Yeah, I'm like 99% certain you need the degree certificate. I've had to do a lot of research about the country and visa processes, plus I've spoken to a few people who were turned down from jobs solely as they hadn't the actual certificate itself. In your country of origin your 'provisional' certificate to say you've passed is enough, but the visa offices for Japan demand the actual certificate as solid proof. It's a pain, but at least it gives you a few precious months to get prepared, and a month or two to rest and relax before the stress of moving. I'll also add to get your certificate of elligibility can take around three months, from there it seems a fast/easy process, but it may take you a while to find a job, so you could be looking at four or more months to get a visa, that is if you're unlucky and it's slow getting a job and/or your COE.

Edit:

List of Lessons | Japanese Lessons, free text/audio downloads | Japanese Lessons at NHK WORLD - for oral speaking

Drill and learn the Japanese kanji - for kanji reading

http://www.japanforum.com/forum/japa...rning+japanese - a list of various sites compiled by kind forum users

Thanks A LOT man! I was hesitating on whether I should take spring\summer classes next year or not since I fell behind a semester because I changed Degree Program....Now I'm pretty sure I'll do that :p

Hopefully I'll be able to pick up A LOT of Japanese before I take off to Japan.

Thanks again man

What kind of job do you have lined up in Japan?

I don't have anything lined up at the moment. I'm still a Uni student, I've got 2 and half more years before I graduate. I'm actually studying to become a teacher...So I thought since I'm still young might as well go travel, so I wanna teach in Japan for a couple years see how things go and then come back to Canada.

Ah, so the JET program then?

Yeah or any other teaching related job.