| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
That Canada Guy
Joined: 24 Nov 2008
Posts: 33
Location: East Coast of Canada
|
 Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 12:20 am Post subject: Staying in Japan |
 |
|
Ok, so I have noticed there seems to be a number of people here who have been living in Japan for several years. How do you do it?
I have read that you can only do the JET program for 3 years. If I go somewheres over seas, I was thinking of staying for a few years.
Also I read that eikaiwas seem to have a high turn over rate and that many of the people on this board are generally not fans of them. Do many people stay at eikaiwas for several years?
So what does everyone get into to stay and live in Japan, universities?
Or are there private schools? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Sour Grape
Joined: 10 May 2005
Posts: 241
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 1:09 am Post subject: Re: Staying in Japan |
|
|
| That Canada Guy wrote: |
Ok, so I have noticed there seems to be a number of people here who have been living in Japan for several years. How do you do it?
I have read that you can only do the JET program for 3 years. If I go somewheres over seas, I was thinking of staying for a few years.
Also I read that eikaiwas seem to have a high turn over rate and that many of the people on this board are generally not fans of them. Do many people stay at eikaiwas for several years?
So what does everyone get into to stay and live in Japan, universities?
Or are there private schools? |
I think the rules have been relaxed slightly for the JET program, and it is up to five years now.
Yes, there are private schools. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
parrothead
Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 342
Location: Japan
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 1:59 am Post subject: Re: Staying in Japan |
|
|
| That Canada Guy wrote: |
Ok, so I have noticed there seems to be a number of people here who have been living in Japan for several years. How do you do it?
I have read that you can only do the JET program for 3 years. If I go somewheres over seas, I was thinking of staying for a few years.
Also I read that eikaiwas seem to have a high turn over rate and that many of the people on this board are generally not fans of them. Do many people stay at eikaiwas for several years?
So what does everyone get into to stay and live in Japan, universities?
Or are there private schools? |
Assuming it is agreeable to both you and your employer, you can work at a Japanese eikaiwa indefinitely. Not all are the same, but most require heavy teaching hours. I think many teachers get their feet in the door via eikaiwa work and then move on to greener pastures. It is entirely possible to do the JET program and then find other ALT work once your contract is up. For many long-termers one of the least appealing aspects is constantly having to renew 1 or 2 year contracts (and 1 or 3 year visas). Many long-term residents, however, are married to Japanese and have families here. Some have their own schools. Their visa situation may be different. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 2:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Some people move on from English teaching- I still teach one private student, but I now mostly live off translating and proofreading, among other things.
Others go into IT or finance if they have the relevant skills.
I have been here for 10 years, I got married to a Japanese guy almost 4 years ago- a major reason for my still being here  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Lyrajean
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 109
Location: going to Okinawa
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 3:00 am Post subject: Re: Staying in Japan |
|
|
| Sour Grape wrote: |
| That Canada Guy wrote: |
Ok, so I have noticed there seems to be a number of people here who have been living in Japan for several years. How do you do it?
I have read that you can only do the JET program for 3 years. If I go somewheres over seas, I was thinking of staying for a few years.
|
I think the rules have been relaxed slightly for the JET program, and it is up to five years now. |
Yes, JET can be 5 years now, but not automatically. From what I understand to stay for a 4th or 5th year you have to interview, apply for a specific 4th or 5th year job, and prove that you've improved your Japanese by either passing any level of JLPT or one of their correspondence courses. So basically you have to be a good JET by your employer's standards. Up to 3 years they'll recontract just about anybody, including people, who from what I've heard, should have been sent packing. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rooster_2006
Joined: 24 Sep 2007
Posts: 984
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 6:58 pm Post subject: Re: Staying in Japan |
|
|
| Lyrajean wrote: |
| Sour Grape wrote: |
| That Canada Guy wrote: |
Ok, so I have noticed there seems to be a number of people here who have been living in Japan for several years. How do you do it?
I have read that you can only do the JET program for 3 years. If I go somewheres over seas, I was thinking of staying for a few years.
|
I think the rules have been relaxed slightly for the JET program, and it is up to five years now. |
Yes, JET can be 5 years now, but not automatically. From what I understand to stay for a 4th or 5th year you have to interview, apply for a specific 4th or 5th year job, and prove that you've improved your Japanese by either passing any level of JLPT or one of their correspondence courses. So basically you have to be a good JET by your employer's standards. Up to 3 years they'll recontract just about anybody, including people, who from what I've heard, should have been sent packing. |
The JLPT score should not be a problem for any mentally competent individual. Anyone who has lived in Japan for three or four years and doesn't know the 727 words necessary to pass the JLPT Level 4 is a moron.
4 years = 1460 days
Learn a word every two days, and you'll be fine. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
AgentMulderUK
Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Posts: 360
Location: Concrete jungle (Tokyo)
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 7:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Marry a local |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
markle
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 1316
Location: Out of Japan
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 5:35 pm Post subject: Re: Staying in Japan |
|
|
| Rooster_2006 wrote: |
| Anyone who has lived in Japan for three or four years and doesn't know the 727 words necessary to pass the JLPT Level 4 is a moron. |
Looks like I'm a moron. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ryu Hayabusa
Joined: 08 Jan 2008
Posts: 182
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I'd say, if after 3 or 4 years of trying their best to learn the 727 words and they still haven't, then that person is a moron. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
