How I Got to Teach English in Japan
Two of the questions I get asked the most by students is, 1) “did your mom really beat up Chuck Norris in a cage match?” and 2) “How did you get to live and work in Japan?”
The answer to the questions are 1) As the legend is told by the Shaolin monks, yes. And more importantly 2) I will tell you how I did it.
I have no idea why I chose Japan. When I was 21, I dropped out of college (I eventually went back and graduated), quit my job at Tom’s No Frills and moved out of my parent’s house. I was broke and on the edge of being homeless.
I knew I had to do something and knowing myself, I knew it would have to be drastic and rip me out of my comfort zone.
After a sarcastic comment made by my mom, I decided to see if I could get a job in Japan… Low and behold, two weeks later I had a job for a company in Japan and two months later I moved to Tokyo working at the busiest intersection in the world.
I moved there using what’s called a Working Holiday Visa. I had to apply for it at the Japanese Consulate in Toronto (the application process was super easy) This visa allowed me to live and work in Japan for a maximum of one year. I was required to have a return plane ticket as well as enough money in Traveler’s Checks to prove I could live in Japan for a couple of months. I actually didn’t have enough cash at the time so I asked my old boss to lend me some money, just for long enough to prove to the Consulate that I had it. Which he agreed to (I quickly returned the money to him later that same day).
At first, I lived in a company apartment but after three months I moved to a much cheaper, much more interesting house with 22 other young people. The house I moved into was called a Gaijin House (Foreigner House), or Guesthouse, and was an awesome chance for me to meet a bunch of incredible people from all over the world!
I was working for a company called NOVA, which no longer exists. NOVA and most other English schools in Japan teach conversational English. This means that you don’t have to be an English professor to get a job teaching. I taught lessons that ranged from, “How to order food in a restaurant” to my trademark lesson, “How to rob a bank”. That’s right, I am personally responsible for every bank robbery in Japan since 2004.
Living and working in Japan was probably the best experience of my life. The people I met, the things I learned about the world and myself, as well as the stuff I got to do, have completely shifted the way I think and inspired me to do the things that I do now.
After being in Japan for a few months and having that time of my life, I remember feeling completely ripped-off! I was angry that none of my teachers, guidance counselors or relatives told me that living and working in Japan was even an option. You, unfortunately have no excuse because your witty, always-informative friend Ryan is giving you the goods.
Here’s what you need to do:
1) Visit the links that I will post below. Check out the different companies and their application requirements and decide if it’s something for you.
2) Research what other people have experienced while living in Japan – check out Facebook groups and Blogs, there is a bunch of info available
3) Try visiting there before moving there – I am bringing 10-15 high school graduates there next summer! (Click here for info)
4) If Japanese language interests you, check the University or College closest to you and see if they have a language exchange program where you can teach English in exchange for Japanese lessons.
5) Move to Japan and start working. If you don’t like it, you can always move back but at least try it out!
6) If you have any questions, ask someone. You can start with me. I am as nice as pre-prison Martha Stewart (oh no he di’int).
English Schools in Japan (for info about each school click the school name)
Miscellaneous Jobs in Japan
FAQ’s about teaching English in Japan
http://www.all-about-teaching-english-in-japan.com/
–Ryan–
This entry was posted on Sunday, July 19th, 2009 at 10:58 am and is filed under Get Lost, Get Found, Jobs Nobody Talks About. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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