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Has anyone been to Japan?

Scottish⑦Canuck

By Scottish⑦Canuck
in Off-Topic General

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Baka Canucks First-Line

Baka

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Just curious, what are you up to there? 

Nothing specifically it is almost entirely recreational and for the experience. A close friend of mine is going for school in Tokyo. I always wanted an extended stay in Japan and this just happened to be a good opportunity for me to do so. I just need to finalize with a consultation with immigration that they will let me hop out and back in to renew my 90 days.

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Scottish⑦Canuck Canucks First-Line

Scottish⑦Canuck

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I'm jealous. You'll have a blast.

I've been home a week and want to go back. I've been seriously considering the working holiday visa. Just need to think about my career and whether a working holiday is the right thing for me to do right now. I'm not very happy in my job at present but I'm at least gaining somewhat relevant experience. I'm not sure if taking a year out to teach English there would do my career prospects any favours. However, I'm also young with no family or relationship commitments, I'd love the chance to live there and if I don't do it soon I probably won't get the chance again. It's a tough one.

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g_bassi13 Canucks Star

g_bassi13

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I'm jealous. You'll have a blast.

I've been home a week and want to go back. I've been seriously considering the working holiday visa. Just need to think about my career and whether a working holiday is the right thing for me to do right now. I'm not very happy in my job at present but I'm at least gaining somewhat relevant experience. I'm not sure if taking a year out to teach English there would do my career prospects any favours. However, I'm also young with no family or relationship commitments, I'd love the chance to live there and if I don't do it soon I probably won't get the chance again. It's a tough one.

I'm planning to do so at some point in my career, after I'm done with my studies and starting with work. But teaching English there would probably be a relevant bit of work experience for me, as I would be coming home afterwards to teach in BC. And to teach what will likely mostly be English.

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Scottish⑦Canuck Canucks First-Line

Scottish⑦Canuck

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I'm planning to do so at some point in my career, after I'm done with my studies and starting with work. But teaching English there would probably be a relevant bit of work experience for me, as I would be coming home afterwards to teach in BC. And to teach what will likely mostly be English.

I guess I'd at least be doing something productive that I could put on the CV. I'm taking a TEFL course at the moment, which I believe isn't a prerequisite to getting a job there, but I'd like at least some knowledge of teaching before doing anything. I've been told that with the big companies you can get a position if you're a native speaker with a degree. A part time position would be ideal. I'd get the teaching experience and make some money to subsidise living costs, while still giving myself time to travel and socialise.

I have until after the new year to decide anyway.

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-SN- Canucks Star

-SN-

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Nothing specifically it is almost entirely recreational and for the experience. A close friend of mine is going for school in Tokyo. I always wanted an extended stay in Japan and this just happened to be a good opportunity for me to do so. I just need to finalize with a consultation with immigration that they will let me hop out and back in to renew my 90 days.

Awesome. I hope you have a good time! Staying in Tokyo?

I guess I'd at least be doing something productive that I could put on the CV. I'm taking a TEFL course at the moment, which I believe isn't a prerequisite to getting a job there, but I'd like at least some knowledge of teaching before doing anything. I've been told that with the big companies you can get a position if you're a native speaker with a degree. A part time position would be ideal. I'd get the teaching experience and make some money to subsidise living costs, while still giving myself time to travel and socialise.

I have until after the new year to decide anyway.

I'm actually doing something very similar. Taking TEFL right now, and looking to move over in February or March. I think it's quite easy to get a part-time teaching position with a BA, there's even a few language schools who recruit out of Vancouver. 

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Alflives Canucks Hall-of-Famer

Alflives

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Awesome. I hope you have a good time! Staying in Tokyo?

I'm actually doing something very similar. Taking TEFL right now, and looking to move over in February or March. I think it's quite easy to get a part-time teaching position with a BA, there's even a few language schools who recruit out of Vancouver. 

had a nephew do exactly the same.  Met his wife, and it's the best that's ever happened for him.  Bunch of kids.  Happy guy.

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Lancaster Canucks First-Line

Lancaster

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I'm planning to do so at some point in my career, after I'm done with my studies and starting with work. But teaching English there would probably be a relevant bit of work experience for me, as I would be coming home afterwards to teach in BC. And to teach what will likely mostly be English.

Awesome. I hope you have a good time! Staying in Tokyo?

I'm actually doing something very similar. Taking TEFL right now, and looking to move over in February or March. I think it's quite easy to get a part-time teaching position with a BA, there's even a few language schools who recruit out of Vancouver. 

From what I hear from my friend who used to work in NOVA (admin side), apply before you head over to Japan.  Apparently their compensation package is a bit more than those who apply within the country. 

TESOL/TEFL/ETC isn't necessary as none of my friends who work as English teachers actually have them.  The most they did was just those free ones online to get an idea of what to do, but the actual certification isn't needed, assuming you already have a bachelor's degree. 

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Scottish⑦Canuck Canucks First-Line

Scottish⑦Canuck

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Awesome. I hope you have a good time! Staying in Tokyo?

I'm actually doing something very similar. Taking TEFL right now, and looking to move over in February or March. I think it's quite easy to get a part-time teaching position with a BA, there's even a few language schools who recruit out of Vancouver. 

I think the schools generally hire then as the year begins in April, so that's probably a good time to go.

Any preference as to where you base yourself?

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Mainly Mattias Canucks Regular

Mainly Mattias

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Good luck to you guys.  I knew a lot of people who did the teach english in japan or other country.  Most loved it.  It's fantastic if you're a caucasian guy, from what I hear.  Most did multiple years.  Best program was JET.. not sure if it still is though.

The cons (varied from person to person):

  • the amount of work you were expected to do;
  • having to teach kids basic discipline that the parents neglect to do themselves;
  • being away from the city if you're sent to a school in a small town;
  • when you return, you're in the same position as when you left career-wise.
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Lancaster Canucks First-Line

Lancaster

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I think the schools generally hire then as the year begins in April, so that's probably a good time to go.

Any preference as to where you base yourself?

If you're still deciding on which city to move to..... it depends on what's your budget, how you imagine your life to be, how "international" you want, etc. 

I haven't spent as much time in Tokyo, but the city is very hilly, kinda like Vancouver.  Osaka on the other hand (built around a swamp) is very flat.  So in Osaka, lots of people travel by bicycle.... to get groceries, to work.... hot chicks in their mini-skirts and high heels biking on their way to a nightclub, lol.  You don't really see that in Tokyo or Yokohama as often.  You can potentially save some money if you just choose to bike somewhere instead of taking the train/bus.  Less people bike in Yokohama/Tokyo. 

Tokyo have more foreigners, so it's easier to survive without ever having to use Japanese.  Probably better opportunity for non-teaching jobs.  But with many many foreigners, the going rate for private tutoring is a bit lower.   

Tokyo is way pricier.  My friends with their 1br in Waseda pays about $1400.... but it's an international area and nearby a top-tier university.  You can get a 3br in Osaka for about $1000.... but I guess it all depends on location.  My brother-in-law's 1br place in Umeda station (business area) is about $800.

Food prices are the same in either city, but supposedly the restaurants in Osaka are better, since it's the food capital of Japan.  But on a teacher's salary.... I don't think it would really matter, lol. 

Tokyo does have more things happening as it's the much bigger city.  Their Akihabara is more famous and bigger than Den-Den town in Osaka.  If you're interested in checking out stuff around town, perhaps Tokyo may be the better choice.  Also... the harbour at Yokohama kinda resembles Waterfront in Vancouver. 

Lastly, Tokyo is much closer to Nagano, if you want to go there for skiing/boarding. 

 

 

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-SN- Canucks Star

-SN-

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On 11/9/2015, 8:40:57, Scottish⑦Canuck said:

I think the schools generally hire then as the year begins in April, so that's probably a good time to go.

Any preference as to where you base yourself?

Yeah, the timing should work. Probably Tokyo as my SO lives there. Hopefully on the outskirts. 

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inane Canucks Franchise Player

inane

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Go to Korea if you want to teach. You make more money, it's cheaper to live, and it's fun as $&!#e. I lived in Japan for a bit then moved to Seoul cause the opportunity is way better. You'll make/save way more money then travel to Japan. 

Japan is great as a place to visit, Korea was awesome as a place to live.

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