I found this article completely on accident.
http://www.japanisdoomed.com/2009/07/04/...roject-faq
It's about this guy in the UK who spent a "gap year" teaching English in Tokyo after high school. It sounds ridiculously amazing. I've never even thought of trying anything like that, I always thought I'd need a degree (which I obviously don't have). Do any of you know about any safe, reliable opportunities for Americans to temporarily work in Japan? I'm 21, so I guess too old for a gap year :/ I really don't even know what options I have..

You're never too old to expand your horizons. Technically, any year that you're employed is not a 'gap year' and I really wouldn't worry about it.

As for teaching English in Japan... I think you should prepare yourself mentally for living away from everyone and everything you know on only $500 month. (Article says 70,000 yen, plus inflation, minus taxes/etc.) You'll be eating a lot of instant ramen, I predict.

I haven't done it, and I can't conceive of it. But tons of others have.

Having said that, I think it would be a wonderful experience that you will treasure for the rest of your life, unless you're a cynical a******. In which case, it wouldn't matter what you did anyhow.

Americans can't get a working holiday visa in Japan so your chances are very slim of getting a teaching job without a degree. But, there are some mom and pop eikaiwas around Japan that might be able to sponsor a visa for you.

kitakitsune Wrote:Americans can't get a working holiday visa in Japan so your chances are very slim of getting a teaching job without a degree. But, there are some mom and pop eikaiwas around Japan that might be able to sponsor a visa for you.

He might not qualify for a work visa, not having a degree or the requisite number of years of professional experience.

There must be some loophole because I've known a few Americans who didn't have degrees working with legit visas at eikaiwas.

They were probably old enough to pass as having enough experience.
21 is kind of young. Then again, every situation is different here.

By the sound of it what this guy was doing was more a volunteer placement with compensation than a full teaching English job. I did a slightly similar thing after finishing school, but the work was in a hospital rather than teaching english. The 'pocket money' we received was about the same though (just enough to live on as long as you're not paying rent).

Most people doing this sort of thing will be on a working holiday visa.
The 'gap year' industry in the U.K. is pretty developed so there are lots of charities and companies offering these sort of experiences, it might be pretty hard to find anything similar aimed at Americans, especially because of the visa issues.

I actually did the same project in tokyo as this guy last year, its with a british charity called project trust. From the people i met out there even volunteering in japan as an english teacher when you are 18 seems pretty rare, most the people i knew in my age range were 留学生, either high school or university.

Jarvik7 Wrote:

kitakitsune Wrote:Americans can't get a working holiday visa in Japan so your chances are very slim of getting a teaching job without a degree. But, there are some mom and pop eikaiwas around Japan that might be able to sponsor a visa for you.

He might not qualify for a work visa, not having a degree or the requisite number of years of professional experience.

So does this mean that it's impossible for someone coming out of high school? Or is it just a very rare occurrence? I was thinking about doing something like this after graduating high school (i.e. Jet until I learned you have to have a four year degree), so what do you think the chance is of someone in the US being able to do this?

I would say the chances are next to nil.

slivir Wrote:I would say the chances are next to nil.

So then it's still technically possible right? Anywho, does anyone know of any similar alternate options I could take after high school graduation?

Does anyone know of any organizations similar to Project Trust designed for Australian's? I would love to do something similar and I know Australians can get working holiday visas for Japan.

Having a degree is pretty important. I haven't met one foreigner here employed in the English teaching sector (jet, private alt gig, eikaiwa etc) who doesn't have one. Maybe it's possible, maybe there are exceptions, but I don't know of any.

Have you guys considered something like a homestay program? I knew a few people who did so as a gap year after high school. Of course, the problem is you have to pay for it...

It's possible to work as an English teacher without a degree, but you are supposed to have x number of years of professional experience. They don't follow up though so if your sponsor vouches for you and it's not suspicious, then you can get a visa. If you are 21 and claim to have 5 years of professional experience, it's obvious that you are lying. If you have a work holiday or marriage visa then a degree is not required since you already have legal working status.

Also, you need a degree for the teacher visa no matter what, which means no public schools (at least if they are following the rules).

I was perusing through gaijinpot and they offer a lot of english teaching jobs that don't require a degree (from what I've seen), the catch being that you have to have a work visa and currently reside in Japan. So do you think it's possible that I could save funds and then get a working visa during a stay in Japan to get a job?

Fallacy Wrote:So do you think it's possible that I could save funds and then get a working visa during a stay in Japan to get a job?

Actually, you've got that backwards. You need a job to get a working visa. Perhaps your idea would work if you could come on a working holiday visa, but as you appear to be an American, that's not available to you.

Oniichan Wrote:

Fallacy Wrote:So do you think it's possible that I could save funds and then get a working visa during a stay in Japan to get a job?

Actually, you've got that backwards. You need a job to get a working visa. Perhaps your idea would work if you could come on a working holiday visa, but as you appear to be an American, that's not available to you.

Oh. Well then. Okay, it's a long shot, but what if I contacted said employer (who requires a work visa or not) and asked them to sponsor my visa, then go to Japan, get visa, get job, mission accomplished.

2 main problems with that:

What are the chances of finding someone who will offer you a job and visa sponsorship without ever meeting you when there are plenty of people already in Japan with degrees. (Maybe you could find someone desperate enough but it's a very, very long shot)

Even if they are happy to employ you and sponsor you for a visa you still will not be accepted for that visa as you don't have the necessary degree or experience. (unless you lie on the application)

That is theoretically possible.

mutley Wrote:2 main problems with that:

What are the chances of finding someone who will offer you a job and visa sponsorship without ever meeting you when there are plenty of people already in Japan with degrees. (Maybe you could find someone desperate enough but it's a very, very long shot)

Even if they are happy to employ you and sponsor you for a visa you still will not be accepted for that visa as you don't have the necessary degree or experience. (unless you lie on the application)

Well the few jobs I saw didn't require a degree and Japanese was none. They just wanted you to reside in Japan and may or may not have required a visa. And yes it is a longshot, but as I have learned, never give up, never surrender.

You could try a website like this for volunteer projects
http://www.vfp.org/explore-volunteer-des...ific/japan
Most of the minimum ages are 18.

Lol this is basically what I'm doing.

I have about a year gap between now and starting grad school so I'm going to work at Interac. Hopefully its just a gap 1 year and doesn't become something more. I really need to finish my GREs though :| /procrastination

What about the JLTP? If you can pass one of the harder levels, would that be able to substitute for a degree?

JLPT may be useful but I highly doubt it could be used as a degree substitute.

pudding cat Wrote:JLPT may be useful but I highly doubt it could be used as a degree substitute.

agreed