Self-sponsorship Visa in Japan

[oreads]

Originally Posted by Tired Teacher

From my experiences, being caucasian and a native English speaker with a Bachelor degree is the ideal situation.

If I were you, I would forget about teaching in Taiwan. The schools aren't to blame - it's the parents. You see, the parents in Taiwan want their children to learn from a caucasian teacher no matter whether the teacher is skillful or not.

When I was teaching in Japan, there were a few Asian English teachers and some black teachers. Of course, they were both native speakers. In Japan, as long as you are a native speaker, then it doesn't matter what color skin you have.

HOWEVER, not having a passport from one of native Engllish speaking countries, does make it more difficult. Problem is getting a visa. I know of an Swiss teacher teaching English in Japan. She had to get a visa thru a company as if she was needed as the translator between German and English. Obviously she had this contact, hence she could get the visa.

In your situation, it will be somewhat difficult to get work only because you will find it a challenge to get a visa.

My only suggestion is to self sponsor yourself. If you have enought "private" students, then take the list of names and write a contract for each student and take it to the visa office. You may be able to get a visa that way.

Hello everybody

I am new here. I am an ESL teacher for nearly eight years now and I am from Indonesia.

Recently, I've been looking for an opportunity to teach overseas especially in Japan. I've noticed and been aware that the situations in ESL field are not in favour with Asian non-native English speaking teachers. I mean, being a qualified teacher (I have TESOL cert) and having years of experience don't count here.

The situations must be changed. I know that now even non-native speakers of English are eligible for CELTA. If CELTA accepts non-native speakers, why not the working field?

Hi Tired Teacher, I am interested with your idea about self sponsoring ourselves. I contacted a small English language school in Nara and sent them my resume. They said they would be willing to hire me if I were in Nara because they couldn't afford to sponsor me. I'd like to know how it works when we sponsor ourselves. How much would we spend? Can you tell me more about it? Thanks a million!

[gfell]

Originally Posted by oreads

The situations must be changed. I know that now even non-native speakers of English are eligible for CELTA. If CELTA accepts non-native speakers, why not the working field?

CELTA course providers exist to make a profit and will gladly take your money for a teacher course whether you are a native English speaker or not. CELTRA training places are businesses looking to turn a profit. You are the customer!

Schools on the other hand want to promote their schools with faces of native English speakers and use this fact in advertisements and flyers. Much easier for them to get students if they employ native English speakers.

Comparing CELTA courses to English schools is not really doing any justice.

[Tired Teacher]

Wow! It certainly has been a while since I've been on these forums.

oreads, I suggest you contact the Japan visa office to clarify exactly what amounts you need for self-sponsorship. Has been a while since I've done it. I think at the time, the minimum monthly salary that you must show is around 160,000 yen - rather low and easily obtainable.

Just get that list of schools / students that want you to teach them and take it to your local visa office in Japan. But definitely speak to someone in the visa office, get their name and then go to that visa office with all the documents you were told to bring.

Good luck and let me know how goes.

[oreads]

Originally Posted by gfell

CELTA course providers exist to make a profit and will gladly take your money for a teacher course whether you are a native English speaker or not. CELTRA training places are businesses looking to turn a profit. You are the customer!

Schools on the other hand want to promote their schools with faces of native English speakers and use this fact in advertisements and flyers. Much easier for them to get students if they employ native English speakers.

Comparing CELTA courses to English schools is not really doing any justice.

Schools on the other hand want to promote their schools with faces of native English speakers and use this fact in advertisements and flyers. Much easier for them to get students if they employ native English speakers.

So, basically ESL/EFL field is just like any other types of business? It's about what's hot in the market?

Do you agree with the statement written by George Braine entitled "NNS and invisible barriers in ELT" for Nonnative English Speakers in TESOL (NNEST) Caucus? He wrote "Many administrators and teachers appear to view ELT as the last domain of the NS, to be defended at any cost. This attitude is highly ironic, considering the professions' strident championing of multiculturalism, diversity, and other sociopolitical causes, often on behalf of ESL students and immigrants. Although ESL students are praised and admired for the multiculturalism and diversity they bring into language classes, NNS English teachers, who can also contribute their rich multicultural, multilingual experiences, are often barred from the same classes."

[oreads]

Tired Teacher, sorry to go off topic

Think I didn't tell you that I am still in Indonesia now. No matter how qualified I am, there's no way that any schools in Japan would spend their money on sponsoring me so I am thinking about sponsoring myself. Some schools are open-minded enough to hire non-native English speaking teachers but only if they reside in Japan. For Indonesian, the only way to be in Japan is by getting a working visa and in order to get it we need certificate of eligibility and it is not possible to get this certificate without being sponsored. So, I've been wondering if it is possible to ask a school to sponsor me while I bear the cost of it?

[Tired Teacher]

It's quite an ask and I doubt any school will go into such an arrangement with you. What you are essentially wanting is to "pay" for a certificate of eligibility. Schools aren't in the business of selling sponsorship, so your offers to them wont really impress them.

The only way is to come to Japan and get a list of students / schools that are willing to give you work and taking this list to your local visa office in Japan.