My research on the JET program itself indicates that while technically you don't have to speak Japanese, you should have some ability in it in order to be considered. The standards, like most things Japanese, are much tougher on the inside than the outside.
However, there are any number of private firms that in fact do hire people wiht no experience with Japanese to teach English, because they want their teachers to babble at their workers, etc, to meet certain internal Japanese standards for English fluency. Doug looked up a number of these before he decided to settle down instead and I can get you some info. The other advantage to that is you can be more selective about your destination (you really do not have a choice in the JET program--you can put down your desired positions, but those are first occupied by the top tier JET candidates, ie, those who speak nihongo more fluently.
There are other programs I've looked into, but JET seems to pay the most, which would be another incentive. I could sock away a good bit of cash and pay my student loan down significantly.
I don't know why I've become so interested in this. One would think I'd be looking to go to Spain somehow instead. I suppose I'm looking for a really huge change (because throwing caution to the winds and quitting my lucrative but miserable job wasn't enough change, I guess). I really would like to learn Japanese, too, to challenge myself. Who knows, in six months I may forgotten all about it and moved on. *shrug* Right now, though, doing something like leaving everything I know behind and moving to Japan looks...interesting.
Well, good luck with it in any case. I don't doubt you can learn Japanese and find an awesome Flamenco teacher in Tokyo right next door to a martial art you've always wanted to take.
If nothing else, keeping your options open is always a good thing.
I know how you feel. If I haven't travelled a lot and moved to Europe and/or opened my restaurant by the time I'm 35, then I'm leaving to circumnavigate. I'm going to leave a few thousand $ to cover storage expenses, etc. and a durable power of attorney and just get up and go one day at 3 or 4 AM. I'll probably hit Anchorage or Barrow first and go round from there. Everyone will know when they get a postcard from Alaska.
The only problem I might have is trying to finding a temporary job and a way to get to McMurdo.
Help for your sick kittyempressjadMarch 31 2008, 01:56:36 UTC
Didn't know if you check your LJ messaging, so here it is... Hi, I'm not a member of New Orleans LJ community, but a friend pointed out to me your post about your sick cat. I have a list of organizations that help with vet bills for pet owners who can't afford the fees and meds. I know they're legit, as a friend (in metarie, BTW) got some BIG help from one of them when her ferret needed surgery. Email me at empressjad at aol dot com if you'd like me to send you the list. We run a feral cat rescue, so I know what it's like to face huge vet bills... I hope your kitty will be okay!
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However, there are any number of private firms that in fact do hire people wiht no experience with Japanese to teach English, because they want their teachers to babble at their workers, etc, to meet certain internal Japanese standards for English fluency. Doug looked up a number of these before he decided to settle down instead and I can get you some info. The other advantage to that is you can be more selective about your destination (you really do not have a choice in the JET program--you can put down your desired positions, but those are first occupied by the top tier JET candidates, ie, those who speak nihongo more fluently.
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I don't know why I've become so interested in this. One would think I'd be looking to go to Spain somehow instead. I suppose I'm looking for a really huge change (because throwing caution to the winds and quitting my lucrative but miserable job wasn't enough change, I guess). I really would like to learn Japanese, too, to challenge myself. Who knows, in six months I may forgotten all about it and moved on. *shrug* Right now, though, doing something like leaving everything I know behind and moving to Japan looks...interesting.
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If nothing else, keeping your options open is always a good thing.
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(The comment has been removed)
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The only problem I might have is trying to finding a temporary job and a way to get to McMurdo.
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;)
A.
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Hi,
I'm not a member of New Orleans LJ community, but a friend pointed out to me your post about your sick cat. I have a list of organizations that help with vet bills for pet owners who can't afford the fees and meds. I know they're legit, as a friend (in metarie, BTW) got some BIG help from one of them when her ferret needed surgery.
Email me at empressjad at aol dot com if you'd like me to send you the list.
We run a feral cat rescue, so I know what it's like to face huge vet bills...
I hope your kitty will be okay!
Reply
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