Single parent looking to teach overseas

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone could advise me on my status as a single mother when applying for teaching positions in Japan?
I graduated at the end of the year 2000 with an Advanced Diploma in Applied and Visual art however, I don't have a degree but am studying at the moment (Bachelor of Communications) by correspondance.

I have an immense interest in Japan and its culture and in my lifetime would love to be able to experience living there. Next year I will do the TESOL certificate.

My daughter is two years old and I am thirty three. What chance do I have in being able to teach and live in Japan?

Any help would be greatly recieved.

Kind Regards
Rachel Grove
My email is : gretarose@optusnet.com.au

[mycolumbus]

Rachel,

It's somewhat more difficult to get a visa in Japan if you don't hold a university degree. However, it's not impossible. It will be unlikely you can find work being in Australia. You would need to fly to Japan and actively source work.

I would suggest only going to Japan once you have your TESOL Certificate. It's easy to get work in Japan if you already have a visa yet no degree. However, getting the visa is the hardest part. Once you have the visa, there is heaps of work that will come your way.

Try and get the Australian Qualification Framework write a letter or the institution you graduated from saying that the Advanced Diploma is equivalent or close to that of a degree. If you go with a big chain school, then the Diploma would get your way thru the visa process.

By the way, I got my visa in Japan with only having an Advanced Diploma. Found a company that desperately wanted a teacher to teach 1.5 hours commute each way for 8 hours a week. They sponsored so this proves having only an Advanced Diploma is enough.