Quote Originally Posted by Sukotto View Post
I better hurry then,
since i am philosophically opposed to a college degree (for myself, even
though i am like 2/3 through),
it might be my last best chance to be able to live there for a while.
I know all private English language schools, including NOVA, have a policy
of hiring teachers only with a 4 year college degree, but I've read stuff
in internet/rumor land that one might be able to work part-time.
Then with over time make up the difference for survival.
If you get more interested in the language, going over for a year of study would be another option. It may be prohibitively expensive and even less flexible in terms of eligibility, but there's always the possibility of looking for a teaching position or other PT work within the confines of a roof over your head and a guaranteed meal or two a day.

If the Japanese government does not come to NOVA's rescue in the next several months and it is either 'allowed' to shut down or goes through a major downsizing I'd say in the short term it's a total waste of time to apply without a degree. More reputable eikaiwas would likely start raising their standards by requiring MAs or TEFL degrees at the same time they're lowering salaries, increasing hours and letting go of older teachers to take advantage of the supply/demand imbalance.

Over the longer term of course NOVA could go under and come back under a different name or a variety of smaller, equally suspect, if not shadier, firms could spring up to absorb the glut. Then you'd absolutely have to burn the midnight oil to make up any difference.

It'll be really interesting to see how this all plays out by the end of the year.