Japanese BA

[Apple Bomb]

First, let me apologize if this is redundant...I'm sure it is, but I couldn't find any other thread on the topic.

Anyway, to make a long story shortish, I'm in college right now ostensibly for a bachelors degree in Japanese. My main reasoning is that I enjoy learning the language, and of course it's a good thing to pursue something you enjoy for a career. However, I'm also a poor college student with no family with money to back me up, and even with one family member I'll probably need to support. So of course I'm also beginning to question my decision before it's too late.

Ahem. My actual question is, assuming there are a good deal of Japanese majors here, what are the prospects right now for such a major, career-wise?

I'm under the impression that just a BA in Japanese is pretty worthless, and graduate school is pretty much required. I know that you absolutely do not need a Japanese degree to teach english in Japan, and I know that there are throngs of young Westerners still enamored with Japan who want to go over there as well, despite pessimistic conditions (as in the articles at the top of this forum). I hate to make a thread like this, but I'm trying to get some perspective on what opportunities, if any, a Japanese student has at this point. It seems like learning Chinese is practical, but Japanese maybe not so much, in spite of its popularity. Thanks if anyone read this mess, and double thanks to anyone with a reply!

[misa.j]

Even if you can't get a job relating to Japanese language, I think majoring it will enrich your knowledge which might come in handy, who knows, in practical ways.
I'm not exactly sure how many, but I've heard close to 50% of college students get a job that has nothing to do with the subject they have a degree in.

My husband has BA in Japanese and studied at a university in Japan for a year as an exchange student, now he works at a hotel with no use for his Japanese.
He doesn't regret the fact he majored Japanese though, because he wasn't going to school for a career.

I do understand your concern too, and I hope you get more advice from other members. :wave:

[Glenn]

You could apply to be a translator for the FBI or the NSA or some such government organization like that, if you have any interest in translation. You could also work for a travel agency. There's also the JET Programme. I can't really think of anything else at the moment. I suppose you could be a teacher, if you have any inclination to do that.

[Apple Bomb]

Thanks for replying.
I definitely know what you mean misa, and under normal circumstances that's the way I'd feel as well. Unfortunately, because of the way things went I find myself in a position where it would be unwise to get a financially useless degree. I should have specified, since I don't think any degree you get where you've actually learned something is "useless":p
Also, thanks Glenn. I am interested in translation actually, but don't know much about such jobs at this point. That's kind of what I was referring to doing in graduate school.
Also, also-- just to clarify, this isn't really a "please tell me what to do with my life" type thread, I'm just kind of trying to get a better feel for what the situation is going to be once I've actually gotten my BA.

[epigene]

Although I'm not knowledgeable about BAs in Japanese, here's my two yen:

If you're hoping to make good use of your Japanese proficiency, I think you should back up your degree (regardless of whether you complete it) with JLPT Level 1. I think that will bring more job opportunities than a BA alone. Also, I personally think you don't have to go to graduate school to improve your Japanese language skills.

If you're interested in translation, you don't need any certification--your real proficiency will be put to test. If you are able to pass JLPT1 with a good score, I think you can start looking for jobs in the field of translation/interpreting right away. (There may be people who object to my statement, but I think JLPT1 is the least minimum for getting you started in the translation/interpreting field.)

[Ewok85]

JLPT alone has little meaning, I'd do something like JETRO as well.
(JLPT1 looks wonderful on your resume, and some employers understand what it is, but it doesnt mean everything. I've still got 2nd grade but do interpretation work on the side).

Simply having a BA Japanese doesn't mean alot if you want a job in Japan - theres 120million people here who already speak Japanese, and plenty who speak English as well. If you want to get into something other than teaching English you need an edge, a speciality. For me its IT and Networking, for some its Medicine or Law or Economics. I'd focus on something like that and work on your Japanese on the side.