Job Discussion Forums

Chris Goodbread · Joined: 11 Nov 2008 Posts: 2

Hello Everyone my name is as mt screen name is Chris Goodbread and I have always wanted to become an ESL teacher in Japan for as long as I can remember. There is only one problem I do not have any degrees. But I have some teaching experience starting in 7th grade and all the way through my senior year I was a teachers assistant at an Elementary school and would do that from 2 days a week (7th - 11t) to all week (12th grade) and I have continued by helping out with the preschoolers and elementary children in my church and was wondering if my experience would be able to make up for the lack of a degree in Japan?Any and all help will be greatly appreciated and Thank you for your time.

Chris

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Hello, Chris,

You should really be posting this in the Japan forum, but I guess Newbie forum is as good as any.

No, your "teaching experience" will not be considered seriously as a substitute for a degree. Immigration considers teaching experience to be paid employment, and for 99.999999% of people that means postgraduation.

I strongly suggest you get a college degree. It will help in the long run, whether in Japan or elsewhere.

Chris Goodbread · Joined: 11 Nov 2008 Posts: 2

well right now I got a lot of things going against me and I need to get out of this rut and I have always wanted to do this and plus being 26 and about to turn 27 in a january I really cant do the whole 2 year deal i would need to get it done asap the college courses that is I just want to get a ba in english. If I were to take online courses would i be able to get it faster?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Madame J · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 5:16 pm Post subject:

Hullo Chris.

Just out of interest, why is it Japan in particular that you're so set upon working in? Is your desire to teach a rather secondary concern? If this is the case, then I'd wonder as to whether teaching is the right course of action in the first place. However, if you genuinely love the idea of teaching (and all your experience suggests that you do), then why not consider other countries? It may not be your ideal, but if you've enjoyed the teaching assistant posts you've had then I don't see why you wouldn't enjoy a TEFL jaunt in a country other than Japan.

I know how frustrating it is that many immigration rules seem to favour an unrelated degree to some worthwhile, relevant experience, but that's just something you have to work around. Like you, I am also a non graduate, and as such am focussing my search on Latin America as I have been reliably informed that it's certainly easier to find work there as a non degree holder. Many European countries will also take non graduates, though I believe if you're a US citizen then getting a visa could be troublesome.

Hope that helps.