Teaching in the JP 2.0

[jasonbvr]

The hiring process for JET's is really long. Like you start the application in the fall of your senior year of university and find out if you're in or not in the spring. At that point, you still have enough time to apply to private eikaiwas because they start their hiring process at just about the same time the JET process ends.

As far as tips, the standard I love kids applies. Then you can throw in something like, I'm considering a career in teaching and thought this might be a good place to start. Then you have to make a sample lesson or something, I suggest some sort of game or something. Maybe a song or two, nothing too bad like "Head, shoudlers, knees and toes." Best to stick with something your interviewers will recognize and be sure to say I just want to do my best to make English fun for the kids. Following this format should guarantee a job in my opinion because it's all I do.

[johnnyboydave]

Have you spoken in person with English teachers in Japan who said they were planning on getting permanent residency in Japan? Is it common for a foreignor to take a position in teaching with the sole purpose of 1 day becoming a permanent Japanese resident? How often do foreignors who've gotten permanent Japanese residency find work in fields other then teaching?

I'd like to use teaching only as my ticket into Japan. Once I've gotten permanent residency, I'd like to find another profession not pertaining to English. How common is it for a foreignor to achieve this?

[adama]

Hi all. First-time poster; new to the boards, not to Japan.

>Have you spoken in person with English teachers in Japan who said they were planning on getting permanent residency in Japan?

Not to be rude, but if you're serious about coming over here and getting permanent residency, who cares? Just get here however you can and do it.

(p/s - Judging from previous posts, you may want to re-read on what exactly is required in getting your PR. A simple five years in residency isn't going to cut it.)

>Is it common for a foreignor to take a position in teaching with the sole purpose of 1 day becoming a permanent Japanese resident?

No, at least in my experience, because most foreigners are here to screw around in an "exotic country" for a year or two before going back home.

>How often do foreignors who've gotten permanent Japanese residency find work in fields other then teaching?

There are *way* too many variables involved in this question. You can have PR and speak so-so Japanese, or speak fluent Japanese but have few marketable skillsets, all of which would influence the kind of job you can get. You're putting way too much emphasis on the PR and way too little on what YOU have to offer. If you're serious about coming over here, major in a marketable field, get over here, and then use said skill to land a job in the field that it pertains to.

>I'd like to use teaching only as my ticket into Japan.

Whatever works for you. Me, I rode that ticket for a couple years before moving on to a career as a full-time translation monkey. By comparison, a guy I came here with started teaching English and found it his life calling.

>Once I've gotten permanent residency, I'd like to find another profession not pertaining to English. How common is it for a foreignor to achieve this?

Again, way too many variables. Even assuming you're in Japan and have PR, what the heck can you *do*? PR is good, Japanese knowledge is good, but areas of specialty are even better.

[Thuglife]

Originally Posted by johnnyboydave

I'd like to use teaching only as my ticket into Japan.

No offense but that attitude is why the system is so messed up over here.

Teaching/inspiring minds is second only to a parents teachings in the impact it can have on peoples lives.

Hey whatevers....

[robnixd]

Originally Posted by jasonbvr

As an English teacher in Japan, you will either need an Instructor, Professor or the Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa (which is the one I have). I may have been wrong about the different requirements by country as it appears to be rather by profession. However I was not wrong about working holiday visas, those are deals arranged between countries. Take a look here for all those visa questions you have on your mind:

MOFA: A Guide to Japanese Visas - Documents to Be Submitted with Visa Applications

i'm new to this forum, so i'm not quite sure if this inquiry has been addressed before (my apologies to all). i am considering a job offer for japan, and it starts january. the salary is entry-level; this would be my first stint as a programmer, if ever i take it. the contract length is one year.

reading through some posts in this forum, i believe that the salary ill be getting is enough for me to get by okay. however, i would like to be able to save up a bit as well, without having to give up a few things. so, i was thinking, maybe i could get a part-time job teaching english in japan.

and then i find out there are different types of working visas (good thing you guys have these fora, thanks)... does that mean i can say goodbye to that teaching idea?

[Thuglife]

Originally Posted by robnixd

and then i find out there are different types of working visas (good thing you guys have these fora, thanks)... does that mean i can say goodbye to that teaching idea?

Been here 6 years and I thought a work visa was a work visa. Another person might be able to answer that.

[jasonbvr]

Originally Posted by robnixd

and then i find out there are different types of working visas (good thing you guys have these fora, thanks)... does that mean i can say goodbye to that teaching idea?

You should have no trouble getting part time teaching work, over or under the table. Say for example you learn of a part time gig in the evenings that pays you straight cash. You wouldn't really have to report this extra income. Or say you get an actual part time job. The only thing your part time employer cares about is that you actually have a valid visa, the type doesn't concern him. Then you have the actual immigration office which initially will only be looking at your contract with the ones who hired you for programming. The next year or whenever you go to renew your visa, they are going to be looking at your new contract with your primary employer, the contract or agreement with your part time employer and your tax statement from the year before. If your part time work does not appear in your tax statement, then you don't need to show that you have a part time job to immigration when renewing your visa.

[robnixd]

whew, that was a relief. thanks, Thuglife and jasonbvr. by the way, do english schools in japan have a preference for native english speakers? i am from an asian country, but i do speak (american) english well (sadly, i speak english better than i do my native tongue). also, do they have preference for caucasians/other non-asians? i've read from a previous post that females are preferred. would that be the only thing working in my favor? *wink*

p.s. and any degree will do? even an engineering degree? are there opportunities for a foreigner as a math tutor (although i would think that there are enough japanese math tutors around already; are there?).

[jasonbvr]

If you are getting the work visa from your programming job, there is no need to worry about what type of degree you have. The only ones who want to see the degree are immigration officials. When applying to jobs, just send them a picture of your visa and say one of the degree can be obtained if necessary. Most likely they won't need it.

As far as hiring natives, indeed there is a big preference for native speakers. That doesn't mean non-Asians but rather just from a country where English is an official language. But, I have heard of half Japanese, half Americans being turned down by Nova (the eikaiwa that just went under) because half their childhood was in Japan. Again however, you are not looking for regular work as a teacher just part time. You should be fine as long as you really emphasize fluency in English.

As far as math tutoring, that would be something Japanese students would go to jukyu for (cram school). It would require fluency in Japanese. There are some schools that teach math in English, but that would be a full time gig, most likely at a private school.

[robnixd]

thanks for the info. however, although my country has 2 official languages (and medium of instruction) and one of them is english, i think a great majority of people outside the country doesn't know that. but still, i'd like to give it a shot (teaching english).

i hope they listen to me speak the language first before they see me in person heehee... (can i hand out my resume in person rather than email it to potential employers? that way, i'm hoping i don't get rejected before they hear me talk )