Edit: thanks for the responses! I reached out to my advisor and it looks like I’ll be able to apply for the Masters in Teaching / emphasis in secondary education + get a teaching licensure after I complete my bachelors. I want to come as prepared as possible! Thanks everyone 🙂 excited to go down this path, either as a teacher in Japan, back home in the states teaching high school, or even further abroad! I got some great advice about pinning down my specific interests and it helped me gain a better game plan 🙂
Hi everyone,
I posted here a little less than a year ago asking about teaching in Japan. I got some really amazing and blunt advice, and after making sure I can handle this journey, I’ve finally met with an advisor and should be set to start my home states B.A. ESL Program + TESOL Cert with a Minor in Japanese.
Because I will be graduating around 31/32 years old, I’d like to get as much teaching experience as I can while in school. I was wondering if I am able to get any sort of teaching certificate while I’m a student (US, WA) that would help me gain some experience for my resume?
My advisor has suggested after I graduate I go down the route of JET, but I’d like some actual teaching experience in my home country before I go, since I know my age gives me a late start.
I hope to also get an actual teaching license from my home country before departing if all goes well just to have as many “boxes” checked to give myself the best chances of success.
I know this seems like a lot of far ahead planning, but because I’ll be in my 30’s when I graduate, I want to set myself up for the best career I can, Japan or otherwise. My “backup” plans are to teach English to immigrants in my home country, or even at a college level if I can some day get my masters (it’s what my advisor encourages, but that’s an even longer way off)
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I am going to be hopefully attending school in September 2025, so in the mean time I am also starting the Tofugu courses, and will be ordering the first Genki volume soon to give myself a (hopeful) head start to my Japanese classes at university. Can I also obtain anything to give me some teaching experience while I am in school to have concrete teaching experience for my resume?
I hope this all makes sense; my brain is crazy trying to figure this all out. I’m 26, but will be 27 when I start and am willing to do whatever I need to give myself the best chance at success. Any advice (or commentary) is always helpful, positive or negative 🖤
by mainecoonpriest