I'm currently an 18 years old guy half Greek half French, living in Greece and I have a dream that I want to absolutely achieve. I've readed in several forums that english teaching is the most "easy" and popular job to get if you want to live Japan but since i'm not a native speaker will it be very hard for me to do so? If yes, are there any other jobs that I could be hoping for? By the way, next year I'm going to decide what degree I'm gonna choose to go for, so if you have any suggestions about what should I choose to be a little closer to achieve my goal I would really appreciate it. I just started learning the japanese language so I don't think I'll do anything yet for at least 3-4 years. I will really appreciate any help, thank you very much!
Japan - 3 Answers
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1 :
Your goal is possible, but as far as I understand it the process for getting a visa is no simple task. I can't tell for sure what degree you need to get, but I would assume it should be a teaching degree. Taking courses in Japanese would definitely help you as well. I pulled this from the resource below : Working visa Foreigners, who wish to work in Japan, need to apply for an appropriate visa. There are about a dozen types of working visas, each allowing the holder to engage in paid activities only within a defined professional field. For example, there are visas for artists, professors, engineers, instructors and entertainers. If you change jobs while you are in Japan, you also need to change your status of residence, provided that the new job falls into a different professional field. Most working visas are valid for one or three years and need to be extended before they expire. A prospective employer is needed as sponsor when applying for most types of working visa. B. Work and Long-term Stays If a foreigner wishes to enter Japan for activities other than those described in section A, he or she will need a diplomatic visa, official visa, working visa, general visa, or specified visa. Naturally, foreigners who enter Japan having acquired a working visa are able to work in Japan. Typical types of employment include the long-term assignment to Japan of foreign company personnel; employment in Japanese companies to make use of the foreigner's knowledge of other countries; entertainment activities, such as concerts, theater, and sports; and educational activities, such as foreign-language teaching. It is also possible to get permission for long-term stays for some activities that meet certain criteria, such as Japanese university or college education or company training, although work is not permitted in these cases. Permission for long-term residence in Japan is also granted in the case of spouses of Japanese nationals and others who settle in Japan. When applying for a visa for the above-mentioned activities, it is advisable to apply in Japan beforehand for a Certificate of Eligibility. (See below.) If a foreigner submits a visa application to an embassy or consulate together with a Certificate of Eligibility, he or she will be able to obtain a visa in a shorter time than applicants without such a certificate. Foreigners can apply for a visa without such a certificate at an embassy or consulate in the case of long-term stays also. But if the purpose of the stay is work, the application documents might be forwarded to a regional immigration authority in Japan for screening. In this case applicants are advised to leave plenty of time for their application to be processed.
2 :
Yes, it's hard to get a language teaching job if you're not a native speaker. Even though it has nothing to do with being a good teacher, it's considered a kind of guarantee that your English is natural. Some language schools hire non-native speakers, but they usually won't sponsor a visa. If you're a native French speaker, there's some demand for French, too. Not much for Greek, though. Given your age, I would try to get in as a student -- look into student exchange programs. You can't legally work with a student visa, but you might find some connections & opportunities while you're there.
3 :
To be considered a native English speaker for the purpose of teaching it in Japan, you need to have gone through 12 years of primary/secondary education in a country in which English is an official main language.
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