Teaching in the JP 2.0

[Saraann512]

So I'm at university in the US right now, planning on studying abroad in Tokyo at Oberlin University next year.

I am on the track to graduate with a B.S in Elem. Edu. Graduating with this degree, will it make me more appealing to schools in Japan or does it not matter? After completing the degree requirements, I'll take the teaching cert. test (I can't remember what it's called at the moment). Or should I just say forget that and switch over to a history major or english major?
Does an emel. edu degree matter in Japan? They teach differently then we do over here, that's why I'm wondering if it's pointless.

Also. I am looking for the best paying job in an area that is easiest to navigate without a car for some time. Maybe I'll buy a motor bike, I'll have to see. What can I expect to be paid and what level of schooling should I focus on? Elem.? Middle schools? High-schools? Is it impossible to get a position at a University without a master's?

I am asking alot of questions! Sorry! What about the JET ALT positions? Would that be my best bet initially coming into the country?

THANK YOU!

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Saraann512

So I'm at university in the US right now, planning on studying abroad in Tokyo at Oberlin University next year.

I am on the track to graduate with a B.S in Elem. Edu. Graduating with this degree, will it make me more appealing to schools in Japan or does it not matter? After completing the degree requirements, I'll take the teaching cert. test (I can't remember what it's called at the moment). Or should I just say forget that and switch over to a history major or english major?
Does an emel. edu degree matter in Japan? They teach differently then we do over here, that's why I'm wondering if it's pointless.

Also. I am looking for the best paying job in an area that is easiest to navigate without a car for some time. Maybe I'll buy a motor bike, I'll have to see. What can I expect to be paid and what level of schooling should I focus on? Elem.? Middle schools? High-schools? Is it impossible to get a position at a University without a master's?

I am asking alot of questions! Sorry! What about the JET ALT positions? Would that be my best bet initially coming into the country?

THANK YOU!

In my experience few people teaching in Japan actually have education degrees, but that may be changing as hiring is more competitive than it was when I went through it in the 90s.

You can expect to be paid well for a single guy. I don't think age focus makes a difference. Be prepared to teach anyone. I taught HS as well as adults. That's just what I was assigned. I think it would be difficult to get into a university w/o a Master's just because so many people with master's are also applying.

[Saraann512]

I also thought I should mention that I'm a female. . . . I have been reading around online and discovered that this might make me more appealing to potential employers??

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Saraann512

I also thought I should mention that I'm a female. . . . I have been reading around online and discovered that this might make me more appealing to potential employers??

I am a male, so I can't help you there. It was about 50/50 male female in the schools I worked at in Japan, and probably 20/80 male female in the school I worked at in the US, so I am not so sure that's going to help, unless you are talking about something else.

[sarasi]

Eikaiwas tend to have relatively few women working at them for some reason, and some students request female teachers, so being female can't hurt. It probably isn't going to be a major factor in getting hired though.

[GTJ]

I'm wondering if anybody knows what exactly they need to see when issuing a specialist in humanities etc visa in terms of my degree. I have my original diploma, but I'm loathe to hand that over to anyone. Will they accept a copy? Also I was informed when I got my diploma that like 180 foreign countries require an apostille, a certified, notarized document saying I have a degree at such-and-such university. Is this true for Japan? What's the dillio?

[SceptileMaster]

Right here's the thing. I've been trying to sort out my life plan and one path I'm really interested in taking is trying out teaching in Japan. English of course. Here are the reasons.

1: I've been wanting to choose teaching as a career path for years now as I get great joy from helping other people understand things.

2: Since I've been studying the Japanese language and reading into its culture for a while now I thought that Japan would be a great life experience to try out and could tie in well with my wishes to teach.

3: I enjoy language which is why teaching a foreign language (well to the students it is, I'm talking about my mother tongue, English).

Unfortunately I spent 3 years at college doing a course which said that it would give me a certain amount of UCAS points (these are used in England as a measure of achievement) but then it turned out when they gave me the qualification that it only counted as an equivalent (which means nothing in reality). This was extremely annoying as it disallowed me from getting to university. They said they didn't think the course I did (Music) was academic even though I had to a dissertation of multiple thousands of words on an area of musical history and I worked hard and got good grades. Meaning I have a few options, I am asking here because don't know the validity of any options.

1: To save up enough to attend a language institute in Japan and keep studying until I achieve JLPT Level 1.

2: To do the same as the above but also take a course in teaching English as a foreign language for a year as well.

3: To do another college course to get my into the 4 year course at university. This obviously could take maybe 7 years since college term has just started. This is annoying because I went to the college opening evening for a course but they told me all the places had already been filled as they do it early for that course for some reason.

4: To do the first idea and then apply for a college in Japan. Is this even possible for me?

Obviously the annoying thing for me here is that I spent 3 years doing a course that didn't count for what it was supposed to even with my good grades (and I got awards at the end of it for 'Outstanding Achievement' for my year and the 'Guitarist Of Your Year' award). Obviously outstanding achievement awards also seem to matter none in showing my dedication. I am also 20 years old already.

This is also a worry as if it takes me until I'm 27 to reach my goal I am worried about other things important in my life becoming out of reach like romance. This is not an interest that has anything to with Japan, it's just an important part of my life plan wherever I may go and try to avoid if I would be going abroad for some time.

Can anyone give me advice on my best course of action given my current situation? I mean I don't even know if a British degree is worth anything in Japan.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[spicytuna]

Hi!

A (4yr) UK degree is worth something for sure. It'll basically open your door to obtaining a work visa for teaching English in Japan.

Is it possible to get a work visa from an English school without a degree? Anythings possible but the odds are heavily against you. Especially in this Japanese economy where there are tons of people like yourself (with degrees) who are scrambling to find a teaching job so they can remain in Japan.

My advice to you is to obtain a university degree since nothing opens doors (especially in Japan) like a degree.

Even if you slipped through the cracks and found a job in Japan, the lack of a degree will consistently come back to haunt you every time you're up for promotion, searching for another job, etc.

Keep your chin up! You're what? 20 yrs old? I'm almost double that age and I'm thinking of moving to Japan.

[SceptileMaster]

Thanks, I'm going to a couple of University oepn evenings soon to discuss my options with them. My mother says I may have more of a chance getting in this year than the last because I'll be 21 when the course starts which counts me as a mature student. Just the thought of going to college again for another 2 years beforehand is scary as so many years of my life so far have been a little screwed by college.

[Burundo]

I live in the US and have been attending my local community college now since 2004 (reason it's been so long because I came to a point where I wasn't sure anymore what I wanted to do). I have completed all of my English courses for the college, even though I was on academic suspension for not passing all of my classes with the right grade to renew my financial aid. Currently though, I'm attending a technical center to get certified for computer programming, but after I'm finished I was considering returning to community college (though I'm not sure how long it will take me to complete other necessary courses) but this is where I need help and advice on what steps I should take forward. I'm basically seeking to be an ALT.

I haven't had time to read the entire thread yet being that I'm in a bit of a hurry, so I apologize for going on about what has probably already been answered a hundred times over.

I'm 26, currently teaching myself Japanese which is coming along pretty good actually, but I also found out the college campus right next to the community college has plenty of Japanese courses as well. I do enjoy computers to an extent, but I also love English courses and definitely see myself teaching in Japan (either that or something else if the English Teaching doesn't go through sadly, but here's to hoping!!).

Any advice? Should I even continue to pursue the chance or try something else?