Annoying question - please don't flame me!

[tatsujin]

Hi All,

As you may or may not know I am currently on hols in Japan and loving it.

I have long considered going for an English teaching job here but don't have the degree to back it up (I am currently studying an English Literature degree - 1st year). Is there any contact or path I could persue while here to help my chances?

The whole degree thing pisses me off but I understand the need for it. I'm currently 24 and work for Siemens in Ireland as an IT Helpdesk Manager. I also have two years experience previous to this working as a Technical Trainer (will this count towards an application?). I have come across the whole degree bias all my life and its never stopped me before.

I have looked through the previous posts here and although a lot of advice is good, it tends to be quite vague concerning teaching schools/contacts (I understand why). Quite ironically, I got offered a job at my local pub (Warrior Celt in Ueno) after a night out on the tiles with the owner. I would consider it but don't like the uncertainty of having to fly out and in every 3 months (although if I have no other choice...)

So can anyone offer some advice where I should look/persue/aim my skills at? Are there any small town language schools that would consider hiring a person based on the above?

Sorry for the open ended nature of this question - I know you have probably seen this a million times! Feel free to PM me.

Thanks as always for taking the time to reply to this.

[jingai]

Do you want to work in a bar? Is it your ambition? Will you give up your studies for that? Are you sure you want to be in Japan no matter what else you give up?

If your ambition is to teach English, why are you wasting your time when you know you need a degree to make it? Do you really want to have to compensate for your lack of one for the rest of your life? What if you study hard and graduate early at your current school? Anything else is just procrastination. Have you considered studying part-time in Japan? You might be able to get credit for Japanese language courses. I don't know what else is available.

[Taro Toporific]

.. I got offered a job at my local pub (Warrior Celt in Ueno) after a night out on the tiles with the owner. I would consider it but don't like the uncertainty of having to fly out and in every 3 months (although if I have no other choice...)

The pub job sounds a hell of a lot better than engrish teaching without a degree. Eikaiwa schools will hire people without a degrees just because they can "control" them better. That is, schools will torture folks without degrees with weirder working conditions and lower/random wages.

PS: I thought people from Ireland can get the "Working Holiday" visa so why would you have to to fly out and in every 3 months like a scumbag American (like me in the old dayz)?

[Ptyx]

I think the degree is required for you to get the visa. So even if you can find a teaching gig you won't be able to secure a work visa without a degree (at least in the teaching field).
The working holyday visa is really easy to get, you can't work at bars or nightclub with it though.

[Taro Toporific]

The working holiday visa is really easy to get, you can't work at bars or nightclub with it though.

The working holiday visa has always been a mystery to me. Most of the bartenders in the GASPANIC have a working holiday visa but as Ptyx says you can't work at bars or nightclub with such a visa. WOT gives?
Is there some "secret" about working holiday visas?

[Mulboyne]

Tatsujin, you still around after the 12th? If so, I'll PM you and buy you a beer or two when I get in.

[GomiGirl]

A working holiday visa allows you to work anywhere. It is a similar to a self sponsored visa where there is no company that is the sponsor. You have to have a certain amount of funds in the bank (say US$3,000) and also submit a plan for your 6month/year.

You are not supposed to be in the same spot for more than 6 weeks or so. Just make up a travel plan that takes you from Hokkaido during ski season to Kyushuu for some festival. The government expects that you will be picking up casual work along the way - English teaching, bar work, picking vegies, helping Taro with his rice harvest on his ranch etc.

Check this Link which is for Australians but pretty well applies to all commonwealth countries.. (Not the US - sorry guys)

A degree is not required.

But some sage words from somebody who posted earlier.. don't neglect or abandon your studies. Sure it is just a piece of paper but a degree is something that is always yours.

[Bongo]

Just buy one. http://www.fakedegrees.com/
I have nver personally done this myself as I have a real one but, I have friends who have. Not from this site but one of the others.
Japanese imigration never checks into them and the schools can't contact a university and get any information from them either.
I even know people with permanent residence that actually used copies of my diploma to feed to them. NP.....Just go for it, a real degree is not going to make any difference than a fake one.

[GomiGirl]

Japanese imigration never checks into them and the schools can't contact a university and get any information from them either.

BBBTTTTTZZZZZZZ Wrong!!!

A well known Eikawa has just lost their visa sponsoring privileges as they were caught with candidates using fake degrees.

Do NOT do this.. not only because the people selling them are spammers who deserve to have their entrails fed to the crows in Ueno park, but because people do and will check with the institution.

[Mike Oxlong]

Japanese imigration never checks into them and the schools can't contact a university and get any information from them either.

BBBTTTTTZZZZZZZ Wrong!!!

A well known Eikawa has just lost their visa sponsoring privileges as they were caught with candidates using fake degrees.

What Engrish skul iz it?

[Ptyx]

A working holiday visa allows you to work anywhere.

I was reminded that i was not allowed to work night work especially in bars and clubs when i got my working holyday visa. They want you to stay out of trouble i guess.
Maybe the terms of the visa are different for australians though, the working holyday visa is not the same in every country.

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

Japanese imigration never checks into them and the schools can't contact a university and get any information from them either.

BBBTTTTTZZZZZZZ Wrong!!!

A well known Eikawa has just lost their visa sponsoring privileges as they were caught with candidates using fake degrees.

Do NOT do this.. not only because the people selling them are spammers who deserve to have their entrails fed to the crows in Ueno park, but because people do and will check with the institution.

Just the crows? There are cats and homeless that are hungry too!

[aquamarine]

I might as well add my two-bits into this as well. For us Canadians and working holida visas, you can NOT be employed in a bar, gaming house (read: Pachinko, Slots), brothel, or an establishment in which decreases public morale.

In other words, no bars, tittie bars, porn-stores, clubs.

The conditions that are given to Canadians are such.... you can work anywhere else you choose, and for as long as you choose (untill your visa runs out). Voila, hope that helps a bit!

[Charles]

I might as well add my two-bits into this as well. For us Canadians and working holida visas, you can NOT be employed in a bar, gaming house (read: Pachinko, Slots), brothel, or an establishment in which decreases public morale.

I think you meant "public morals."

Maybe the terms of the visa are different for australians though, the working holyday visa is not the same in every country.

In the case of ozzies, working in a brothel, bar, or gambling den would be an improvement of their morals.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Dude, listen to the people on here who are telling you to get your degree. Your plan right now is a dead end. Managing the helpdesk for Siemens is a much better career path. If you are really itching to stay in Japan now do a study abroad program through your college. Spend some time actually learning Japanese in an academic environment so you might actually have some options other than English teaching after graduation. If really learn to speak, read, and write Japanese you're chances of making the transitiong from eikaiwa to a real job once you make it to Japan improve exponentially. If you actually want to teach English as a career then get a degree in TESOL so you might actually be able to get one of the relatively few real English teaching jobs open to gaijin in Japan.

[tatsujin]

First off thanks for all the replies - much appreciated.

Having worked in the field I am in I realise the value of a degree in business, the whole point of me currently studying an English Literature degree is to do something I actually want to do. I dunno about you (but I guess most are the same), but I don't want to spend the rest of my days lining the pockets of some shareholder.

The reason I asked the question of this forum is there is a huge amount of people that have walked the path before, something I cannot claim. Maybe its youthful stupidity (answers on a postcard), but I just feel like making a go of it, after all, we don't have long on this earth in this current body. The last thing I want is to regret not doing it when I'm 40. I don't see how someone with a degree in business is any better at teaching than I potentially could be.

If I were to take the above path, I would like it to be somewhat legal - I don't fancy getting deported.

I'm going to look into potentially studying in Japan under my degree, that seems the most sensible option.

Overall I think its a shame that so many people with a genuine interest in the Japanese culture and language have to miss out becuase of a technicality. The amount of foreigners I see in Shibuya each night peddling their wares down sidestreets makes me laugh - I wonder what type of visa these guys have?

Then again I suppose the guys from immigration are probably some of their best customers

Taro: to clear up the working holiday visa -

http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html


The working holiday visa only applies to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Korea, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Ireland is certainly not a commonwealth country

http://www.fakedegrees.com

Funny - its actually a well constructed site!

If anyone is around Tokyo area, it would be a pleasure to buy you a beer as thanks. Just PM me!

[Samurai_Jerk]

I don't think anyone here is saying don't follow your dream. They are just saying follow it in a practical manner. As someone with an undergrad degree in business I think you're actually better off getting the English lit degree (unless you are sure you want to be an accountant or something like that). Save the business degree for if and when you want to get an MBA.

Anyway, stick with the plan of going to Japan through your college and becoming proficient in the language.

As for those Iranian dealers in Shibuya, well, what kind of visa do you think they have?

[tatsujin]

I wonder about some of those dudes in Shibuya, they always seem to give me a shady nod as if to say - "Shhhh, don't tell the Japanese what we're up too".

Looking at your avatar, that Yamumba chick on the right looks a dead ringer for the chick in the combini I bought my phone off yesterday in Ueno....small world

[Samurai_Jerk]

I wonder about some of those dudes in Shibuya, they always seem to give me a shady nod as if to say - "Shhhh, don't tell the Japanese what we're up too".

You should support the illegals by buying their hash. They have families to support in Iran.

Looking at your avatar, that Yamumba chick on the right looks a dead ringer for the chick in the combini I bought my phone off yesterday in Ueno....small world

Dude, they all rook arike.