Teaching ESL in Japan questions?

Question:

I've tried looking into it a bit but still have some questions I'm not sure about. Such as, how long can you continue to teach ESL in Japan if you enjoy it and want to continue doing so? I heard it depends on the Japanese immigration and you'd only get 1 year at first and could ask for a year extension after that, and again, up to 3 years I think. But I was wondering, what's the point in that? No matter how well you do or how much you enjoy it you are forced to leave after 3 years? What's the goal in trying so hard if that's the case? What do you do after that? (I was thinking it would be able to be a career, not a temporary thing)

I've read a lot of negative things about it as well. Apparently there is a high turnover rate and if you have a college degree and a pulse you can get accepted somewhere pretty easily even if you have no experience. I was just wondering if I could get some honest opinions about whether it's worth it to get a college degree and study Japanese (heard that's not necessary, but helpful and I'd want to) just to teach ESL abroad in Japan. And how, if possible, you could continue to live and teach there for an indefinite period of time?

Thanks

Answer:

You are incorrect.
You are not "forced to leave after 3 years", once your status is about to expire you can extend it.

You can get a status that is valid for 3 years, but it doesn't mean you have to leave after three years, again, you apply for an extension before it expires.

The key of course to the extension is if your job renews your contract or if you can keep a job.
No job = no extension from immigration.

A career in English teaching is difficult, if you want to go into the "big leagues" and eventually become a University instructor in Japan, you'll need at least a Master's degree and some publications. One of the reason for high turnover rates is that there isn't much upward mobility in English instruction (other then becoming a tenured University instructor).

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The poster who mentioned getting it renewed every 10 years in America is incorrect, that's totally way off, and makes no sense at all.