I've been trying to wrap my head around a solid plan to move to Japan for some time now with my wife. I've been quite a few times for extended periods, and we're settled on this being the plan going forward.
I know JET is an option that will sponsor my wife's visa. I got in before and had to back out (COVID 2020), so I like to think that I have a solid shot at it again. However, I am making a good wage doing remote work as the lead manager of a content-production website. I am willing to part ways there to do JET, but I'd like to put down my background and see if there might be alternatives that I have not considered.
- I have a BA in English & speak around N5 Japanese (Studying for N4 currently)
- I have a TEFL (for what it's worth, which isn't much, I know)
- My work background is in writing, extensively (Roughly 15 years). Though I also have a varied skillset in editing, website management, SEO, etc.
My question is, are there any viable lines of getting there within, say, a year without going the English 'teaching' route? I am not opposed to it, and I quite enjoy that sort of work. While I don't have traditional classroom hours, I have worked as a tutor.
I have considered language school as I could keep my current job with the 28 hour limit while attending. The big downside there is that my wife couldn't be sponsored with a visa that way while I study. At least, that is how I understand it. We could both attend, but that would be too expensive for us in terms of up-front costs.
I have tried looking around at Gaijin Pot, but I don't see much in my field that doesn't require N2, which I do hope to attain. I'd just like to be in Japan while I am getting to N2 to open up more doors. What other options might there be that I could look into?
by Carruthers_Foosackly