Child of National Visa for Japan

[MakE]

Hello,

I hope someone has not already answered these questions previously, if they have im sorry to bother everyone with them again.

Im a 26 year old Canadian with Japanese parents(I was born in AB) and I really want to go to Japan to teach English in some manner if possible. I have yet to finish a degree or diploma. I recently took a Tesol certificate course from Oxford Seminars in order to get my *feet wet* and to see if teaching English is something I would like to truly pursue. My only teaching experience comes from being a ski instructor(CSIA II) and alpine racing coach(CSFC I) for roughly 10 years.

I love teaching in general and want to know :
Are my chances for finding work in Japan good or bad?
Anyone know someone teaching under a Child of National Visa?
Will having a Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 2 help at all?
Will working at a private conversational school for several years help land you a job as an ALT or AET? or are these positions impossible without a degree?

I check Aacircle/GaijinPot/DavesEslCafe daily looking for openings, can anyone suggest any other sites to check?
Would it be a waste of time applying to schools with minimum requirements that are must have a BA and be a native speaker?

I know i've asked many questions here and possibly offended anyone already working in Japan who may think someone without a BA has nothing to really offer. I know I really should have at least finished a diploma but this is just the situation im in. If I can find work, I really want to stay in Japan for several years. I would really appreciate any help I can get.

Thanks

[mycolumbus]

Hi from Japan! So you wanna get here asap? Yep, Japan is a great country to work in.

If you don't have a degree, then it will be tough to get a working holiday visa in Japan. Why don't you apply for a working holiday visa? It's available to Canadians you know!

The below requirements are taken direct from Information about requirements for working holiday visas for Japan

1. Must be a Canadian citizen currently residing in Canada;
2. Intend primarily to holiday in Japan for a specific period of time;
3. Be between 18 and 30 years of age at the time of application;
4. Possess a valid Canadian passport and a return travel ticket;
5. Possess reasonable funds for their maintenance, including medical expenses, during the period of initial stay in Japan;
6. Be in good health and not have a criminal record.

Japanese language proficiency level 2 is not helpful. Are you at this level? I'm trying to pass this exam in December. If teaching children, then some conversation ability is required by some schools.

Other job sites to checkout:

• Jobs in Japan
• Kansai Flea Market
• Tokyo YY

I would still apply to schools that advertise for a Bachelor's degree. The main reason they advertise this is for visa requirements, but if you get a WHV (working holiday visa), then the majority of these schools wont care if you have a degree or not.

[MakE]

Thanks for the speedy reply mycolumbus

Ill be sure to keep the WHV as an option Im currently working on getting my papers for a Child of National Visa because I've read you can get up to 3 years and work full-time under this visa and only get taxed the same rate of a WHV.

I took level 2 about 10 years ago and decided not to go for level 1 because I just didnt want to learn all the kanji Best of luck on the exam in December

Thanks for the other job sites, ill be sure to start checking them as well.

Is anyone working in the Nagano or Nagoya area? Trying to find myself work in one of these locations at the moment.

[gfell]

Just posted a thread regarding tax rates in Japan.