Hi folks,
I came to Japan on a Working Holiday visa last month and now I’m thinking about my next step. Maybe I should’ve thought about it earlier, but better late than never.
Initially I thought I could use the time I have to find an eikaiwa job, switch to a Work Visa, study the language in my free time, and then play it by ear, but now I realize I have a few days before the application deadline for a language school in my city, so I’m beginning to think: maybe it’s better to apply, switch to a Student Visa, and focus on improving my language skills? This would also give me more time to find a job.
Here’s my situation:
29m, lived in Canada since 16 or so (went to grade 11 and 12 there, my own age is fuzzy)
Japanese currently around b1
BA in English and an ESL teaching certificate from a Canadian university
Currently working remotely, proofreading alt-texts and doing translation work (from my native language)
Staying in Kyoto, so I was thinking besides teaching English I could try something tourism adjacent, like being a guide
Thank you for any advice.
by kumikoneko