If you’re a foreigner living in Japan, you should’ve received a notice on the new resident registration system due to begin on July 9 this year to replace the Alien Registration system. Around a month ago, you would’ve received a letter on confirming the kana readings of your registered name and early this month, a letter to confirm your details. The letter states that you should visit your local ward office or city hall if there are errors in the notice.
If you take a look at your Alien Registration card number, it would look something like B第123456789号. And if in the notice, it looks like B12345678, do not freak out and no, there is no need to visit your ward office or city hall because it is not an error. The new Residence Record only has 8 digits instead of 9. Yes, that was something my city hall failed to inform us and apparently, many people have gone to them because when I went over today, the lady knew exactly what it was about when I started saying “regarding the number here…”
So, if you thought of going to the ward office but have yet visited, you can save yourself that trip.
It pays to read my blog, doesn’t it?
Hi Jin Han,
Sorry if this comment shows up twice, I posted it the first time and they asked me to log in. =X The content is basically the same, so please ignore either one if both pop up.
I like the wordplay of your blog title! I spent one night literally reading this blog from start to finish, and I like your writing style…not to mention that the information in your blog is extremely helpful too.
Anyway, I’m Singaporean, and currently a student in NUS. I want to go to Japan sometime soon to live/work after graduation, either by the JET program or other means. I hope you can answer a few questions that I’m having right now.
I know you said that having CELTA certification helped you get a place, but is it really necessary? At this point, all my teaching experience comes from giving private tuition, and not English tuition, either! I don’t think they’ll take private tuition for teaching experience, right?
While they said that any bachelor’s degree is acceptable, you have an advantage because you studied English linguistics in university. My degree is (or will be) in chemistry. Do you think that will disadvantage me in any way? My English is pretty decent (I think), and I should be able to pass any tests that they might want to administer. Only thing is I’m not good with the technical bits, like what are verbs/nouns/etc.
Though the plan isn’t confirmed yet, I may continue postgraduate studies in NUS if my grades allow it. At best case, I’ll end up with a PhD some 6 years from now. If that does happen, will the program reject me for being overqualified or too old? Would I be better off putting off further studies, or even pursuing further studies in Japan after JET?
How much did it cost you to move over from Singapore to Japan? Did you have to take any loans? Right now, I have like $10000+ in savings, which I guess won’t be enough. What is a comfortable sum to you?
You mentioned quitting halfway through your contract with the BoE. Just curious, what job did you go for?
I think that’s quite a bit of stuff already…hope I didn’t overload you. Please email me (you do get to see my email, right?) if there are answers you’d rather not publicize. Thank you in advance, and I’m looking forward to your reply. =)
-KL
Hi KL,
Thank you for reading and posting a message.
I do not think CELTA or any form of teaching qualification is necessary. Most people I know teaching English here have no quantifiable teaching qualification nor experience. Also, I do know of someone with a doctorate in Physics teaching English and I know people with a Bachelor in all kinds of unrelated fields teaching too. So nope, I do not think you have to do anything related to English to teach here.
On the age issue, you ought to check the website of the Japanese embassy in Singapore. I believe there is an age limit to participants of the JET program although I am not very sure I still remember correctly. I didn’t take any loans to come here so I basically spent almost all my savings when I came over for 6 months of studying. To be here studying for 6 months, having at least $30000 would put me at ease.
With the BoE, I was also teaching English at elementary and junior high schools. Pretty much the same as being in the JET program, except that I wasn’t on it. Feel free to ask me anything you want to know.
Bests,