"Michael Cash" <mikecash@buggerallspammers.com> wrote in message
>
> The lack of a degree will make things more than "a bit" difficult. Not
> impossible, though.
>
> What Andrew needs to know is that in the foreigner labor market (and
> especially in the English teacher labor market) practically everybody
> has a college degree. Not having one means lots of places won't even
> talk to you.
>
> If the OP is intent upon moving to Japan without a college degree,
> then he needs to bring with him some other marketable job skills, good
> Japanese skills, and a thick skin.
>

I've replied to him along very similar lines in the 'other forum'.  Though I 
was somewhat more direct - he should lie about the college shit.  He won't 
be able to fool any gaijin owners but quite a few Japanese juku owners might 
forget to ask about a degree certificate if he's flashing his spouse visa.

Self-employment is his best bet though.  I have pieces of parchment paper up 
the ying-yang but no one ever asks me if I'm suitably qualified to teach 
them - or their little Takeshi-kun.  Even when they know about my motley 
collection of initials (sadly still all AFTER my name), they don't actually 
understand a single thing about what they mean...

It's a marvelous irony isn't it - the obsession (I think it's still common 
enough to be called that) with securing good JHS examination results, 
carried on into HS and university entrance tests.  After graduation though, 
one's academic qualifications are never really mentioned again - god forbid 
actually written down on a business card.

--
jonathan