Hi everybody!
Currently debating between studying 1-2 years Japanese at a language school in Japan (Osaka-Kyoto preferably) vs studying a Master’s Degree in English at Tohoku University (Economics and management).
Main goal is to find a job in Japan afterwards (studied Industrial Engineering in Spain), but I’m not quite sure which route to follow.
So far, pros of each look like this:
Language school:
• Duration flexibility in case I find a job earlier (studying only 1 year for example)
• Getting proficient with Japanese will land me a job faster
• Being able to study in Kansai is a plus for me
• Easier to get a part-time job while studying
Master’s Degree:
• A master is a master after all
• Proceeding onto a doctoral afterwards (funding for this would be dependent on scholarships)
• More points towards PR?
• Easier to get a job with some higher education done in Japan?
• Cheaper than a language school
And the cons:
Language school:
• Higher cost
• Risk of not advancing as fast as I’d want (currently N4 and want to reach N2 in 2 years of Japanese language school)
• Getting bad teachers/bad class (like with many Chinese people that know kanji and being left behind)
Master’s Degree:
• Need to “wait” 2 years until starting to work, would not be dropping out unless a “unicorn” job came up
• More demanding than a language school perhaps? Therefore not so easy to study and have a part-time job?
• Reputation of the school being important when looking for a full-time job?
• Not having reached a hugh enough Japanese level to have more options to find a job
• Not too handy outside of Japan (although this does not bother me too much)
As a side-note, I’d have a budget of 20.000€ to start in Japan, that’s why I think part-time job will be vital. I’d also play it safe and go with gogonihon or similar companies in case of going the language school route.
I’ve also lived in Osaka previously on a WHV, but it was pre-pandemic and lately I’ve been slacking off with my Japanese (currently picking it up again)
TL;DR:
Looking for opinions from people who studied a Master’s Degree in English vs those who studied at a language school. I would be choosing one route or the other, I don’t contemplate studying at a language school and then going onto a Master’s Degree, as I don’t think I’d be able to pay for it, and also being over 30, I’d rather get my shit together in Japan ASAP.
Cheers guys!