Teaching in Japan

[Seiji]

Although I have grown up in America I am still a Japanese citizen. I do speak a little Japanese and would love to return to Japan and teach English for a school or company. I have an AD in science and I do have teaching experience. Do you think age is a concern for me as I am 50 years old? What are my chances of finding a teaching job? Being half Japanese that still holds a Japanese Passport and speaks little Japanese.
I am sure it will come back to me as I use to speak Japanese fluently.

[vvx]

Hmm.. The english conversation schools tend to want young foreign looking people. If you look japanese that wouldn't be good. Nor is being old. Being a japanese citizen you wouldn't need to worry about visas, but I have to wonder how a school would view hiring a japanese as a native speaker of English. Yeah, you grew up in America but it would just seem weird.. What have you done for a living in the states? It might be easier to leverage your way in using that experience.

I say go for it, but apply from the US in case it doesn't work out (so you won't be stranded with no money or job in Japan) The big eikawas will hire from the US, and there's a twice annual career forum that's good for finding non-english teaching jobs I hear if your japanese is up to it. (boston career forum I believe is the name.) Best of luck.

[devicenull]

for some reason, i seem to recall one of the conditions of a few of the big schools to be that you are not a japanese citizen when you apply... of course, i dont think you have to tell them as long as you are dual status

[AssKissinger]

Japan doesn't allow for dual citizenship.

[Seiji]

I am a Respirtory Therapist here in the States. Although I am Japanese i still look more American.

[Seiji]

Thats Respiratory Therapist sorry for the spelling.

[Taro Toporific]

...I have an AD in science and I do have teaching experience. Do you think age is a concern for me as I am 50 years old?....

GOOD NEWS:
Advanced degrees in science and a Japanese passport will make it easy to find scientific editing jobs. The Monday IHT/Asahi has a few classified ads running year-round for Sci-editors.

BAD NEWS:
Over 50 in Japan (like me) means most J-companies will not consider you for real full-time company employee jobs. Freelance yes. Fulltime, no way Jose.

Weird NEWS:
Your "teaching experience" counts for ZERO unless it is EFL/ESL. And... if you're a real EFL/ESL teacher, Japanese schools are painfully backward in English education. The Japanese government have fired most older foreign teachers in nat'l colleges over the past 5 years. Japan is awash with perm. visa gaijin with advanced degrees who speak/read some Japanese that you will be competing with for "real" jobs.[/i]

[Taro Toporific]

I am a Respiratory Therapist here in the States. Although I am Japanese i still look more American.

A Respiratory Therapist makes about the same amount of money in the States as an English teacher in Japan with a hell of lot less grief.

taro, L-1/C-5 quad formerly under respiratory care

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http://www.payscale.com/salary-survey/
Avg age of report data:41.8
Currency:US - Dollars

United States Salary Range: $18,950 - 38,250 average: $25,110

English teaching jobs average 250,000yen/m

[Seiji]

That may be true but I want to go back to Japan and work there. I still have family in Okinawa and I'd love to get a job back home. I go back to Okinawa every 2 years and the more I go back the more i want to stay.
Maybe an option would be for me to get a job with the US Military as a civillian employee. All i need is to get my American citizenship, I can do that easy enough through my Mother.

[Caustic Saint]

Maybe an option would be for me to get a job with the US Military as a civillian employee. All i need is to get my American citizenship, I can do that easy enough through my Mother.

I seriously doubt you'd need US citizenship to work on the base. Most every overseas base has foreign nationals working on it. Here in Korea nearly every support-type job is held by a Korean. The two governments have an agreement saying what percentage of certain kinds of jobs must be held by locals. Do a Google search for "dod japan jobs" and see what you get.

Here's the resource for just the Marine Corps installations:

http://www.okinawa.usmc-mccs.org/jobs/index.asp

[Big Booger]

Bank roll a little cheese, and come over, setup a juku or eikaiwa, and live on the fat of the land.

[Seiji]

ok what is that ? booger

[jim katta]

eikaiwa refers to the english teaching industry. I don't know the other term he used. I think booger is suggesting that you set up your own independent english school/service. That's actually a pretty good idea for someone in your position. You seem to have a unique set of factors that don't add up to a good profile for being employable in japan. But those same factors may work in your favor if you take on the role of employer/entreprenuer. A japanese national who can speak fluent english 'and' japanese has a significant advantage over foreign entreprenuers in japan who are not fluent in japanese. Perhaps you could connect with some enterprising, reputable foreigners in japan who need you on their team as a japanese (half japanese did you say?) person able to act as the bridge/representative in business dealings with japanese clients/customers/businesses/government.

Contrary to what the running comments may be, I'm sure there's some job out there for you teaching english, even as a 50 + japanese man. But I think such a position is so rarified and hard to find that it would be best not to count on such a strategy. I think this is why some have suggested you try and secure a english job while you're still in the u.s. This is just my opinion, but for a japanese (or japanese looking) man in his 50s, I think japan rocks if you already have money, or a situation that brings in income. But such a person going to japan looking for work? I would "strongly" advise against it. It's not impossible, I'm sure, but I imagine that it would be really really hard. Japan pratices blatant ageism.

[GomiGirl]

Rather than going down the regular Eikawa path, put yourself out as a business specialist teacher.. eg presentation skills, public speaking or whatever.

With your age and experience you will have more credibilty than for the "rent-a-friend" schools and go with a specialist business school that has an older student body eg Japanese executives etc...

TARO - remove that avator NOW!!

[Steve Bildermann]

Many people have considered teaching English to Japanese students in Japan. There are a lot of good reasons to do this, and the demand for teachers is certainly there! But it is not as easy as it may seem. There are a lot of hidden pieces of information that one must know before beginning this kind of venture. This page is designed to be a resource to assist Americans that might be interested in this type of work.

Teaching English In Japan

- Yes Taro GG is right - slim down that pushy new avator or I shall be forced to criticise you in no uncertain terms.

[devicenull]

Japan doesn't allow for dual citizenship.

only if you stand out from what i hear...