"Not" a Native, teaching possibilities

[daredatoomotte]

I've been reading this forum for a while now, and I wonder if you could help me with this one:

I've finished my BA in Japanese Studies this last year and now, continuing my MA, I thought about taking a year off and coming to Japan to work as an English teacher. As I'm working as a teacher in an English school, and have been an English private teacher for few years now, I thought it wouldn't be too difficult. I have all the references, experience in teaching children (that's what I'm aiming for in Japan too), I can speak very decent Japanese (N2 level).
I'm basically from a bilingual family and English is my second (or first? hard to say) language. I spent a great deal of my time in UK and have a proper British accent.

BUT: I'm not a Native, since I haven't been born in UK, and I haven't got a citizenship, obviously.

Having said that, my question is: what are my chances of finding a decend teaching job in Japan? I know I can prove my skills during an interview, but I fear that just because my surname doesn't sound English I won't be even taken into account... Am I being too pessimistic? Maybe it would be better if I looked for a job directly in Japan (I'm going there in the summer anyway)?

Any feedback? Cheers.

[ttokyo]

BUT: I'm not a Native, since I haven't been born in UK, and I haven't got a citizenship, obviously.

Having said that, my question is: what are my chances of finding a decend teaching job in Japan? I know I can prove my skills during an interview, but I fear that just because my surname doesn't sound English I won't be even taken into account... Am I being too pessimistic? Maybe it would be better if I looked for a job directly in Japan (I'm going there in the summer anyway)?

Any feedback? Cheers.

It looks like you have not looked at any job ads yet. It depends on the School. Some clearly state that they will 'only consider applicants with a passport from an english speaking country' (i.e. US, UK, Oz,... ) while others look just for 'native speakers'. But with your impressive background you should have no difficulties find a job. If you go to Japan anyway, it would make sense to already line up some interviews during your next trip.

[tsunatuna]

A lot of schools just ask for the "native speaker" part because of the work visa requirements.
It's not necessarily a job requirement!
As we all know there are a lot of non-native speakers out there who have great English skills.
So, it's not that.

The question is, will you be able to obtain a proper work visa if you're not a native speaker and haven't been educated in English for at least 12 years?
If not, then you might be able to get the "working holiday visa", but as you didn't tell us your nationality, I don't know if you can get it or not.

[Japan Australia]

The company I worked with did hire a few teachers from non-English backgrounds. The key criteria is

Native English Speaking Ability
Full Bachelor Degree (in any field) for the work visa
Basic Japanese Ability

You can also improve your chances of employment by having some teaching experience and qualifications such as ESL, TEFL or CELTA.

[Call_It_Like_Eye_See_It]

I spent a great deal of my time in UK and have a proper British accent.

Strike one!

BUT: I'm not a Native, since I haven't been born in UK, and I haven't got a citizenship, obviously.

Oh, you weren't..? Yeah, that's obvious...

Strike two!!

Having said that, my question is: what are my chances of finding a decend teaching job in Japan? I know I can prove my skills during an interview, but I fear that just because my surname doesn't sound English I won't be even taken into account... Am I being too pessimistic? Maybe it would be better if I looked for a job directly in Japan (I'm going there in the summer anyway)?

Any feedback? Cheers.

O
I believe in you, even though you have two strikes going for you. Improve your grammar, and don't expect any school to pay more than you are worth... Oh, and lose the quasi-awkward British accent. It seems painful for all concerned!

[daredatoomotte]

A lot of schools just ask for the "native speaker" part because of the work visa requirements.
It's not necessarily a job requirement!
As we all know there are a lot of non-native speakers out there who have great English skills.
So, it's not that.

The question is, will you be able to obtain a proper work visa if you're not a native speaker and haven't been educated in English for at least 12 years?
If not, then you might be able to get the "working holiday visa", but as you didn't tell us your nationality, I don't know if you can get it or not.

Some of my friends are working in Japan (but not as teachers) and they had no problems with getting a visa, but from what you're saying the one they give to teachers is something different - I just need to check it once more in the embassy.

[tsunatuna]

It depends actually!

If you work in an Eikaiwa school (cram school -ish) you'll need the "Specialist in Humanities" visa.
However, if you work as an ALT, you'll need a different visa type (instructor visa).

I can only speak from my own experience, but the latter one seems to be much harder to get for non-native speakers.

[daredatoomotte]

The company I worked with did hire a few teachers from non-English backgrounds. The key criteria is

Native English Speaking Ability
Full Bachelor Degree (in any field) for the work visa
Basic Japanese Ability

You can also improve your chances of employment by having some teaching experience and qualifications such as ESL, TEFL or CELTA.

Glad to hear that it's possible.

I've read that offers for September start to pop up around June/July - that still gives me plenty of time, but I should've got around passing some of those exams long time ago... I just hope my Japanese will somehow prove to be useful when looking for a job.

Btw, care to share the company's name?

[daredatoomotte]

It depends actually!

If you work in an Eikaiwa school (cram school -ish) you'll need the "Specialist in Humanities" visa.
However, if you work as an ALT, you'll need a different visa type (instructor visa).

I can only speak from my own experience, but the latter one seems to be much harder to get for non-native speakers.

Exactly, that's what I had in mind - the instructor visa. Probably won't be able to get that, but I'll call the embassy just in case.

How do I tell which school is Eikaiwa and which is ALT - I know it might sound like a stupid question but I'd rather hear that from somebody who has some experience.

[Glenski]

Where are you from originally? Finding a job and getting a visa are different animals. You may find one more difficult than the other.

As for your friends who had "no problems with getting a visa", what was their job(s)? Sounds like it wasn't teaching, so obviously the requirements for the visa will differ.

[mandm]

Exactly, that's what I had in mind - the instructor visa. Probably won't be able to get that, but I'll call the embassy just in case.

How do I tell which school is Eikaiwa and which is ALT - I know it might sound like a stupid question but I'd rather hear that from somebody who has some experience.

Eikaiwa's generally are privately owned and run schools by companies where people go to learn and study English. ALT's are 'assistant' language teachers. They go to elementary (maybe junior high and high schools? I have experience only with elementary) and teach English with the homeroom teachers. I say "assistant" very loosely because of my own and friend's experiences where the ALT was mainly the person doing the lessons as the Japanese teachers stood to the side.

Oh and as far as the Native Speakers part.. I'm the head teacher at my school and I am involved with the hiring process/interviews of employees. We want to hire native speakers first obviously because even if you speak English fluently, but are not from a Native Speaking country where English is the first language, there are some people with accents that are just too thick we can't understand them during the interview process. Not necessarily because of a visa requirement. We sponsor visa's but if we can't understand you then how do you expect the children that you are teaching English to? However, if someone is not a native speaker and has lived in a foreign country/worked/went to school there then we would hire them. Just depends on their experience compared to the others in the long run.

[Japan Australia]

Glad to hear that it's possible.

I've read that offers for September start to pop up around June/July - that still gives me plenty of time, but I should've got around passing some of those exams long time ago... I just hope my Japanese will somehow prove to be useful when looking for a job.

Btw, care to share the company's name?

Yeah, most will pop up around June/July for September starts, but also some positions for ALTs will be advertised earlier than that in May, so be prepared as soon as possible. The company I worked for is called ALTIA CENTRAL and they specialise in the Tokai area of Japan but do have a few contracts outside of that area.

[Shimokitazawa]

I've been reading this forum for a while now, and I wonder if you could help me with this one:

I've finished my BA in Japanese Studies this last year and now, continuing my MA, I thought about taking a year off and coming to Japan to work as an English teacher. As I'm working as a teacher in an English school, and have been an English private teacher for few years now, I thought it wouldn't be too difficult. I have all the references, experience in teaching children (that's what I'm aiming for in Japan too), I can speak very decent Japanese (N2 level).
I'm basically from a bilingual family and English is my second (or first? hard to say) language. I spent a great deal of my time in UK and have a proper British accent.

BUT: I'm not a Native, since I haven't been born in UK, and I haven't got a citizenship, obviously.

Having said that, my question is: what are my chances of finding a decend teaching job in Japan? I know I can prove my skills during an interview, but I fear that just because my surname doesn't sound English I won't be even taken into account... Am I being too pessimistic? Maybe it would be better if I looked for a job directly in Japan (I'm going there in the summer anyway)?

Any feedback? Cheers.

I've worked alongside non-native English speaking teachers from a number of different countries - Belgium, China, Taiwan, Ukraine, Italy, France and Montreal, Russia, Philippines - in both language schools and universities. However, all of these teachers had native like proficiency, although some of them were difficult to understand at times, and the university teachers all had Ph.D degrees in linguistics / language education. Also, the non-native speakers teaching in the language schools married to Japanese, making it easier for companies to hire them since there were not any visa issues.

It's possible - even likely - that you'll eventually find a job teaching English in Japan if you look long enough. You might want to try some of the large EFL school chains like Berlitz, ECC or AEON for a start.

[daredatoomotte]

I've worked alongside non-native English speaking teachers from a number of different countries - Belgium, China, Taiwan, Ukraine, Italy, France and Montreal, Russia, Philippines - in both language schools and universities. However, all of these teachers had native like proficiency, although some of them were difficult to understand at times, and the university teachers all had Ph.D degrees in linguistics / language education. Also, the non-native speakers teaching in the language schools married to Japanese, making it easier for companies to hire them since there were not any visa issues.

It's possible - even likely - that you'll eventually find a job teaching English in Japan if you look long enough. You might want to try some of the large EFL school chains like Berlitz, ECC or AEON for a start.

Thanks for advice. I have the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, I've heard it's not really all that popular ouside of Europe, though I suppose bigger schools would recognise it anyway.

[ttokyo]

We want to hire native speakers first ... there are some people with accents that are just too thick we can't understand them during the interview process.

So 'Chinese and Irish need not apply'.

[Glenski]

I repeat, what country are you from?

[Mr. Ludd]

Eikaiwa's generally are privately owned and run schools by companies where people go to learn and study English. ALT's are 'assistant' language teachers. They go to elementary (maybe junior high and high schools? I have experience only with elementary) and teach English with the homeroom teachers. I say "assistant" very loosely because of my own and friend's experiences where the ALT was mainly the person doing the lessons as the Japanese teachers stood to the side.

Oh and as far as the Native Speakers part.. I'm the head teacher at my school and I am involved with the hiring process/interviews of employees. We want to hire native speakers first obviously because even if you speak English fluently, but are not from a Native Speaking country where English is the first language, there are some people with accents that are just too thick we can't understand them during the interview process. Not necessarily because of a visa requirement. We sponsor visa's but if we can't understand you then how do you expect the children that you are teaching English to? However, if someone is not a native speaker and has lived in a foreign country/worked/went to school there then we would hire them. Just depends on their experience compared to the others in the long run.

Shouldn't be a problem if one speaks clearly and correctly (grammar wise). Have worked with native speakers and had no idea of what they were saying, along with non-native speakers whose English was great. Companies that farm out ALTs are not fussy. One place I worked at had only one person (myself) that grew up speaking English and it was a bit of a stretch to say that the others spoke English.

[daredatoomotte]

I repeat, what country are you from?

Sorry, missed your post. I'm from Poland but I haven't this funny heavy accent. I work with natives from US and UK everyday and they never had any problems with understanding what I say.
I agree, I've met some people who knew English if it comes to grammar and evrything but their accent made it impossible to even get a slightest idea what they're talking about (eg. Chinese)

If you say that clearness and correctness are one of the most important factors, that's actually pretty uplifting. The truth is I'm quite specific as to where I'd like to work (Nagoya, or at least somewhere in Aichi), but since it's a huge city it shouldn't be a problem finding something.

[Glenski]

Sorry, missed your post. I'm from Poland but I haven't this funny heavy accent. I work with natives from US and UK everyday and they never had any problems with understanding what I say.
I agree, I've met some people who knew English if it comes to grammar and evrything but their accent made it impossible to even get a slightest idea what they're talking about (eg. Chinese)

Accent or no accent, it makes no difference to immigration. It's your choice of work visa vs. your qualifications including nationality.

[outzaidur]

The Japanese Government do not allow any non-native speaking English Teachers, in any state school, due to the Instructor Visa restrictions. "Have at least 12 years of education in the medium of English." --- 12 years of education...

I am from Sweden. My English proficiency triumphs the average Americans easily.

If you are from Poland, or any other non-native English speaking country, give up your fantasies of ever teaching at a state school in Japan.

[daredatoomotte]

The Japanese Government do not allow any non-native speaking English Teachers, in any state school, due to the Instructor Visa restrictions. "Have at least 12 years of education in the medium of English." --- 12 years of education...

I am from Sweden. My English proficiency triumphs the average Americans easily.

If you are from Poland, or any other non-native English speaking country, give up your fantasies of ever teaching at a state school in Japan.

I know what you mean, that's why teaching in a state school is out of a question. Luckily I never thought about it in the first place, eikaiwas or private English schools of any kind would be more than enough.

As long as they can hire me on the Specialist in Humanities visa it's fine.