Best way to get started working in Japan??? - ESL Teaching

thai fox · Sat 21-Jan-06, 07:03 PM

Hi, can anybody give me some advise on this subject? Is it best to start off with one of the big language schools, i.e. Aeon, Nova etc and then look for something better when i am actually there or should i press on with sending e-mails to prospective employers. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Antonio · Sat 21-Jan-06, 07:13 PM

What is your background thai fox? If you have no teaching experience, then the safest is with Nova, Aeon etc. Have you ever lived or been to Japan before?

thai fox · Sun 22-Jan-06, 12:09 PM

Thanks for the reply Antonio. I must opologize for the vague posting!!! I haven't been to Japan before, however I work with a bunch of guys that have worked there and they loved it!! I am currently teaching in Thailand, I have over two years experience, a Hons degree and a recognised TEFL certificate. I hope this clarrifies things a bit better

gfell · Sun 22-Jan-06, 12:37 PM

You will get more replies and interest from employers if you can give them a date you will be arriving to Japan.

There are plenty of teaching jobs around, and someone with your background wont have any problem getting something.

Make sure you have enough savings to last you 1 month. You would need about ￥60,000 for accommodation in a gaijin house, ￥40,000 for food　and about ￥20,000 for transport. These amounts are on the safe side. You should be able to get something within 1 month.

Do you have a preference where you want to go in Japan?

Sammy · Sun 22-Jan-06, 08:42 PM

Don't go for the big chain schools! You are better than that. The big chain schools are great for newcomers, but you already have experience and an Hons degree.

thai fox · Tue 24-Jan-06, 10:54 PM

Thanks to those of you who have contributed to this thread. I would also like to know about the visa situation. I am 33 years old so a working holiday visa is out of the question. My situation seems to be a bit of a double edged sword. Should i try and seek visa sponsership while i am outside of Japan or is it best to just bite the bullet and go there, get a job, and then leave the country again to obtain the appropriate working visa?
It seems that it would be less costly to try and land a teaching job while i am outside of Japan and then arrive with a working visa, however is this going to be difficult without a face to face interview?

gfell · Wed 25-Jan-06, 07:23 PM

It's very difficult to get a working visa from outside of Japan. Very few employers will look at you since you are out of the country.

Go to Japan and then actively look for a teaching job.

There is no longer a need to temporarily leave Japan in order to get your tourist visa changed to a work visa.

thai fox · Fri 27-Jan-06, 07:42 PM

Cheers for the info Gfell. Can you tell me when this new visa regulation took effect??????

gfell · Fri 27-Jan-06, 07:56 PM

Don't know the exact date, but for at least 10 years! Because this is when I first did it.

thai fox · Fri 27-Jan-06, 10:27 PM

Hi gfell, I think that we might be talking at cross purposes!!! What I meant is how long has it been since you dont have to leave the country to get a working visa? I am lead to believe that you have to leave the country and visit a Japanese embassy on foreign soil to obtain a working visa. This is the same when working in Thailand. Hope you can clear this querry for me. Many thanks.

Sat 21-Jan-06, 07:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
thai fox ESL Rookie Join Date: Jan 2006 Nationality: British Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 15	Best way to get started working in Japan??? Hi, can anybody give me some advise on this subject? Is it best to start off with one of the big language schools, i.e. Aeon, Nova etc and then look for something better when i am actually there or should i press on with sending e-mails to prospective employers. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Sat 21-Jan-06, 07:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
Antonio Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Occupation: ESL Teacher Location: Posts: 119	Starting off in Japan What is your background thai fox? If you have no teaching experience, then the safest is with Nova, Aeon etc. Have you ever lived or been to Japan before? __________________ English Teacher Guru ! Ask me a question, and I'll see if I can help.

Sun 22-Jan-06, 12:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
thai fox ESL Rookie Join Date: Jan 2006 Nationality: British Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 15	Sorry Vague Posting Thanks for the reply Antonio. I must opologize for the vague posting!!! I haven't been to Japan before, however I work with a bunch of guys that have worked there and they loved it!! I am currently teaching in Thailand, I have over two years experience, a Hons degree and a recognised TEFL certificate. I hope this clarrifies things a bit better

Sun 22-Jan-06, 12:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
gfell Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Nationality: American Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 654	Heading to Japan to Teach You will get more replies and interest from employers if you can give them a date you will be arriving to Japan. There are plenty of teaching jobs around, and someone with your background wont have any problem getting something. Make sure you have enough savings to last you 1 month. You would need about ￥60,000 for accommodation in a gaijin house, ￥40,000 for food　and about ￥20,000 for transport. These amounts are on the safe side. You should be able to get something within 1 month. Do you have a preference where you want to go in Japan? __________________ English Teacher and Student Site Teach English and Study Abroad! Teaching Community at Teacher Forums ESL Teacher and Student Directory!

Tue 24-Jan-06, 10:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
thai fox ESL Rookie Join Date: Jan 2006 Nationality: British Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 15	best way to obtain a working visa??????????? Thanks to those of you who have contributed to this thread. I would also like to know about the visa situation. I am 33 years old so a working holiday visa is out of the question. My situation seems to be a bit of a double edged sword. Should i try and seek visa sponsership while i am outside of Japan or is it best to just bite the bullet and go there, get a job, and then leave the country again to obtain the appropriate working visa? It seems that it would be less costly to try and land a teaching job while i am outside of Japan and then arrive with a working visa, however is this going to be difficult without a face to face interview?

Sun 22-Jan-06, 08:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Sammy Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Posts: 13	Don't go for the big chain schools! You are better than that. The big chain schools are great for newcomers, but you already have experience and an Hons degree.

Wed 25-Jan-06, 07:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
gfell Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Nationality: American Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 654	Working visa in Japan It's very difficult to get a working visa from outside of Japan. Very few employers will look at you since you are out of the country. Go to Japan and then actively look for a teaching job. There is no longer a need to temporarily leave Japan in order to get your tourist visa changed to a work visa. __________________ English Teacher and Student Site Teach English and Study Abroad! Teaching Community at Teacher Forums ESL Teacher and Student Directory!

Fri 27-Jan-06, 07:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
thai fox ESL Rookie Join Date: Jan 2006 Nationality: British Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 15	Visa Situation Cheers for the info Gfell. Can you tell me when this new visa regulation took effect??????

Fri 27-Jan-06, 07:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
gfell Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Nationality: American Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 654	Don't know the exact date, but for at least 10 years! Because this is when I first did it. __________________ English Teacher and Student Site Teach English and Study Abroad! Teaching Community at Teacher Forums ESL Teacher and Student Directory!

Fri 27-Jan-06, 10:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
thai fox ESL Rookie Join Date: Jan 2006 Nationality: British Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 15	Visa Situation Hi gfell, I think that we might be talking at cross purposes!!! What I meant is how long has it been since you dont have to leave the country to get a working visa? I am lead to believe that you have to leave the country and visit a Japanese embassy on foreign soil to obtain a working visa. This is the same when working in Thailand. Hope you can clear this querry for me. Many thanks.

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