I've got news for everyone!!!!!!

[killyoself]

Originally Posted by MMM

I have already forgotten about your first post.

I would never argue that living in Japan is not the best way to learn Japanese. Spontaneity is great for those that can afford it. "Just do it" is great in commercials, but I agree with kirakira. I would never encourage someone to come here without a plan.

You are saying the opposite. My advice: 1) Get degree 2) Get sponsor 3) Get visa 4) Go to Japan. You are saying 1) Go to Japan 2) Get sponsor 3) Change visa (or at least that is possible, and that many people do it).

If you don't have a degree, then you need something else: JLPT 1 is one thing. Five or ten years experience in a specialized field is another. A particular talent, like french chef or baker would probably be enough. However, in general, these are not things that teenagers or early 20-somethings have. You said your friend is teaching at a business school, and doesn't have a college degree. I assume he has some level of business experience or else I wonder what he could be teaching.

Aaaaah, i'm not saying GO! Do it! I just wanted to point out that it's technically possible.

As for my friend, I don't think he's got much business experience. he just watches too many movies and blagged the job.

Also, the reason I started the 'How old is everyone?' post, is because I didn't realise at first everyone on this forum was like 12. Do now though.

Kids! stay at school and don't do drugs! (or you could end up winning 8 gold medals for your country or becoming president of the United States) You've been warned.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by kirakira

I can't imagine Japan being anything but living hell if you come here, wanting to live but have no language skills.

The first time I came to Japan I knew about three words. I spent the entire time with a Japanese friend who spoke English, but after a week or so he got tired of translating for me and left me to fend for my own sometimes. "Living hell" is a pretty decent way of putting it. Well, actually more like a "stressful hell". I was still a teenager then, and it was very intimidating and scary. However, I knew from then on that I wanted to be successful in Japan, and came back after studying 1 year, then 3 years, then graduating with a degree in Japanese, when life became a LOT easier (I also had a job and visa).

[kirakira]

Originally Posted by MMM

You are saying the opposite. My advice: 1) Get degree 2) Get sponsor 3) Get visa 4) Go to Japan. You are saying 1) Go to Japan 2) Get sponsor 3) Change visa (or at least that is possible, and that many people do it).

Screw this MMM, I have a better plan.
1) Goto Japan, 2) Buy Lottery Ticket, 3) Jackpot!!!

Why bother learning Japanese when you can just hire an intepreter.

j/k

[killyoself]

Originally Posted by kirakira

Well there you go, you just admitted there are trade offs. That's what everyone on this forum advocates. It's these things that needs to be given thought to before you buy your ticket to Japan expecting Sailor Moon to pick you up from the airport and subtitles to appear whenever anybody speaks Japanese.

That's what's everyone is talking about including MMM.

That being said though. If I worked like 9 hours a day/54 weeks a year here, I would be totally minted.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by killyoself

As for my friend, I don't think he's got much business experience. he just watches too many movies and blagged the job.

I don't know what "blagged" means, but I wonder what he students would think if they knew he didn't have a degree or much business experience.

[killyoself]

Originally Posted by kirakira

Come to Japan with no Japanese? I was in Korea and I don't know a single hint of Hangul and I suffocated because I could not read a single damn thing, nor communicate with anybody (and nobody spoke English... well a lot of people spoke Japanese but whatever, you get the point). I can't imagine Japan being anything but living hell if you come here, wanting to live but have no language skills.

And to the Japanese, a person who doesn't speak Japanese is as annoying as those Mexicans that cross the US border everyday that doesn't speak a hint of English. If you can't communicate, you are finished.

Dude, i'm sorry but i've got to disagree with you on this. Honestly, me and all my friends knew NO Japanese when we came here. But 2 of my friends passed JLPT1 in 4 years and now make a lot of money translating.

If you come here with no job (but $$$$ savings) then you have a lot of free time when you get here and you can rattle through Japanese for Busy People 1 & 2 or Genki 1 & 2 in no time. Again, i'm not saying this is the way you should do it, just the way me and all my friends did it.

[killyoself]

Originally Posted by MMM

I don't know what "blagged" means, but I wonder what he students would think if they knew he didn't have a degree or much business experience.

haha, blagged means, I dunno, scam or wangle "I blagged my way into the club for free" etc...

Yeah, I know what you mean about his students. I dunno, he seems super dedicated to teaching though. It's actually quite boring to listen about.

[solemnclockwork]

I'm not getting any of this killYourself. You want people to come here with little to no knowledge of the actual place they would be living? Having no marketable talents and without a college degree. Then you tell them your friend teaches at a University. I for one don't get it, to even teach English at a University you have to at least have an Masters degree with publications. I'm 21 and well aware of hardships that's going to come from going to Japan with a college degree, not even that trying to survive in your own country without a college degree is hard enough.

What you are saying doesn't add up. Not to mention the false hope your spreading is awful.

[kirakira]

Originally Posted by solemnclockwork

What you are saying doesn't add up. Not to mention the false hope your spreading is awful.

I wholeheartedly agree.

I mean Bill Gates technically is a college dropout, but you can't say everyone should just be dropouts to be successful.

[MMM]

We don't know what his friends do at the University in Shinjuku. He said one teaches at a business school, but he finagled his way into his job.

Killyoself has backed off from "encouraging" to now saying "it is possible". I don't anyone would disagree that it isn't possible. However if you asked my advice (which has happened here dozens of times) I wouldn't encourage that path.