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Anyone have experience with getting a visa for english teacher? - JKS87 - 2015-05-18
maxwell, might you consider teaching your native language instead? A friend of mine currently teaches Br Portuguese in Japan (and Korea before that), she was unable to land an English gig. Obviously English is the most in-demand language in Japan because it's so fashionable/useful, but also consider that there is probably less competition for positions teaching other languages. Despite teaching languages in Japan being a fairly unglamorous job, she actually does rather well for herself financially. Although this may not be true for other parts of the country, I am convinced that in Tokyo, the biggest city in the world, there must exist a reasonable sized market for almost any "major" language.
Anyone have experience with getting a visa for english teacher? - vix86 - 2015-05-19
"JKS87 Wrote:Although this may not be true for other parts of the country, I am convinced that in Tokyo, the biggest city in the world, there must exist a reasonable sized market for almost any "major" language.Finding these jobs can be difficult though. Your friend lucked out with Br Portuguese because Japan imports labor from Brazil so there will be a need for that language in some places. Not every language is going to have it so nice.
The other thing is that teaching something non-English means you'll also be looking for Eikaiwa work, which limits your options. Its possible that some of the eikaiwas might need other languages but you'll have to hunt a lot harder for it and it probably won't be at small eikaiwas; it'll be at places like Berlitz likely.
To the OP. Yes, these are the general requirements for the visa. The company will have to craft a packet for immigration and part of it will be specifying your credentials and why you can fulfill the job the visa is for. Part of that is being able to show in some form of documentation that "Yes, this person can operate at a high level of English, see this degree they got in English." I can't tell you to lie nor can I say how deeply anyone will look into this stuff. I've always been of the opinion that bureaucrats don't look too deeply into the information unless they see something fishy. So something like a degree from China and trying to claim it was done in English would probably set the bells off. If the country the degree is from isn't known for its strong English use, lying will probably be found out.
I'd probably Google for 会話 + your language and check out the pages that come up. See if you can find a place for job listings on the site.
Anyone have experience with getting a visa for english teacher? - maxwell777 - 2015-05-19
Zgarbas Wrote:Not a good idea to lie to your employer. Just tell them what experience you do have and see if it makes up for it.Well, of course it's not a good idea. That's just my frustration speaking. These kind of rigid requirements just don't make much sense.
I have heard that in Korea it's even worse. Some Canadian people can't get a visa for teaching English, because they went to a French university and other such idiocy.
The problem is if I just tell them about my experience, like you say, I seemingly can't get a work visa.
So what am I gonna do? I have the qualifications to teach English.
I can find info online that many foreigners teach English at Eikawas. Did they all study for a bachelor's degree at an English university or have years of experience in teaching English, really?
JKS87,
Thanks, it's definitely a good point and of course I'd be willing to do that, but I can't really find a German teaching gig (I'm from Austria) at Gaijinpot or similar websites right now. I have found only one so far and it doesn't include visa sponsorship.
vix86,
yeah what you're saying absolutely makes sense, thanks for the post.
The thing is, I'm quite certain that my level of English is high enough to teach it - at least up to a certain level - because I have successfully done the CELTA.
But I seemingly can't communicate it to them. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do.
This is quite annoying really.
Thanks for the tip with googling 会話 + language. I'm doing that right now.
Anyone have experience with getting a visa for english teacher? - tokyostyle - 2015-05-19
maxwell777 Wrote:Did they all study for a bachelor's degree at an English university or have years of experience in teaching English, really?If they got a work visa then yes. The only other options that allow this kind of work are spouse visa, student visa (28 hours/week), and permanent resident.
Is there a reason you don't want to burn your working-holiday visa to come here and get set up?
Anyone have experience with getting a visa for english teacher? - maxwell777 - 2015-05-20
tokyostyle Wrote:Yeah the reason is I'm not "at least 18 years and less than 30 years old". I'm also not less than 18 years old, if you're wonderingmaxwell777 Wrote:Did they all study for a bachelor's degree at an English university or have years of experience in teaching English, really?If they got a work visa then yes. The only other options that allow this kind of work are spouse visa, student visa (28 hours/week), and permanent resident.
Is there a reason you don't want to burn your working-holiday visa to come here and get set up?
So do I have to marry a japanese girl now so I can look for work as an English teacher?
Sounds awesome.
Anyone have experience with getting a visa for english teacher? - tokyostyle - 2015-05-20
maxwell777 Wrote:Yeah the reason is I'm not "at least 18 years and less than 30 years old". I'm also not less than 18 years old, if you're wonderingThat's a pretty good reason!
You still might have more luck if you are looking while in Japan. Spend your days doing the job hunt and your nights doing the spouse visa hunt.
Anyone have experience with getting a visa for english teacher? - Robik - 2015-05-20
tokyostyle Wrote:You still might have more luck if you are looking while in Japan. Spend your days doing the job hunt and your nights doing the spouse visa hunt.Looks like chicken egg problem to me, you need one to get the other... ;-)
Anyone have experience with getting a visa for english teacher? - Jawful - 2015-05-20
As a school owner, I can say that some of us prefer people with credentials over "nativeness". The CELTA is a quality certification and if your English level is near-native level with good pronunciation, then you have everything you need to get an English speaking job.
I know many non-native speakers who make much better teachers than many of the "natives" that are currently filling the roles. There are a slew of people who aren't interested in teaching and are just doing it because it's the only job available. A good teacher has to enjoy what they do and get satisfaction at the students learning. To go through CELTA shows a dedication to the actual industry and gives you a plus one in my book.
But I agree that you'll have much better luck finding work if you are actually *in* Japan. Come on a working holiday, if you are young enough. That will get you in the door.
Anyone have experience with getting a visa for english teacher? - maxwell777 - 2015-05-22
tokyostyle,
yeah good plan!
Robik,
lol good point. but I don't necessarily need a job to date a girl I guess... anyway there must be other types of visas too. maybe I could go on a cultural exchange program. Learn Karate so I can teach English
Jawful,
thanks for your post. I wish the immigration bureau would see it like you do.
and yes, I am sure there are many people who just do it because they need "some kind of job". I actually enjoy teaching.
As for the holiday visa, unfortunately I can't get that. Now I'm looking for other possibilites / types of visa I could maybe receive.
Anyone have experience with getting a visa for english teacher? - Aikynaro - 2015-05-22
The English speaking university thing as a visa requirement rings false to me.
Anyway, the other major option is to get a student visa and then jump to a work visa. If you're studying you are allowed to work a certain number of hours per week - pick up a part-time English teaching job and then get your employer to sponsor you when your visa runs out. A six month language course should do the trick.
A guy I work with did this - he went to a French speaking university (being French, and all) and is now happily teaching English.
Anyone have experience with getting a visa for english teacher? - tokyostyle - 2015-05-22
Aikynaro Wrote:The English speaking university thing as a visa requirement rings false to me.I don't think it's an official requirement. (Assuming this is the correct visa for an eikawa position.) However it probably does reflect the companies policies which are probably based on past experience.
Still a company like Berlitz could hire him as a German teacher and then have him also teach English classes so ultimately it seems like they just don't want to deal with it when hiring from abroad.
Anyone have experience with getting a visa for english teacher? - vix86 - 2015-05-22
Most of the working visas have requirements where you have to have a degree related to the industry or X number of years of professional work. I'm not convinced these are hard rules which will result in immediate rejection of a visa, but its still up to the company to justify to immigration why you are qualified for the position over others. It isn't like this is a "Japan only" thing; most countries around the world have similar if not stricter requirements for granting a visa for a foreigner; based on their credentials. Just as an example, a work visa to dev work in the UK states I need a relevant degree as well or years of work experience.
Anyone have experience with getting a visa for english teacher? - maxwell777 - 2015-06-25
Well I'm glad to tell you guys that I don't have to worry about any of this anymore, because I really landed the job as a music teacher that Aikynaro posted in the other thread! I'm really happy about this.
And in the meantime I already got my CoE and my visa!
I'd like to thank you all for your help by posting here.
Soon I will be in Japan!
Anyone have experience with getting a visa for english teacher? - tokyostyle - 2015-06-26
Congrats!