Moving to Japan

[Andrew Scotchmer]

Hi

I am married to a Japanese woman and will be moving to Japan this year. She
comes from the Shizuoka region and for the first few weeks will probably be
living with her parents.

My question is how easy will finding work be? I have no college/university
degree though I am receiving my TEFAL certificate this summer from the University of Lancaster, England. As a native English speaker this is probably my best oppourtunity.

My Japanese is coming on, infact my wife qualified in Kyoto and Tokyo as a
teacher of Japanese to foreigners (second language) and I am just beginning my study of the writing systems.

I suppose in some ways I am fortunate in that I will have a place to stay in a large western style house when I first land but any other suggestions will be much appreciated.

Andrew

 

[mr.sumo.snr]

Ok then. First thing. Welcome to Japan. Next thing. As long as the in-laws are bearable stay for as long as possible under their roof - you'll save a bundle. If they're at all difficult - then knuckle under and endure - you'll continue to save a bundle.

Then there's a job. On a spouse visa you can do practically anything you like - except jobs where you would have to risk you life to aid others - such as a firefighter. So yes, you can teach English without a university degree. That said - you won't be securing employment at any of the major language schools. JET is out of the question. Private English language schools will also expect a university education. So what does that leave you? Well you could set up your own school. Self-employment is a piece of cake on a spouse visa. You don't have to mention academic qualifications to prospective students and they will never ask. YES - they will expect you too be a graduate but it's not like you have to produce academic documents - not when on a spouse visa.

Should you do it? Well, that really depends on the current state of language schools in the city to which you are moving. If there are none, or just one or two then you could probably find enough students to make a living. The willingness of your mother-in-law to 'sell' her daughter's husband's language teaching skills might be a factor. As is your wife's ability to 'recruit' students from amongst her friends - and perhaps their children. If the family house is large you could teach there. If not then when looking for an apartment choose something which is large enough that one room could be transformed into a classroom.

There is another option. Now we're into the 'can't condone this' area. Approach the local English language schools. I don't suggest the big chain schools - but something private. There's bound to be one or two in the area, usually owned by a Japanese guy who teaches 'juku' but also operates an English conversation school as a sideline - and most importantly recruits gaijin to teach there. If you knock on his door with you're spouse visa in hand he may well offer you work without the matter of your lack of a university qualification being touched upon. Since you already have a visa he doesn't need a graduation certificate in order to apply for a teachers' visa. Since your accommodation isn't an issue that might also count in your favor. It's worth thinking about - even though, as I said, I can't condone such actions.

BTW yes I do operate my own English language school. Yes, I'm here on a spouse visa. Yes, I have taught dozens of my wife's and mother-in-law's friends, and neighbors and their children. Yes, it's good business - but nowhere near as good as it was ten years ago. No, you wouldn't get a job working for me without a degree, a CELTA, and at least one year's teaching experience in Japan. You would also have to be over 26 - for car insurance reasons - and life experience reasons.

 

[Andrew Scotchmer]

Hi

Thanks for that Mr. Sumo Snr. I got your reply in the newsgroup also. If you haven't been back I have also posted saying:

"As an after thought I will be taking, after the sale of my house (and paying
back the bank), 12,000,000yen.

In england this (£60,0000 or about $120,000) is a considerable sum - but
would it be enough to set ones self and a wife up in Shizuoka?

We are only thinking of a small 3-5 roomed traditional style apartment.

I am just full of uncertanties at the moment."


Her father can also find me work teaching civil servants in the local city hall (he's one of the directors).

I thought that a private english class or even my owncould be an option worth looking into but after I land.

I hope this makes my position clear. I am not as it were going to Japan cold without any support system it is just, Idon't know, fear of the new I suppose.

Andrew

 

[GaijinPunch]

My first trip to Japan was in Shizuoka. I lived there for 3 months. Nice place -- not too country-side, but no Megalopolis.

Will you have your visa sorted out before hand? If so, it'll not be a problem, as you can work (teach) on a spousal visa w/o having a 4-year degree. Make sure she doesn't divorce you though, or they'll send you on your way (unless you've had 10 years of professional work experience).

60,000 GBP will last you quite a while in Shizuoka. If you move a bit out (I lived near Shimizu station... Kusanagi is another that's pretty convenient) you can probably find a pretty nice 3-bed room for 100,000 to 120,000 yen a month. 4 or 5 room... uh... not sure... was never even close to that market when living there. Anyways, just get ready to fork up (and clench your butt cheeks) when you move in. Move-in costs typically cost 1 month of rent x 6. (2 deposit, 2 "key" money, 1 locator fee, 1 for rent). This is negotiable to some degree... or at least was last time I moved into an apartment in Tokyo which was about a year ago.

Well, good luck. You met your in-laws yet? Make sure you take them a nice souvenir from the UK. Booze are always a winner, as are junk food... nice stuff, not a box of M&Ms.

 

[Andrew Scotchmer]

Thanks Gaijinpunch

I will most like be living in or around Fuji City, a beautiful place dominated by mnt.Fuji.

I have met the in-laws. They came over for the wedding and I have visited onseveral occaisions. My wife finds it hard to adjust to british life (the bad weather, the rising crime and dirty streets) and I cannot wait to go back to Japan!

By the way I am travelling to Fuji City again on Wednesday with a couple of bottles of whiskey for the father-in-law)!


Andrew

 

[mangaman]

With that much you can buy a house, but I would wait to you get your feet wet for a couple of years. You can teach without a degree no problem, the degree thing is mainly for the immigration process. You could do really well just teaching for yourself but you might want to work at a school for a while to get the hang of it. When you do get your own place make sure it has an extra room suitable for teaching. Be a bit careful what you agree to at first because it is hard to back out later.

 

[mr.sumo.snr]

With that much you can buy a house,

We're only talking about 1200 MAN YEN. Hell the land upon which my house is built would have cost 2000 MAN YEN alone had it not belonged to my father-in-law, and I live in a far more rural location than Fuji City - plus there's no picturesque views of a large volcano therefore land prices are considerably lower.