it to the next level. I really enjoy working with adults and perhaps, one day, I would like to work at a university. I'm studying Japanese right now on my own but it is a little difficult to focus fully on it with a full time job. I've heard about the different Japanese Language proficiency test that are available. Is this something I should focus on? Should I return to America and get a master's in linguistics or something. What is the best/cheapest route for taking this job to the next level?
Thanks in advance! |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 11:41 am Post subject: |
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| Aside from needing a master's degree in a specific field of English (eg, linguistics), you should read the FAQ question #3 and follow all the links. This question has been asked tons of times before. |
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Musouka
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 19
Location: Ashikaga, Japan
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 11:53 am Post subject: |
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oh, sorry, maybe I didnt make my point clear. I am looking for a place that I can get a certification in Japanese, I am studying now but will probably never be able to become completely fluent on my own (and private lessons are not really that helpful). I dont know if I could afford to go to school in Japan because I wouldnt be able to work (unless you know of a way like in america where you can work and get a degree). I am married and she could work some but I dont think that she could support both of us and pay for my schooling. We are thinking about moving back to America to get some sort of certification, but we do not know where to start looking. I have done some google searches but have came up with nothing.
Does anyone know any good Japanese schools, even online may be ok...
Thanks! |
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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Musouka wrote: |
Does anyone know any good Japanese schools, even online may be ok...
Thanks! |
You might want to narrow down where you want to study. Don't bother with online courses to learn Japanese. If you want to study in Osaka, the YMCA has the best reputation. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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You DID say you wanted to work in a university, so I thought that was part of the information you wanted to go to "the next level".
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| I dont know if I could afford to go to school in Japan because I wouldnt be able to work |
Sure you can. That's what student visas are for. The student visa itself doesn't permit work, but with special permission easily obtained from immigration, you can work part-time (28 hours/week).
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/zairyuu/shikakugai.html
And, those are official hours paid by a company. You don't really have to declare any wages you make under the table.
Certification in Japanese language. What about just taking the JLPT?
Back in Seattle, the Washington Academy of Languages worked with Seattle Pacific University to offer a TESL certificate (which I got), and the Academy itself taught several languages, so it might pay to look into them for some sort of certification in Japanese.
http://www.wal.org/
Last edited by Glenski on Sun Apr 01, 2007 6:31 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Musouka
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 19
Location: Ashikaga, Japan
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Basically, what it comes down to is I'm looking for some type of class/certificate that I can put on a resume saying I understand Japanese. Studying on my own is nice but for some reason the world revolves around these little certificates like degrees and junk. |
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furiousmilksheikali
Joined: 31 Jul 2006
Posts: 1660
Location: In a coffee shop, splitting a 30,000 yen tab with Sekiguchi.
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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| What type of job are you doing at the moment? It may be possible to take some intensive courses in Japanese if you have long breaks in your schedule available to you. |
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furiousmilksheikali
Joined: 31 Jul 2006
Posts: 1660
Location: In a coffee shop, splitting a 30,000 yen tab with Sekiguchi.
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Musouka wrote: |
| Studying on my own is nice but for some reason the world revolves around these little certificates like degrees and junk. |
Er... what exactly do you mean? Are you saying that you should be able to tell prospective employers that your Japanese is great and they should trust your word? Perhaps the certificates that you speak of show that someone has independently verified your ability to speak and understand Japanese. Here in Japan the JLPT will be one of the most important pieces of "junk" you can get if you want to use your ability to "take it to the next level". |
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Musouka
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 19
Location: Ashikaga, Japan
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:46 pm Post subject: |
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You are right...that "junk" is important, that is why I want it so badly..lol.
I am working at a conversation school and I dont have that long of breaks, maybe a week at a time. I think that the best thing for me would be to do like 6 months (or whatever is best) of intensive study. If it is possible to do it in Japan and support my family (well at least pick up where my wife leaves off) then that would be good. But going back to the states would be ok as well (especially if it were in the southern states where I am from such as Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, etc).
So does anyone know any schools that I could look into? Has anyone done this sort of thing? How much would it cost?
Also, do you think that I could take the first Japanese proficiency test before going to the school after a year of studying on my own?
If you just have the names of different schools I can look them up.
Thanks!!!!
I would just take the JLPT, but it is really hard to learn all the rules of the language on my own, although I am doing really well at learning vocabulary. I have only been here three months and can get my point across but not properly...you know? |
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Musouka
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 19
Location: Ashikaga, Japan
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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| I looked at the school in Washington and it looks really cool (especially the summer intensive course) but would that really prepare me for the test? Is that long enough for me to learn all? Or at least enough to get a high score on the test? |
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Musouka
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 19
Location: Ashikaga, Japan
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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Actually I read a little more about the school in Washington and see that they have a longer course split up in five week courses (so 30 hours total). This would work, and I emailed them to see if the courses can be back to back. But do you know of any schools in the southern states? Or even just a genre or word that I can type into google?
Thanks!!! |
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osakajojo
Joined: 15 Sep 2004
Posts: 229
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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| How about a Community College? |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Musouka wrote: |
| Basically, what it comes down to is I'm looking for some type of class/certificate that I can put on a resume saying I understand Japanese. Studying on my own is nice but for some reason the world revolves around these little certificates like degrees and junk. |
No, it doesn't. The American employment world revolves around meaningless bits of paper, not Japan. Japan revolves around who you know as far as measures of fluency go. The only time paper comes into it is when you get to the "you have a Master's or PhD for work here at this university, don't you?" part and even that can be got around wirth the right contacts. No one will care much if you have JLPT level 2 or 3. They will care that you can actually function in a Japanese office environment.
Stop dicking about and sort out exactly what you want, plan the steps you need to take to get there and then get on with it. Stop making excuses. Or being so incredibly vague that no one can help you. Whichever it is.  You've been given several suggestions about where to go to get some bits of paper: follow them up insted of making excuses.
And learn how to use a search routine. No one should have to be telling you any of this.  |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 11:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I looked at the school in Washington and it looks really cool (especially the summer intensive course) but would that really prepare me for the test? Is that long enough for me to learn all? Or at least enough to get a high score on the test? |
How the heck should I know? I never took their language course, and everyone's ability is different. Learn what you can about them, and then decide based on what you learn from other places. |
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zorro (3)
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 202
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| Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 12:46 am Post subject: |
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ask a few simple questions.....
wow! |
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