Job Discussion Forums

[Ikkian]

I am currently studying Japanese as a certificate in an University of Quebec, Canada. Me and a friend wished to go to Japan for one year and teach French and/or English there.

However, everything I'm reading about teaching jobs In Japan seems to require a bachelor's degree, and to be honest, it's making me really sad because I don't plan on getting a bachelor's degree. I somehow also thought that having some University certificate would be enough.

Are my chances ruined or am I misunderstanding something?

Please answer.

[Quibby84]

If you are Canadian I am pretty sure that you can get a working holiday visa for one year. If you have this you may be able to get a job. Most companies say that you need a BA degree because that is the only want to get a visa...unless you are from Canada.

[flyer]

yes, it will be very difficult to find any work without a degree (assuming you can get one)
its not impossible but ....

[Tiger Beer]

How old are you? And how much schooling have you had so far?

You can always do exchange programs and study over here and get the college credits.

[Ikkian]

I'll be 22 when I want to go there, and my friend will be 25. After high school, we have college, THEN we have university, which pushes me up currently to 4 extra years of schooling. I'd still need to do 2 extra to get a degree.

And for the work/holiday visa, I know it's no problem since my friend got one recently herself.

[Glenski]

Immigration guidelines say to get a work visa, you need a bachelor's degree or equivalent, or at least 3 years of work experience. What they accept as a college degree equivalent varies; usually a 2-year associate's degree is insufficient, but some countries have 3-year BA degree programs that are completely acceptable. Some people have reported success in certain other college/university programs, but please understand that it entirely case by case then! The word "degree" on the parchment is far more likely to get you through than the word "diploma" simply because of how the two are understood here.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/appendix1.html

Working holiday visa is entirely possible, but not all employers will take you, so keep that in mind. Also, you get taxed 20% on WHV. http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html
http://www.jawhm.or.jp/eng/index.html

Other options are:

get the 3 years of experience,
enroll in a school here and get a student visa (with permission, you can work part-time), or
study a craft under a master here (ikebana, martial arts, pottery, etc.) to get a cultural visa (and with permission you can work PT).

Short of marrying a Japanese or a non-Japanese who has a work visa, that's all you have open to you.

[Tiger Beer]

[Vince]

Ikkian, I understand your frustration. For a while I considered teaching EFL in Sicily to explore my ancestral roots, but the obstacles for non-EU citizens are massive. I eventually dropped the idea.

I agree that studying at a Japanese school would be a great way to see the country. You'd learn Japanese much faster than you would as an EFL teacher, and you'd be surrounded by people your age. If I had it to do again, I'd definitely pursue studying in Japan.

[Ikkian]

The problem is that I'm not in a program of any sort. I'm currently finishing a one-year program on Asian languages. I thought about doing the one for German afterwards. I don't think I could really do that there.

[Apsara]

If you only want to come here for one year, you don't really have too much to worry about. As a Canadian you are eligible for a working holiday visa, and there are employers who will hire you without a degree as long as you come across as fairly reliable, well-groomed and articulate in the interview. Gaba and Peppy Kids Club are 2 names that often come up for people on WH visas.

You should also be able to pick up a few private students through the various online agencies, although it takes a while to build up a base of them.

Don't forget there is also ski and beach resort work, bartending etc here.

Go have a look at the Japan Working Holiday Makers Association website and see what options there are for you- no need to be depressed, plenty of people come over here in your situation and find work- back in 1996 I did exactly the same thing. I hadn't yet finished my degree but managed to put together enough short-term/ part-time work (ski resort, eikaiwa, private students, kindergarten) to save enough money to spend the next 6 months backpacking around Europe.

[Ikkian]

Thanks, that really helped! I'll be sure to look into it.