I need £1k per year in savings

aurongrande_2

lalli_pickle wrote: »

In terms of teaching English in Japan, have you looked at the EFL/TEFL qualification. Is it necessary for you to spend 3 years studying for a degree? If it were me I'd be looking for the quickest way possible to get myself back up and earning.
Also if you could get yourself out ot Japan on a job through TEFL you would probably pick up more Japanese than you would in a classroom.

I cannot figure out the TEFL site. It doesn't say for which country they provide the course for. For example, teaching English in Japan, or Africa, or somewhere else.

All I can find is course cost and location.

I think, as long as your understanding of the countries language is good enough, and have a qualification to prove it, then it should be acceptable, but the Japanese Schools that provide the English teaching jobs prefer to see a University given qualification.

Japanese education system is of a higher quality than our own, so they want to see that you can meet their standards.

So what I'm saying is, is yes, I have to go through the course at Uni. I've spent over a year finding the best route for me, and this is the best I could find.

Frozenace

You could also try teaching English in China. I used to live in Beijing (International School) and my mum also frequently goes to an English club where they have a few guest teachers.

Expenses wise it's also a lot cheaper.

Food is quite cheap (I used to eat out almost every 2nd day) and you can food from everywhere. Renting is reasonable, although you won't earn that much (competition).

There is definitely demand for more teachers, as university level English isn't that great and if you want a good job, you need English.

From my Japanese and Korean classmates before, you can really feel that they are a more closed up society, since they group up and talk in japanese/korean respectively (about 90% of them also chose alternative classes, instead of the International baccalaureate programme).

Once you get some experience, you could move to Japan or something.

I used to work for Education First before I was made redundant, but their website still has some good info.

http://media.englishfirst.com/trt/chinasite/index.html

Oh yeah, by the way, start building up your LinkedIn network now and try writing a blog, it usually helps.

PS. I also did cleaning offices while at Reading Uni

heretolearn_2

If you want to teach English abroad, you really need to take a look at TEFL courses - you will need to do one. It's true that you normally need a degree first (but not always) but you DON'T need to speak the language of the country you are teaching in. Honestly. People teaching English in Japan have degrees in all sorts of subjects, and many people go over there not speaking a word of Japanese.

When you teach TEFL you are taught to teach in English only, not using the native language at all (I can't imagine it either, but that really is how it works). TEFL teachers often move from country to country through their careers. TEFL courses and qualifications are not country specific. If you want to work in this field you really need to take the time to do the research.

Nothing wrong with learning Japanese if you want, but it isn't necessary, you could do a degree in another subject. You could do an OU degree and at your income level it wouldn't cost you anything. You wouldn't need to do an Access course first. You could start this October.

aurongrande_2

I don't really want to live and work in China or Korea. Basically, I fell in love with Japan when I was little. Even though I've never been there, I feel that Japan is my home. I know that sounds strange, but it's the way it is. I know in Japan it's a close knit society, but they do tend to let foreigners into their circles, if they think the foreigner is acceptable in the group. So yes, I do want to learn their language, even if it's not actually needed. I guess it's the "When in Rome" phrase. So it's "When in Japan, speak Japanese."

I just took a look at the Open University website. They teach English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Latin, Welsh, and Greek, but no Japanese. Before you mention Chinese in that list, Chinese is not Japanese. There are similarities, but there are major fundamental differences. Mainly the written language. It's basically like British English compared to US English. There's similarities, but fundamental differences. Favour compared too Favor. On a car we say Bonnet, in the US they say Hood, we say Boot, they say trunk. If a British person goes to the US, they still need to learn what they mean so that you don't throw confusing into the mix.

I think I'm beginning to get ahead of myself and letting my thoughts race a bit too much. So I'll just leave it at that as I have some other things to do.

skattykatty

hey...further to others' comments re. TEFL. Am really confused why you're putting pressure on yourself to complete a degree course when all you need is a TEFL qualification. TEFL qualifications are suitable for use in ANY country, including this one, if you want to teach English as a Foreign language. As others have said, you DO NOT need to know another language. Once you are wherever it is you want to be, THEN you can learn the language too, which will, of course, add to your enjoyment of another place, people and culture.

(My sister taught in Japan without ANY language, but learned while she was out there)

I think CELTAs are the Cambridge accredited courses and are available widely across the country. With a bit of research, you may find a local-ish course to see if its right for you. Personally, I wouldn't advise taking an online course as teaching is about people and you need the contact in order to develop your skills.

I think courses cost about £1000, maybe more? But a LOT cheaper than a 3-4 year degree! There's lots of info online - good luck.

aurongrande_2

I guess you're right, and all I really need is a TEFL qualification. However, in my case, I need time to prepare. So whilst I'm preparing, I might as well study. Plus I don't like to rush into things, and thus, I prefer to be prepared. Because I've already got a lack of qualifications, I want to prove that I can learn and work hard. I also don't like to leave things unfinished.

A person doesn't do something that they're uncomfortable with out of choice. I'm more comfortable with the route I've chosen as I know what's to come, and thus I can prepare for it. TEFL, I know next to nothing about it, even if it's a good idea. It seems too rushed for my taste. Don't know why.

Man, I'm not thinking straight. I've been getting lack of sleep lately.

skattykatty

hey...breathe easy. sounds like you may be putting yourself under a lot of pressure and I suppose there's been minimal advice re. how to actually raise the money you need. I suppose the way I see it sometimes is that there is an IDEAL situation (studying for a degree and proving something that seems to be really important for you) and a GOOD ENOUGH kind of situation, which will enable you to get to Japan! But thats just how I was seeing it! Cos it's all about me!:D

I haven't been any help re. trying to get the money you need and, re. all the commnents you've had about the whole benefits thing - you know what? I was in a situation where I could have claimed benefits, but, ironically, my illness got in the way of that BUT if I could have had that support in order to get myself retrained and doing something else with my life I would have done it. The amount of money we 'lose' as a society from people who, rightly or wrongly, claim benefits is minimal compared to that lost through high earners whose accountants shove money through loopholes.

And as I make my way off my soapbox I wish you all the best and hope you realise your admirable ambitions.

Frozenace

I just took a look at the Open University website. They teach English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Latin, Welsh, and Greek, but no Japanese. Before you mention Chinese in that list, Chinese is not Japanese. There are similarities, but there are major fundamental differences. Mainly the written language. It's basically like British English compared to US English. There's similarities, but fundamental differences.

I think if you say that to any Chinese person, that Japanese and Chinese is like British English and US English, you'd find that you'd !!!! off a lot of people.

Kanji characters ARE Chinese characters, in traditional form with Japanese pronunciation. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanji)

Further to that, they have two more character sets, different grammar, different customs etc etc.

I speak German, English and Chinese fluently and have learned some Japanese in the past. I reckon, to totally integrate into the society would take a minimum of 5-10 years.

Funnily enough, I can read Dutch about 70%, but can't speak a single word... (hearing I can understand about 30%).

lalli_pickle

My ex MIL took TEFL whilst doing her Access course for a degree in English.
TELF at a basic level would involve you pointing to yourself and saying your name and then pointing to a student, whereupon they would say their name and so on which means you don't need to know any specific language but can teach many language groups in one class.
In terms of speaking Japanese you should be able to pick it up easily, the written japanese you will need to learn, but again, if you can get the TEFL and get out there then you will learn this much quicker than you would trying to learn japanese in England whilst still speaking and reading English day in and day out.
A lot of colleges in fact recommend immersion in the language you want to learn as the best way of learning.
Is there anything stopping you taking the TEFL course as a 'quick route' out to Japan and studying further when you get there? I can guarantee your students will be more than happy to teach you the local customs, language, script etc
Or is it just that you dont want to feel at a disadvantage, turning up in a foreign country with a job but unable to speak/write the language, equally scary I would say!

lalli_pickle

In terms of raising money, if you're looking at teaching once you qualify, the a TEFL qualification will enable you to raise money whilst you complete your degree which should help you along the way as you will have already completed a certain amount of teaching hours....