In my quest to TEFL, and ultimately Japan, I have had some recent events that I haven't updated on in a while.
First and foremost I chose the aviation school route. I started back on October 31st, and I am doing well maintaining a 4.0 GPA so far.
Secondly, there is some good news. One of my instructors was telling us on Thursday, before Christmas Break, that there is a nationally accredited University that will take my A&P (Airframe & Powerplant) License and give me two and a half years worth of credits. And that after I complete the remaining year and a half, I will have my Bachelor's. Wicked!!
Oh but it doesn't stop there. Some of the top companies in the Aviation industry have contracted to have professors from this University and hold class right there in the shops. Namely Pratt & Whitney, and Lockheed-Martin, possibly Northrop-Grumman and Boeing as well. So I can earn my Bachelor's while I work.
The deal gets sweeter friends. These top companies will also pay for my higher education 100%!
How does this tie into my plans, you ask? Simple. If I can snag a job at one of these companies, I focus on paying off my student loan. The company pays for my Bachelor's Degree and maybe even my TEFL certificate, and all they ask in return is that I do my job. As soon as I get my TEFL, I part ways with the company peacefully.Then I head out to Japan to teach English to some poor unfortunate students who will learn from a former sailor.
The bonus here is that should I ever want, or need, to return to the states, I will have experience in a decent, well paying industry. And I will have a secondary set of marketable job skills once I am out there. Who knows, I could ultimately get an MA, teach business english at some company in Tokyo AND be their helicopter mechanic!...I wish...
So it seems my quest for TEFL, and ultimately a return to Japan, benefitted more than I thought from my decisions. Granted the whole thing will take a number of years to pay out, but the rewards are well worth it.
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3-4 years is a long time away... my advice would be to focus on getting good grades, save lots of money and learn japanese... I dont know your girlfriend but there are usually 2 kinds of japanese woman. the first is they like to stay in japan, preferably close to family and the other they want to leave japan but return in the future.
Living in japan is much different than visiting - i like it but its not for everyone...generally though the male in japan is the money earner, so be prepared for your girl friends family to not look to kindly upon you if you become a teacher...having money behind you will help and an aim to get a higher paid job would help BUT expect to work longer hours...
i wish you the best of luck - maybe try and spend longer than a month living at your girlfriends home or do a homestay to see if you like...and although tokyo is nice (which its suppose to be because its the capital) there is so much more to japan...even more to japan than kyoto as well
I'm about eight weeks into a two year tech school. So I'd say about three to four years til completion of this plan.
And if you're wonder why I'm focused on Japan that's an easy answer. I was stationed out there while I was in the Navy. I was in Yokosuka, and I took the train into Akihabara almost every weekend I could. From the moment I stepped out of Narita Id felt some sort of odd connection with the whole country. I merely wish to return to the place I fell in love with, and to my girlfriend who resides in Kyoto
That's good then...I wish you all the best...
How long left do you have on it...
I noticed that you out you are interested in Japan...when are you hoping to come over here?
Im currently working in Japan and intend to for the next few years so if you have any questions on Japan please don't hesitate to ask...
Btw...I wasn't trying to knock you or anything...it sound like one of those offers that seemed to good to be true, but it's clear you've done your research so I wish you the best of luck!
Actually I worked for a millwright company earlier this year (2011) that would give me $500 per month towads college classes, if I so felt like choosing it. With no further obligation to the company other than doing my job.
The credits in exchange for the A&P license is because of everything involved in the tech school I am going to. It's not you average tech school in that it is a two year program I am in, covering material that most colleges cover. The bachelor's degree I will be after will be in Aviation Science. It is from a nationally accredited university.
I've been doing my homework on the issues I am concerned with, trust me. I even went so far as to consult with my instructor about the particulars. He got hired on by Lockheed-Martin out of the very same tech school I am attending (he worked on the F-35). He worked on his BS while working for them. When he transitioned to work for Pratt & Whitney he found the same college giving classes toward the same degree and ultimately earned his BS in aviation science through the university in question.
woah there!... lets back up a moment there...do you really think the companies are that stupid?
Do you really think they are going to put all that money into you for education and then allow you to quit as soon as you get what you want... usually these things work both ways - more so in their favour than yours.
My advice would be to check the small print - usually you have to work for them for X amount of years before you can leave, otherwise you are breaching agreements or even contracts with certain companies that offer these kinds of scheme... its the same with apprenticeships - they agree to pay for it if you complete the agree amount of time otherwise you have to pay everything back yourself.
As for converting a licence and other qualifications into a degree - becareful of this...this doesnt always work out to be legit and might only be relivent for the field of qualification - another words it will only appear as a degree for aviation and might not be recognised outside your country...
All i'm saying is look into this properly - for japan and other countries the degree is for the Visa (basically the government officials) - not some company that might not be able to tell the difference...
So check it all out first!
That's amazing! Sounds like you've landed on your feet there then. Do they want to pay for my degree too?!
Good luck with everything, keep us posted on how you get on :-)
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