What perspective should I take towards missions training?
What types of training should I consider?
Can I become a missionary if I don’t want to learn another language?
» more related questionsQ: Should I major in Teaching English?
A: Yes. It gives you opportunities others do not get.
In Japan, you cannot lose as an English teacher. There are opportunities in the business world, especially if you are bi-lingual. The nature of working in Japan may make time for ministry limited. On the other hand, depending on where you work, it may give you opportunities to witness in places many "traditional" missionaries seldom get into.
Teaching English is a great "in" to the lives of Japanese children and women (and to men in company classes or established English-teaching schools). Requirements vary depending on who and where you teach. Many come with little or no credentials except that they are native English speakers. Private classes are the most likely types of classes you can have. Others come with the JET program, which is for college grads (with any major) to come and assist English teachers in jr. and sr. high schools for a year or two. Opportunities for ministry in that program are somewhat restricted. If you want to come on a work or missionary visa, you need to have qualifications to do what you say you are coming to do in order to get your certificate of eligibility. Our own mission has required a bachelor's degree in something as well as the equivalent of 30 credit hours in Bible.
I think there would be plenty of opportunities with either option you choose to go with. It is best to talk to the mission(s) you might like to serve with to find out exactly what they require.
Teaching English is a great "in" to the lives of Japanese children and women (and to men in company classes or established English-teaching schools). Requirements vary depending on who and where you teach. Many come with little or no credentials except that they are native English speakers. Private classes are the most likely types of classes you can have. Others come with the JET program, which is for college grads (with any major) to come and assist English teachers in jr. and sr. high schools for a year or two. Opportunities for ministry in that program are somewhat restricted. If you want to come on a work or missionary visa, you need to have qualifications to do what you say you are coming to do in order to get your certificate of eligibility. Our own mission has required a bachelor's degree in something as well as the equivalent of 30 credit hours in Bible.
I think there would be plenty of opportunities with either option you choose to go with. It is best to talk to the mission(s) you might like to serve with to find out exactly what they require.
