Japanese Language School – Advice

9 comments

1. This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.

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   **Japanese Language School – Advice**

   Hello folks!

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   I (33M) am considering moving to Japan and enrolling in a Japanese Language School for one year under a student visa. I will have to leave my current job and take a sabbatical (which is okay), but I am scared on whether this move will be worth it (in the sense that will I be able to find employment in Japan).

   I am currently working as a Business Development Manager and have an MBA. According to my quick research the total cost of this one year ‘adventure’ will be about 3 million yen.

   Has anyone done this before? How was your experience? What should I keep in mind before making the decision?

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2. What is your current Japanese level? What kind of job do you hope to get in Japan (what industry)?

3. You’re not going to find a “job” while in Japan. Companies aren’t going to hire a gaijin that isn’t fluent and, more importantly, is only going to be in Japan for a year.

   You might find some pick-up work teaching conversational English.

4. I think you should do it! I’m in a similar boat. In terms of employment isn’t that a bit cart before the horse? I bet one year in Japan & you’ll have a much better understanding of the job market for your skills over there. You will have time to job hunt while at school. That said, how did you budget it out to 3mil yen annual with school costs? With school in Tokyo I calculated an almost 5.5mil yen for a year. That’s assuming monthly 100k annualized rent, 90k for school, 220k for all other costs.

5. Best and only opportunity to you will be teaching English. I did a language school for 6 weeks and felt that it greatly improved my Japanese, especially since I got to use everything I learned throughout the day.

   Can also look at getting your TESOL certificate while there. I did this and they helped several
   Students find teaching positions from tutoring, elementary, preschool, and college.

6. I studied in my country and got N2, then took a leave of absence of 6-months and found a job in Japan with no fixed term contract. I called back home saying I was not going back and left my previous company.

   It can happen, but having a decent Japanese proficiency helps a lot, especially in avoiding the semi-scam job offers for foreigners.

   If you can speak Japanese you can also make use of the free recruiting companies that will get you in multiple job interview each day.

7. Some regrets are forever. You should go for it!

   Perhaps a school like “ISI”, specialised in career support for job seekers, can suits you.

   The thing is, usually you’ll need to reach a N2, in terms of speaking, to aspire to an office job, unless that’s an English-only one.

   I reach a N1 after 2.5 years of self study (not in Japan) but my conversation level is way lower, so it’s not always a matter of consistency but immersion and survival instinct I guess.

   No chance to change job in your country and get relocated in Japan?

   Cheers.

   Edit: typo

8. I’m thinking the same plan, except for only going there for 6 months, study in a language school and push for acomplish the level I can in that time span (I’m now N5).

   Going there for a year was my dream, but due to economical and family matters (my wife is staying in Spain), we decided to go for half year (she was supporting me no matter the time I left in Japan).

   My guess is, if is your dream to move there and go for a year, go for it and pursue your dream. I will try the same and be happy for just half year and hope you will acomplish it too 🙂

9. What’s your Japanese level? Bare minimum is N2 for most jobs, but working in something like business I’d imagine you’re going to need N1, unless you work for an English speaking firm. Do you think you’ll be able to read emails in Japanese, communicate with higher ups and coworkers in Japanese and be able to function in a Japanese speaking working environment after 1 year of language school? Maybe if you can extend the language school to 2 years it might be doable.