Japan for life?!

My question:
Could anyone tell me more about moving to Japan and sticking it out as an English teacher for the rest of their days?! lol

It's been three months since I finished my contract with AEON and returned home. My experience was great for many reasons, among those being:

1. I went with my younger brother, and we could lean on each other in difficult times and avoid becoming home sick

2. I met a wonderful woman, and we are still dating

As much as I enjoyed my time there, it of course wasn't all peachy, and I am afraid that if I returned for the sake of my relationship, that I will end up teaching English - not earning enough money for a family, and hating my job.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

Or rather more directly:

Is it possible to work as an English teacher in Japan and earn enough to support a family?
(I also think I might go crazy teaching English forever)

Thanks all!!!!!

Come to the ESL Cafe discussion forum. More teachers are there.

I've been here for about 13 years (and have married a Japanese woman).

What exactly do you want to know? If you met a Japanese woman and are home but still dating, does that mean she has come to visit you?

Is it possible to work as an English teacher in Japan and earn enough to support a family?

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Yes, of course. Many of us do. Just don't expect to have much support by staying in eikaiwa. And, I take it you are planning on you being the sole breadwinner? Details, please, on your goals.

Unless you just have some sort of passion for being an Eikaiwa teacher, there is nothing that says you must be an Eikaiwa teacher in order to live here.

Like any other job, some people are cut out for it and some are not. I'm one of the "not" people. The thought of having no option but to do that job until retirement age is too depressing to contemplate. If you don't want to do Eikaiwa....then acquire and bring with you some other marketable job skills.

That's interesting...I was thinking about the exact same thing earlier today: Staying permanently? Or not?

Actually my AEON contract ends next month. I have to second Mike Cash, though, there are other ways to make a living. I'm cutting my Eikaiwa leash to build some more bankable skills.

If you plan it right, I'm sure you'll be okay. I hope it all works out, because I know how you feel.

There are lots of other jobs you could do but as Mike Cash said you need to have skills and if you want more opportunities you will likely want a good understanding of Japanese. It could open more doors for you and at the very least will help you in everyday life.

I am studying Japanese with the goal of it allowing me to get a job that will let me support my family when we move back to Japan. I don't feel that I could move their without at least conversational level Japanese if I want to be able to take care of my family. But that's just me. I know there are a lot of jobs that don't require Japanese at all, but they will require some sort of skill.

Yeah, I agree, having conversational Japanese abilities can make a world of difference. When I was researching post AEON jobs, the starting pay differences for basic vs. conversational speakers is pretty significant. Of course I'm not there yet, by any means, but it's part of the reason for the job switch in the first place.

I'll just throw this into the ring. Department of Defense jobs at all American bases do what they call "local hire" basically you can apply for a job if you have the skill set and get hired as a local and be paid in Yen instead of Dollars. A lot of us that want to stay in Japan usually get these jobs because we can establish pay in country instead of being paid "out of country" (that's what Japan considers my pay when I am stationed there). There are TONS of jobs through the gov't you just have to be willing to take the first one available then once your "in the system" you can move up. DOD hires teachers too for their schools, if you have a degree and are an American citizen then you can start as a substitute. I know Sasebo was DYING for people 3 years ago.

It may be worth looking into, there are a lot of bases throughout Japan. You would be surprised where they are hiring. Just find the bases web site and look.

By the way The Japan Guy Yokota is not too far from you and it is a major Air Force base.

I don't even have basic level yet, but I'm determined to get there.

I have a plan to take the JLPT exams starting at level 3 (or whatever the equivalent is in the new levels). I would like to have passed level 2 before we move there. That would at least help me out I think. I could work on studying for level 1 while I am there and will have the benefit of being immersed in the language so I can practice and learn things maybe a little quicker then just studying out of a book.

thejapanguy,

Are you actively studying? If so I would be curious to know what resources you are using (books, tapes/CDs/MP3s, classes)?

Petaris said:

There are lots of other jobs you could do but as Mike Cash said you need to have skills and if you want more opportunities you will likely want a good understanding of Japanese.

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Sometimes even this is not enough. Add experience to that list. And, for most non-teaching jobs, the old JLPT2 level of Japanese is the common minimum required.

Glenski said:

Sometimes even this is not enough. Add experience to that list. And, for most non-teaching jobs, the old JLPT2 level of Japanese is the common minimum required.

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How do the old level 2 and the new one compare? I thought it was just level 3 and below that were changed but I admit I'm not sure about it.

Also, I guess I kind of threw experience and skill together. Experience is definitely helpful. I think for many places in the US it can be more important then a degree or more important then a high degree anyway.

I think passing the JLPT 2 while not even living in Japan is very hard. Maybe when you are having a lot of Japanese around you it should be a lot easier, but I would start with JLPT 3 in the first place.

But if you are planning to get a non-English speaking job from the beginning at least JLPT 2 is necessary.

Being able to earn enough money for your family also depends on how your parter spends the money... I'm glad my wife is a good saver (although I do wish to get some more pocket money so now and then)

I lasted 2 months teaching English. Been here nearly 15 years now, teaching is for some people and others it it is not.

I personally gave up b/c I felt sorry for the people paying big dollars to a company when I only "passed" English at school. (More of a physics guy) I had and have no qualifications to teach English and won't take money for something I am not qualified to do.

This is a very reasonable question, and one that I'm sure a great number of people ask themselves.

I don't have much to add that hasn't already been said, but I will say that I would focus this as an means to an end more than anything else. Keep focused on Japanese language, start focusing on other marketable skills and options.

Don't trap yourself in a situation without options, and you will be fine.

Petaris said:

How do the old level 2 and the new one compare? I thought it was just level 3 and below that were changed but I admit I'm not sure about it.

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About the JLPT

Glenski said:

About the JLPT

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Thanks Glenski!

Great discussion, thanks for the advice from all.

In Canada I was an Audio Engineer, but it was freelance, and not a guaranteed income stream. If I want to get a different job in Japan I will have to as you say, acquire some new skills (go back to school) - and of course improve my Japanese. I am currently at a basic conversational level.

However, I am 28 years old, and going back to school will take me a couple of years, plus perhaps getting some on job experience on the resume before heading back to Japan. That will make me 35ish lets say. I have no problem with this in theory, but my girlfriend would have to wait a hell of a long time. She already has a good job there and wouldn't be able to come to Canada in the meantime.

Effectively, I have the choice of staying in Canada to prepare for a long haul in Japan, but sacrificing the relationship - or going now, saving the relationship, but being an English teacher for a long *** time.

She has said that she would want to quit her job once we start a family, and I would become the sole "bread winner". That's typically how it goes over there I suppose. Cultural differences are an issue long term, and being away from my family as well.

How have you "lifers" managed these non-financial issues?

I'm not currently living in Japan but I am married to a Japanese woman. No matter what you think, some of the cultural stuff will bite you. Both of you will just have to remember that you were raised completely differently and you will have differences of opinion when it comes to certain things. Like raising kids, how and when to spend money, and how many gifts need to be bought for co-workers and family while your on vacation somewhere. You will just have to accept that these differences of opinion will come up and learn how to work through them.

As for family, my wife has a hard time being away from her family and also just not having too many other Japanese or Japanese speakers around. That might be an issue for you if you move their. You might start missing English, though you can likely find some other English speakers depending on where you live. You will also have to plan for trips back home to visit your family.

I'm certainly not trying to talk you out of moving their and having a relationship, these are just some things that you will have to plan for or deal with. The family thing and Japanese speaking thing are two big reasons we are planning on moving to Japan. I think I will be able to cope a bit better then my wife has. But the job and language are two things I know I need to sort out before we move.

Hope this helps!

Mcmodan said:

She has said that she would want to quit her job once we start a family, and I would become the sole "bread winner". That's typically how it goes over there I suppose. Cultural differences are an issue long term, and being away from my family as well.
How have you "lifers" managed these non-financial issues?

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In the long run, they are financial issues if you look at them right.
My wife initially thought she could move to the U.S., but she changed soon after we were married. She felt that education for any kid we might have would be better in the States, but I think she just got more involved in her own work and enjoyed learning how to do things there (new job). Plus, she is uncomfortable with any thoughts of using English in the States in a job situation.
She did quit her job after our kid was born, and she still has an open invitation to return to that position anytime, but raising a kid is a full-time job, and we live in another city now. Mamas are worked to death at home, so keep that in mind even if you don't have kids. They can be relentless housekeepers (depends on how they were raised, of course), wanting to keep the home spic and span in case of visitors. Plus wives often handle finances, especially for expats, and that includes window shopping for major purchases while you are at work, and then later trying to explain the comparison shopping results to you later before you buy.
There are tons of cultural issues involved, and a discussion forum will not hit them all.
Religion (including that involved when raising kids)
Children (when, schooling, bilingualism, how many, names, etc.)
In-laws
hobbies (especially what you don't share
free time
both of you learning a language
career of the breadwinner
retirement
trips back to your home country
deciding which country to live in (including one where neither of you is then native)
Etc.
Read books on this topic so you aren't blindsided. The major thing that comes out seems to be that openness in communication is #1 to head things off.
As for missing family, it happens, and even nowadays even email isn't fast enough for some people. People back home soon have the "out of sight, out of mind" relationship with you. They still care for you, but their lives go on the same, so answering emails may dribble off with longer delays. That's why keeping everyone informed back home is necessary (I publish a monthly newsletter with pictures), and the occasional Skype call with video helps a lot. You will lose touch with some people, even family or best friends. Just keep that in mind.