Is College the way to go?

[boku]

Hi! I just recently found out about TEFL, CELTA, and anything related. Right now I'm in my first year in college (18 years old) on my way to major in japanese language, and eventually to become a teacher in that subject. However, I'm very curiouse about teaching english in a foreign land.

First off, should I continue college? I know college is always a good idea but I've seen stories from people who went directly with TEFL and are doing great. I already speak spanich, portuguese and english so thats a heads up.

Also, I have been at a website specifically for jobs in japan (http://www.eltnews.com/home.shtml) and from what Ive seen it looks liek a good way to go.

Anyways, any help/comments/ideas are greatly appreciated, Thankyou for your time!

[Lucy]

It's very difficult for me to say whether you should continue with your college degree or not. It depends on what you want to do in your future career. It seems a shame to leave after one year of hard work especially if you are interested in Japan and the language.

If you really want to go and work in Japan, you could consider taking a year out to work there. A year away from college in the country might help you consolidate your future plans. Ultimately, the decision is up to you and depends on where you see yourself in the future and whether your ambitions require a college degree.

You say that people have got teaching jobs without a degree and this is true. However, some governments insist that teachers have degrees. If you don't have one, this could be limiting. Some schools also like their teachers to have a degree. So you need to consider this too.

I don't have any direct experience of working in Japan. I think you're doing the right thing by looking at websites. I can't give my opinion of websites. I think they can all be of use; it depends on what sort of information you are looking for. You can put your questions and queries up on different sites to get the opinions of others who have lived and worked in Japan. But remember we don't know enough about your personal situation to make a decision for you. People can talk about their experiences but it's up to you to make the decision and to make sure that you make a success out of whatever path you choose to follow.

I wish you the best of luck in whatever it is you choose to do.

Disclaimer:
The information provided in this forum is intended for guidance only. We can only provide general information as situations vary within the country. It should also be noted that economic and political situations change. We advise you to contact embassies and consulates before making decisions involving a move to another country. Tefl.net cannot be held responsible for any decisions you make based on the information provided here. It is your responsibility to gather information about employers before accepting a job.