I'm back after a few years and have a few questions!

Hey guys; I posted here originally when I was about 14 or 15 years old and I had an extreme passion to live in Japan. None of you guys thought that after High School I'd still have that desire.. and I do.

Anyhow, I graduate High School in about 5 months and I realized you only live ONCE, and I have little interest in staying in the United States my WHOLE life unless it's New York City which I seriously love with all of my heart.

So now I sit here wondering: How do I go about becoming an English teacher in Japan, or any other country for that matter?

Do I NEED a Bachelors degree?

How do I get started?

How much do English teachers make? A decent salary; enough to enjoy myself?

And also.. how long does the whole process take? Will I be taking the program in America? And am I definitely going to be able to get into the program?

Thankyou.

Welcome back Bikaben!

Why don't you consider going on a student VISA and attending school there? You could learn Japanese and depending on the VISA I think you can even work part time.

There are certain English teaching jobs that you can get without a bachelor's degree but I think they are becoming harder to find. I'm sure someone with more knowledge on the subject can give you a better idea though.

I really would love to figure out a way for me to work and live in Japan, and obviously English Teaching is my best bet. I need to figure something out.

Thanks guys!

I also want something more permanent; like something where I can definitely stay in Japan for a long period of time. I love Japan a lot. Are there English teaching Programs in Japan where I can study that, graduate, and then find a job? What would be my best bet? What do you guys recommend I do? Arigatou Gozaimasu

That's good and all, but I would just like to ask, how can you love Japan when you've never been there? I only say this because even though I know many people love their experience when visiting Japan, living there is quite different and I've heard many people who initially intend to stay for a long time end up leaving prematurely.
I'm in no way trying to discourage you from going to Japan, but I think you should think abit more about what living in Japan means. It may be different from what your imagining.
Anyway in regards to your question, there are a few programs that let you live and work as an english teacher for 1-3 years or whatever, but a degree is needed. Your type of question has been asked by many people, try using the search function, you'll get plenty more information.

Of course, but what do you recommend I do? If I want to get the foot in the door soon? Are there any schools there where I can become certified to teach? Are there any other jobs that I, as an intelligent American can acquire? Thankyou. And well I love the culture, the people(I know some Japanese and Korean people that lived in their respective countries) I love the history, literally everything imaginable about Japan and I can only imagine how much I'll love it if I love NYC to death. If you guys could lead me in the right direction, that would be spectacular. And Thankyou. I will search some things when I get a chance.

I'm not sure if I'm understanding you but you seem to be asking about a course you can take to teach you how to teach English in Japan. If that is really what you are asking then as far as I know, there is not.

I agree with Jericho Desu, if you haven't been to Japan you should visit first. You may find that its not what you thought, or that you wouldn't want to live there. Even if you still like it after the visit you should keep in mind that visiting somewhere and living there are very different. Still, you at least need to visit so you have some idea of what you will be getting into. I also agree that you need to do a lot of reading about what its like and about teaching English there. There are a lot of posts on this and other forums about it so I recommend taking a good look around.

Hope this helps!

Bikaben,
As a HS graduate, you are very unlikely to land any teaching jobs in Japan. If you want to pursue such a career, you are going to have to get a proper visa, and that means meeting their requirements.

Work visas usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Don't have it, and you will need at least 3 years of related teaching experience.
An alternative has already been mentioned: getting a student visa to study here (even at a language school), and that will let you work PT. The problem is simple: you are very young, and Japan's teaching market right now is terribly competitive, even for the older and experienced people.

You could also try for a cultural activities visa and work PT, but you'll still run into the same problem.

How does one actually become an English teacher? Well, any degree will do, archaeology, microbiology, education, engineering, whatever. Stupid, but true. If you want to learn how to teach, take courses, either at university or through a certification program.

You are simply going to have to be patient and get a degree in order to qualify for a visa, and that is the only way you are going to stay here a long time (unless you marry a Japanese, but having no degree or any work experience will hinder your career chances).

Non-teaching jobs usually ask for JLPT2 Japanese ability. Got it? You'll also need a degree and experience.

Well the best idea would be A. Me to get my Dental Hygienist Associate's degree that I was planning on staying here with, then moving to Japan after studying Japanese intensely or most likely, B. Finish my Dental Hygiene degree, then go for 2 more years, then become an English teacher with my Bach.

Also.. I came across Quizlet.com when I was studying.. they have these really nice flashcard sets and it covers almost everything.

Can you legitimately learn Japanese by flipping around with all of the flashcard sets that they have and practicing? Thankyou.

Bikaben said:

Also.. I came across Quizlet.com when I was studying.. they have these really nice flashcard sets and it covers almost everything.
Can you legitimately learn Japanese by flipping around with all of the flashcard sets that they have and practicing? Thankyou.

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Everyone learns differently. I have seen flash cards suggested a lot. I found them useful for certain things but not others. You can certainly give them a try and see what they do for you but you will need other resources too. I have been using the "Let's Learn Hiragana", "Let's Learn Katakana", and "Let's Learn Kanji" books along with others and also used Rossetta Stone a bit.

If you seriously plan to come here well-prepared for a long-term and pleasant stay then you still have several more years preparation to do first. It is nice that you are still interested and enthused, but try to remember that in life sex is pretty much the only endeavor in which an abundance of enthusiasm makes up for other shortcomings.

Can you learn a whole language just by flash cards?
Obviously, no.

Can you get a work visa on a dental assistant associate's degree?
Probably not.

Think harder and pay more attention to what people write.

I did, and I figured out a much more realistic, concrete plan. I go to college, get my associates in Dental Hygiene here, work as a hygienist here for a while, visit Japan, and if I like it, go for 2 more years and get my bachelors and move to Japan and try to land a teaching job. Can I have a Bach in ANYTHING? Also, I'm 99% sure that after I get my Bachelors, I can't just fly over and land a job teaching English; will I have to take teaching cert classes here or there? Thankyou for helping me guys.

Bikaben said:

...visit Japan, and if I like it, go for 2 more years and get my bachelors and move to Japan and try to land a teaching job. Can I have a Bach in ANYTHING?

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Yes, from anthropology to zoology.

Also, I'm sure that after I get my Bachelors, I can't just fly over and land a job teaching English; will I have to take teaching cert classes here or there? Thankyou for helping me guys.

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You can wait in your home country and apply at the few (dozen?) companies that recruit from overseas. You will have to pay your own way to the interviews in your home country, or deal with phone/Skype interviews.

Or you can come to Japan where there are more opportunities. But you'll have to plan well, and you will probably have to support yourself for 2-4 months before you get your first paycheck. Plan on US$4000-5000 to take with you here. Planning also means coming at the right time, notifying prospective employers before you come, having a resume and cover letter customized to each employer, know how to give a demo lesson, brush up on your grammar (for those places that give a written test at the interview), etc. Certs are often unknown to employers here, but if you are untested and inexperienced, they will at least give you some confidence. Yes, you can just show up, but the market here is so flooded with teachers and wannabes, that you should know what you're going to do.

Right: so basically a great idea would be for me to save about 10 grand up, head there after I get my bachelors, check it out, and if I Ike it, stay, apply for a work visa, get the visa, contact potential employers, and hopefully land a job? Some of there may not be in perfect order(Im not sure whether I have to get the work visa right before I leave which I think I have to do)

And also let's say that I work there for several years, and for some reason I do not want to go back to the U.S. (This is hypothetical). Is my only option to get permanent residence marriage? Is English teaching a career?

Final question, and I'm super sorry if I'm becoming annoying..

How can I prepare right now to do this? I assume me studying Japanese would help because if I speak Japanese, I'm more likely to get a teaching job.

Bikaben said:

after I get my bachelors, check it out, and if I Ike it, stay, apply for a work visa, get the visa, contact potential employers, and hopefully land a job?

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No. You get hired first, and then you apply for a work visa (with paperwork from your employer). Not all employers will sponsor visas, though, so you have to be aware of that when you apply for the job.

Also, just how long did you figure to "check it out"? Americans get only 90 days as tourists.

And also let's say that I work there for several years, and for some reason I do not want to go back to the U.S. (This is hypothetical). Is my only option to get permanent residence marriage? Is English teaching a career?

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If you do not marry a Japanese citizen, typical guidelines for Permanent Residence state that you will have to be here 10 consecutive years.
Immigration Services Agency of Japan

No, your options are not to get PR, either. You can live out your life in Japan with work visa renewals (including one for investor/business manager if you decide to own your own business). Stupid, though, after 10 years. Just get PR by then.
You can also live out your life on a spouse visa. (Also stupid, and you can apply for PR sooner.)

Is TEFL a career? Yes. Is it a viable one? That depends on you and the market. If you can keep ahead of the game, you'll have it for a career. Keep in mind, though, that you will probably need to get some good credentials and/or start your own business (a headache unto itself).

Final question, and I'm super sorry if I'm becoming annoying..
How can I prepare right now to do this? I assume me studying Japanese would help because if I speak Japanese, I'm more likely to get a teaching job.

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Decide on a career, of course, but I think you also simply need to come here as a tourist and look around. People have aspirations and dreams based on books, movies, and the Internet, but they may be disappointed or disillusioned upon seeing life here up close.

You can come and improve your language ability by getting a student visa to study Japanese. It will even let you work PT, but a fresh HS graduate is unlikely to land much if anything, IMO.

Re: career goals
Teaching English is one of the few opportunities here that does not require (much) Japanese language. Savvy employers will look for at least a little of it, though, as it will reduce their headaches in babysitting a teacher in daily affairs. Japanese is almost always needed in any other non-teaching job. There are exceptions, but you still need to qualify for them, and right now you don't.

Lurk on teaching job sites (like ESL Cafe). See what people are saying, read FAQs, and read as many past threads as you can. I didn't even apply for my first job here until I had done that for 6 months! Then, ask questions on those sites. You are just too naive right now to ask detailed questions, and you have not even seen Japan firsthand. No offense, but it may not be what you imagine it to be.

Japan is overfilling with teachers and wannabes. Keep that in mind above all else. In the last 3-5 years, salaries have dropped, too.

Right. I appreciate all the help; you guys really helped me get some insight onto everything.

One thing I just looked into was teaching in Europe for a little while before going to Japan so as to have EXPERIENCE teaching English so that my future employers are more likely to hire me as I will have experience. Are the requirements identical or no? Thankyou. This should be my last question.

Unless it's eastern Europe, you won't be able to get a work visa.

And, no, in general the requirements are not exactly the same. Plus, your experience outside Japan is often not smiled upon by employers.