<p>I am currently a 4th year Business Administration student (I plan to stay a 5th year) who is also studying Japanese. I want to teach English abroad in Japan through the Jet program after I graduate and further into the future I wish to become fluent in the language to that point where I'll be able to work with Japanese Anime or Video Game companies. I am currently debt free and never had to take out a student loan through out my four years in college. My goal is to complete college without having to take out any loans however, at the same time I believe it would be a good idea for me to visit Japan before I commit myself to living and teaching in the country for 1+ years. So I just wanted to ask anybody who has taken out loans to study abroad, do you regret having to owe money or do you think the experience made it worth it to study abroad? Thank you for your time. </p>
<p>It can be pretty heavy to pay back loans, but I would encourage you to live abroad. I lived and worked in Japan, I do not believe you would need to live there as a student prior to working there, esp it you get into debt as the dollar is weak there so it is extremely expensive. </p>
<p>I have a pretty negative view of Japan, but to each his own - you will grow there no matter what. There are many foreigners who find very interesting career possibilities there, the danger of getting stuck there as it is not easy to transfer skills elsewhere.</p>
<p>Your year of teaching should let you decide whether you want to live there permanently or not and if you don’t like it your degree will let you comeback and do worthwhile things in the states, so I’d say if money is really a worry, just wait until you graduate. Since it is only a year contract you shouldn’t get to appalled to stick it out if it’s not all you expect it to be.
If you’re already pretty fluent in Japanese, though, be warned that no matter what your “preferences” are for where to live/teach on the JET application that they will put you in the country side to teach because you can get by there, while those who know less cannot. JET also has a “no Japanese/English only” policy the teacher has to keep up with the students; they cannot know you know Japanese. There are also various other issues with JET that could make you love it or hate it depending on your preferences, so I’d research it thoroughly as well as researching your alternative options before you commit to JET specifically.
I’m a Japanese major with a minor in Korean looking to graduate in a year and I’ve spent a year studying in Osaka, Japan, so if you need help with anything Japan related, just send me a message and I’d be glad to help ^-^ And I know so much about JET because I have friends who are already in it and who just got accepted to it and I looked into it as a career option for a while before deciding that South Korea’s EPIK program was a better fit for me.
Hope this was helpful!</p>