If my main goal is learning Japanese, is it worth finding a job or should I just apply at a language school or something else

Hello,

I’ve seen variations of this question a few places in this board. Useful information, but I’m hoping I can get more specific feedback here.

I’m in my 30s. I have an advanced degree in computer science. I have several publications and a patent. I worked for Google for about 5 years, bought a house back home, and now work remote for a start-up. I currently work as a manager, and programmer at this company. The work is okay. Regardless of whatever decision I make about Japan, I will likely look for another job next year.

I have somewhat significant savings. I’m at a point where my life is somewhat directionless. This may be a quarter-life crisis. It may be a completely normal urge to try something new.

I’ve always wanted to learn another language. I studied Japanese back in university, but it’s been awhile. I’ve studied it off and on since then, but I’m probably somewhere around N5, so nothing to brag about.

I’m seriously considering taking time and going to a language school to study Japanese for a year and a half. I think after that, I could find tech work in Japan, presuming that a 1.5 year gap isn’t too terrifying for people. I’m currently talking with a language school in Sapporo, and am likely going to apply. (I used to do some work long ago on Ainu phonology, so I kind of want to end up in Hokkaido for personal interest as well).

But I could also apply to tech jobs until I find something, and relocate to Japan under that. I think if I started looking, I would likely eventually find a company that is interested in hiring me. But I’m very worried that this would end up with me working all the time, and not really learning the language much. Learning the language is my core interest, and I know that irrespective of anything about Japanese work-culture, if I have a job, I will work a lot, because I work a lot, no matter what I’m doing.

I’ve been to Japan a few times, and I really like the idea of living there for an extended period of time. To really be forced to learn the language. To have this extended cultural experience while I’m still young(ish). If I could learn the language reasonably well, and then came back the USA, I’d be perfectly happy with that. I’m not looking to expatriate. I am not angry about my home country, I like it here.

Sorry if this is too rambly or vague. If my goal is truly to spend some time focusing on language and culture, is the language school a good choice? Should I just find a job there and try to intensively self-study? Should I take 3-month vacations each year and work-remote in Japan then study while in the US? Eh. I don’t know. Hopefully I didn’t accidentally break a subreddit rule at least.

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