Question about teaching english

[pink_x]

Hello everyone.
The more I think about it, the more I come to the same conclusion: If I want so badly to go to Japan, the best way to start is to get a job as an English teacher (am I right?). So, having come across this brilliant deduction, I have a few questions about teaching jobs in Japan. Soﾂ… here goes:
a) I'm non-native English speaker
b) I have a university degree [but not sure if it's equivalent to a BA]
c) What about TEFL/TESOL/CELTA and whatnot, certificates? Would these be a plus for a non-native? Is it a good investment?
Basically, what would be the best approach for me? Meaningﾂ… do you know any (good) schools that hire non-natives? [and if it's not too much to askﾂ… with no degree].
ﾂ… and what about other jobs? My guess is that it is ﾂ"kindaﾂ" hard, for someone that barely says a word of Japanese huh?
Thanks in advance for your kind replies
(Sorry if this sounds ﾂ"kindaﾂ" repeated, butﾂ… I just can't make up my mindﾂ… to many questions)

 

[ArmandV]

^What exactly is your degree? How many years did it take to get it?

 

[pink_x]

^What exactly is your degree? How many years did it take to get it?

It's a bit hard to explain.
This degree is 3 years. But the Portuguese education system is different. There's a 3-year degree (which I believe is inferior to the bachelors), there's a 4/5-year degree (which I believe is equivalent to bachelors) and then there's the MA and so onﾂ…

 

[Glenski]

Hello everyone.
The more I think about it, the more I come to the same conclusion: If I want so badly to go to Japan, the best way to start is to get a job as an English teacher (am I right?).

"Best" could mean any number of things. Teaching English is certainly one of the easiest ways for native English speakers. For non-native English speakers like yourself, it's tough. Perhaps you should consider coming to teach something other than English. With the huge number of Brazilians here, perhaps teaching Portuguese would be of some benefit...

So, having come across this brilliant deduction, I have a few questions about teaching jobs in Japan. So… here goes:
a) I'm non-native English speaker

This makes it very tough, as I alluded to above. You have to think like an employer and like immigration: why hire a non-native English speaker to teach English? Japanese have a mindset that only native English speakers can do that job, so you really have to convince them otherwise.

b) I have a university degree [but not sure if it's equivalent to a BA]

Yours might be equivalent. What is it in (major)? Many countries like Australia offer 3-year bachelor degrees, so don't automatically rule out yours as being "inferior". Usually, however, immigration seems to accept people as English teachers only if they have had 12-13 years of their education in English only.

c) What about TEFL/TESOL/CELTA and whatnot, certificates? Would these be a plus for a non-native? Is it a good investment?

If you want any sort of long-term teaching job here, they will be a good investment. Just to get your foot in the door, a native English speaker doesn't need such certification, but in your case, it might prove extremely useful. Realize that the largest eikaiwa here just went bankrupt and put thousands of teachers on the streets, so finding work is tougher than usual.

Basically, what would be the best approach for me? Meaning… do you know any (good) schools that hire non-natives? [and if it's not too much to ask… with no degree].

Go with Berlitz first. See what they have to offer in teaching other languages. Also, look into the JET programme. Deadlines for applying for next year differ from country to country, and the ALT job is often used to assist a Japanese teacher of English, but they hire people from 30 countries, so it is not always necessarily an English teaching job.

… and what about other jobs? My guess is that it is "kinda" hard, for someone that barely says a word of Japanese huh?

Yes, hard. What can you do that a native Japanese can't or won't? You need to meet visa requirements first and foremost, even for a bartending job. If you find a company in your home country that has a branch here, you could consider an intracompany transfer visa, but you'll have to work for them for a year in order to qualify, and you'll have to find a company willing to risk sending a prospective newbie overseas.