Japanese Language School Time Commitment

[Tim0thy]

Hello, my wife and I are considering moving to Japan in order to study Japanese and one day work there as well. In particular we are looking at the ARC Shibuya language school in Tokyo. I'm curious as to what kind of time commitment we could expect to make for these schools? I have seen that the in class time is somewhere between 3.5 to 4 hours per day, 5 days a week. I've also heard that you can expect to spend an additional 2-3 hours working on assignments or studying after class. Is this fairly accurate? I need to know what to expect so that I can make the appropriate work arrangments. Right now I work a full time tellecommute IT job in the USA. I may be able to continue this work in Japan (my boss has to clear this but thus far I haven't found anything that states I cannot do this) but I'm not sure I can pull 40 hours a week on top of language school.

I'm looking for anyone that can give some advice or first hand experience on what it can be like at these schools.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mike Cash]

Before you do anything else, check to make sure you're going to be eligible for a visa that allows you to live and work here after you finish language school. The number one (by far) problem we see here is people making plans to come live here only to find out they are not eligible for a visa.

 

[Tim0thy]

I should be eligible as long as either my wife or myself plan to attend a language school full time. Spouse visas are also available for someone whose husband/wife is attending a language school and/or working in Japan. Please see this website as an example of what I'm talking about doing: Japan student visa application requirements

 

[Mike Cash]

You missed "after you finish language school" in my post.

 

[Tim0thy]

Nothing I've read thus far would suggest I wouldn't be. I already have a bachelors degree in IT and I'm a native English speaker. I see nothing that would suggest this being a problem.

Am I wrong on this?

 

[Mike Cash]

No, you're not. But while you already knew that about your self, we have to ask. We get a lot of inquiries from people who just flat aren't eligible and it is a waste of time for all concerned to talk about the details of a plan which is sunk before it ever got started. So that tends to be the first thing I ask about.

 

[Tim0thy]

Alright then, sorry if I came off a bit rude there. I was going back through the messages and it seemed like it may have come off that way. I really appreciate any and all help that is being offered. Do you have any knowledge of the language schools and what I could expect?

 

[Mike Cash]

The only thing I know about the language schools is to suggest that you also look into the Yamasa Institute.

 

[Glenski]

I can't describe hours at language schools, so I would simply recommend that you contact them to see what hours per week you have classes. Homework is up to you, of course.

As in your other thread where you mention telecommuting, let me remind you (and other readers who may not have seen that thread) that if your wife is Japanese, you can get a spouse visa, but if she's not Japanese, you would get a dependent visa (if you didn't already get a student visa, and if she has one).