Moving to Japan soon!..Please help!!

[soulkraka]

hello everyone,
great forum you have here.
Im engaged to a japanese woman and seriously considering moving to Japan in about a years time. My question is regarding employment as an ESL instructor. Will I be able to teach english without a BA (but with a visa) for any of the bigger schools? If not, should I try the "one on one" private lesson type companies like native connections? Any other job prospects anyone can give me info about?

Thanks!
Aaron

[DJEB]

Check your message box.

[American Oyaji]

YES.

To answer your question.

I worked for NOVA. All you need is to have gone to college. You also need some teaching experience.

There is an indepth test you have to take and then there is a verbal interview. The verbal interview will ask questions about your written answers and you will have to back your answers up so you should best believe them.

The BA is only necessary for them to provide a visa. Also try finding a school that has just opened and doesnt have so many teachers yet.

I applied to a particular school that had just opened in my area and only had 1 permanent teacher at the time.

At our height at the school. 3 of the teachers didn't have degrees, but had spousal visas.

[soulkraka]

thanks for the info "DJEB" and "American"...
are you a dj "djeb" if so, do you produce music as well?
I'll definately be looking for people to collaborate with musically in Japan.
check out some of my music @ http://www.thebeatpoets.com
listen to "get out" and "rewind"

peace
Aaron

[DJEB]

are you a dj "djeb" if so, do you produce music as well?
I'll definately be looking for people to collaborate with musically in Japan.

The DJ part is not DJ as in music, but I am involved in a musical project. I'll have to check out your site...


DJEB

[Naniwan Kid]

Which part of Japan are you going to? City or countryside...

The main thing is ATTITUDE.... I have seen so many people ruin their lives by hating everything Japan throws at them. The most important thing is to have a strong shell and a positive attitude, as it is easy to let the crap bring you down. Just remember you are a little ugly duckling in a pond of beautiful swans. With time some of those swans will see that you aren't that ugly.

[soulkraka]

naniwan,
interesting response. gives me something to think about besides the "technicalities" of moving there. Are you implying that there is a stigma attached to being a "gaijin", or just some strong stereotypes?

tachikawa city is where I'll be staying, at least temporarily. Im assuming thats a suburban type place.

[DJEB]

naniwan,
interesting response. gives me something to think about besides the "technicalities" of moving there. Are you implying that there is a stigma attached to being a "gaijin", or just some strong stereotypes?

tachikawa city is where I'll be staying, at least temporarily. Im assuming thats a suburban type place.

I'm not answering for my mate, Naniwan, but to the first question, look at the name of this site. Let me just say that Japan is good for white people because it lets them understand what it means to be a minority.

Second, Tachikawa is a suburban type place in a Japanese kind of way. You won't be too far from me...

[American Oyaji]

Let me just say that Japan is good for white people because it lets them understand what it means to be a minority.

LOL. Great comment. VERY true.

Howerver, I believe Japan is great for anyone. Japanese are wary of ANY outsider until you become a part of a group. If its a respected group that is respected around Japan, you're in the clear. (like an English teacher)

Dont ask me why, but English teachers are well respected anywhere you go by Japanese people. (for the most part, unless they had a bad experience)

[Naniwan Kid]

In a suburban area you should do fine, it's easier in an area where some gaijin have lived before, or live there now, as you will probably not have to answer all the personal strange questions some gaijins get.

"Are you blonde down there, too?" "How long is your 'chin-chin'?" "Why do all Americans carry guns?"

But the others are right, Japan is great for Western foreigners ( I am not sure about other Asians or Middle Easterners). Be sure to enter every situation with an open mind and a positive attitude and every else will just fall into place.

I am not sure if there are stereotypes so much as many Japanese have unique and odd ideas about foreigners. Consider those comments an opportunity to educate....

[soulkraka]

being from Los Angeles I'm already a minority!! ha ha....
last time I heard the demographics LA was 53% percent latino, and that was a couple years ago. I know what you guys mean though, a "true" minority, as in numbers AND power.

I'm happy that I stumbled across this forum for two reasons..
1. the excellent info that you've all been generous with.
2. my stereotype of "americans who speak japanese" has been changed for the better.....meaning.....in LA the "american" who speaks japanese to me is the guy lurking around the corner trying to use some line on my girlfriend or trying to (un)smooth talk my coworkers at the restaurant I work at (I work in a "japanese" area of LA at a restaurant). I've even been putting off learning japanese because of this negative image!
This stereotype is now changing thanks to you!!

peace

[Naniwan Kid]

.....in LA the "american" who speaks japanese to me is the guy lurking around the corner trying to use some line on my girlfriend

I tell you, I have the same stereotypes and I am an American who speaks Japanese. If you don't speak Japanese and move to Japan USE those Japanese speakers to your advantage. You'll have a much fuller experience, and a free translator. The best thing, though, is to learn some Japanese. It impresses the Japanese you meet, as it shows an effort to educate themselves about their language and culture, and you won't be dependent on others to do the things you want to do, which may be as simple as ordering a cheese burger ad McD's or finding a restroom in a department store.

being from Los Angeles I'm already a minority!! ha ha....

I think using the word "minority" is a bit misleading in regards to (in this case) a white American in Japan. Minority implies you are a part of the pie, just a smaller part. As a gaijin, we aren't a part of the pie at all. We have our own pie. As a white American I had a lot of advantages and disadvantages that have nothing to do with what being a "minority" implies. "Foriegner" or more specifically "gaijin" is probably a better term....(hey we came full circle!

[Pachipro]

Hey Soul,

You shouldn't have much of a problem especially if you get married. Once you have a spouse-visa, jobs will be a little easier to come by without a degree as they know they don't have to sponsor you and provide you with a visa. Besides you can always teach privately out of your home, but getting experience as a teacher first will be your best bet. Also, learn the language. I cannot stress that enough. It will greatly enhance your experience.

You can check out the Japan Times want ads on line at http://www.japantimes.co.jp at "Japan Times Jobs" on the left hand side of the page. Useful info may also be found at http://www.eltnews.com/home.shtml

I taught English in Japan for 16 years and owned my own school for the last eight of those years. I still visit Japan twice a year with my Japanese wife and will probably return within the next three to five years to live permanently. I will more than likely start teaching again if age discrimination is still not a problem. If it is, I'll just hang a sign outside my door again and start teaching from home.

Also, follow most of the advice given to you by other posters as most of them know what they are talking about. Just remember living in Japan is a love-hate relationship. Some days you'll be wondering just why the hell you are living there and other days you'll be wondering if you could ever leave. My experience was a most enjoyable one even though I sometimes felt like a "talking dog" on some days. Live there long enough and you'll understand what I mean. Good luck. Any further questions, please feel free to e-mail me.

Joe

[Naniwan Kid]

That is great advice, pachipro.

Also keep in mind that teaching English isn't the same as speaking English. The will and desire to teach must be there. Teaching English in Japan is often equated with flipping burgers by gaijin, and then people wonder why so few Japanese speak conversational English fluently. There are other things besides teaching, keep your options open.

[soulkraka]

Thanks Pachipro and Naniwan.....
Nani, what are the other options that you mention? I'm already teaching english to Japanese part time here in LA but if there are other options for work in Japan I'd love to hear about them.

A more technical question...
I researched the forums here to find info about spousal visas and found what I was looking for. Seems my wife will need to provide quite a few docs,namely, tax and work certificates. It will certainly take her a bit of time to round these up as she needs to find a job herself so what can I do in the meantime? Anyone have experience with this issue? Can I just start looking for jobs and explain my situation?

Thanks again!

[Steve Bildermann]

[maraboutslim]

Are you guys sure? I'm thinking that the government will want to see some evidence that you have an income or are independently wealthy before they grant you a spouse visa. I know that I had to submit my past Japanese tax records all that stuff when I applied. You may also need to have someone sign as a guarantor or whatever they call it. Perhaps your inlaws will do this for you. I had to do this. Perhaps it was because I was self-employed? But you will be unemployed so that's even worse, ha!

For what it is worth, I got a six month visa the first time, then another 6 months, then 1 year, then 3 year.

I also want to let you know that you should also be prepared to have difficulty in finding housing on your own. Hopefully you can stay with your inlaws for a while. This will allow you to build up the six months rent or so you need for move in costs and also allow you time to luck into meeting a property owner that will rent to a gaijin. Even with a Japanese spouse this isn't the easy thing in the world to do.

-slim

[Steve Bildermann]

Are you guys sure? I'm thinking that the government will want to see some evidence that you have an income or are independently wealthy before they grant you a spouse visa

Yes, I'm sure.

FYI. The Japanese spouse can fill in the letter of garuntee (which is actually only a formality)

If you are married to a Japanese national you do not need to have a job. You can be unemployed, self employed, job seeking whatever. It is not a valid reason to refuse a visa. They may ask but you don't have to tell them anything.

And I think Taro is the only independently wealthy member around here. His *job* as he likes to call it is merely indulgence to pass the time, right Taro

[maraboutslim]

If you are married to a Japanese national you do not need to have a job. You can be unemployed, self employed, job seeking whatever. It is not a valid reason to refuse a visa. They may ask but you don't have to tell them anything.

Ah, that's good to know. Next time I will tell them it's none of their business and see how quickly they process my visa application, ha! (In reality it wouldn't matter much anyway: in six years in Japan I was never asked to show my gaijin card or passport).

[soulkraka]

so I guess I should hope for what Steve says but prepare for what Maraboutslim says......although....Steves confidence seems to give his opinion/facts a little more weight..

Thanks guys!!

[Steve Bildermann]

Well I think you know that in Japan it *always* a good idea to have as much documentation as possible.

It just seems that from what you've written some of the extra paperwork is not possible in your case. I'm giving you the absolute 'must-haves'

If you *can* come up with a residence certificate, tax return, wife's work certificate etc etc then all the better but from what say you can't.

As I understand it you are both in LA and both coming to Japan together. She doesn't have a job and you don't know where you will be living. In that position the only documentation you can come up with is your wife's family register.

Go with your wife to the consul in LA. They will issue you a visa (probably six months) After you arrive and get setup you can put the other paperwork together and have it ready when you go for an extension.

Even if you don't have your name on the family register you can still arrive on a 90 day tourist visa, do the paperwork and change status here without leaving the country. It's just procedure.

[maraboutslim]

Good point Steve. As many American gaijin have experienced, Americans aren't allowed to change from tourist to working visas or tourist to another tourist visa without leaving the country but changing to a spouse visa from a tourist visa is allowed. That's what I did actually.

[Naniwan Kid]

Nani, what are the other options that you mention? I'm already teaching english to Japanese part time here in LA but if there are other options for work in Japan I'd love to hear about them.

They aren't always pretty, but I just get worried when every gaijin from accross the pond assumes that because he SPEAKS English that he can TEACH English. I have seen so many people get burned out and frustrated because teaching English is ACTUALLY WORK and not a piece of cake (try and explain that one to a Japanese person).

I am not saying this applies to you, but it's something to keep in mind. I have friends who have been translators at the Olympics (cushy) to doing construction (cushy), as well as worked the "mizushobai" angle as a host in a host bar, but your girlfriend may not love that, though the pay can be great. I have also known gaijin that drive garbage trucks....

It's great you are teaching now, but know the diff between ESL and EFL.

[American Oyaji]

I worked for a garbage company before I worked at NOVA.

[katakori]

how do you get hired by a garbage company? what did you do there? i want to try many "shitty" jobs in japan at least once...

[American Oyaji]

It's actually quite easy. You go to the main office and ask if they have any positions open. In Japanese of course.

The garbage company I went to had a contract with the base as well, so they did a lot of work there and they also hired a few guys from the base. There also the husbands of some of the workers at the base who worked at the company as well.

There is usually a high turn around. The old guys are there for a while and I learned a LOT of Japanese while there. Most young guys come and go.
There are women that work there too. Some nasty work. But it paid the bills after I got laid off from my job at the base air terminal. My wife was just about to have our second child too.

As long as you can speak a little Japanese, you'll be fine. They'll assign you to someone and you'll be with him all day. BTW, its mind numbing work, the pay is ok and you WILL lose weight and get stronger.