The salary for an English teacher in Japan is not as good as it once was. Due to the increase in people willing to venture to the land of the rising sun, English teachers aren’t as sort after. That said, you can still get a very reasonable wage that will certainly cover all expenses and leave enough leftover to have a good time and travel a little.
Requirements
The most important requirements for getting a English teaching place in Japan are: You must be a native English Speaker, with a University Degree and have a genuine enthusiasm for the job.
The university degree is more a necessity for the type of Visa needed to work in Japan, than the actual work, but either way you’ll find it hard without one.
You typically don’t even need any teaching experience and although some sort of TEFL is not always necessary, it will improve your chances of getting a better teaching place, and also give you more confidence when entering the classroom.
Application and Preparation
Originally I intended to do only 6 months of teaching, but having seen very few of these opportunities I decided to apply for a 1 year program, of which there are plenty. I also wanted to work outside of Tokyo, as I thought that a teacher’s salary might be a little stretched there, so instead I opted for the city of Shizuoka. Shizuoka is only two hours from the Capital, and in a beautiful region of Japan. It is a fairly small city, especially in comparison to Tokyo, which makes it more manageable, and the rent was certainly more affordable. I went with a well-known ‘teaching in Japan program’ and they made finding accommodation and Visa application very easy. I certainly recommend using one of the more recognised companies as they make the administration much more straightforward and ensure you get the necessary support when you’re out there.
To prepare I decide to do a short TEFL course to ensure I was competent, and to give me confidence for the classroom. As a full TEFL course wasn’t required I decided to only do an online course to bring me up on the basics. I actually found it far more useful than I thought I would. I was guided through by a personal tutor, who gave very constructive feedback, and I actually learnt a lot of very useful information that I applied regularly in my classes. The company I used was Online TEFL and they were nothing to do with the program organisers, it’s simply something I did independently, am it was well worth the effort. (Details at the bottom of the Article)
Requirements
The most important requirements for getting a English teaching place in Japan are: You must be a native English Speaker, with a University Degree and have a genuine enthusiasm for the job.
The university degree is more a necessity for the type of Visa needed to work in Japan, than the actual work, but either way you’ll find it hard without one.
You typically don’t even need any teaching experience and although some sort of TEFL is not always necessary, it will improve your chances of getting a better teaching place, and also give you more confidence when entering the classroom.
Application and Preparation
Originally I intended to do only 6 months of teaching, but having seen very few of these opportunities I decided to apply for a 1 year program, of which there are plenty. I also wanted to work outside of Tokyo, as I thought that a teacher’s salary might be a little stretched there, so instead I opted for the city of Shizuoka. Shizuoka is only two hours from the Capital, and in a beautiful region of Japan. It is a fairly small city, especially in comparison to Tokyo, which makes it more manageable, and the rent was certainly more affordable. I went with a well-known ‘teaching in Japan program’ and they made finding accommodation and Visa application very easy. I certainly recommend using one of the more recognised companies as they make the administration much more straightforward and ensure you get the necessary support when you’re out there.
To prepare I decide to do a short TEFL course to ensure I was competent, and to give me confidence for the classroom. As a full TEFL course wasn’t required I decided to only do an online course to bring me up on the basics. I actually found it far more useful than I thought I would. I was guided through by a personal tutor, who gave very constructive feedback, and I actually learnt a lot of very useful information that I applied regularly in my classes. The company I used was Online TEFL and they were nothing to do with the program organisers, it’s simply something I did independently, am it was well worth the effort. (Details at the bottom of the Article)
Teaching English in Japan
I found it was good to have some interesting ideas for conversation groups, as this is an area where I would be on my own with a smaller group of students. They are obviously all a little nervous about starting conversations in English, so some simple games, or topics of conversation where important to get the ball rolling.
The Region
Shizuoka is best known for being home to Mount Fuji, but also has an abundance of beautiful scenery and some fantastic hot springs. More by luck than judgment, it actually turned out to be the perfect location. There were some amazing treks in the surrounding valleys and mountains, and it’s also close enough to Tokyo for the occasional weekend, (normally after pay day). Beaches don’t necessarily leap to mind when you think of Japan, but Shizuoka’s is very close to the coast, and some great beaches. Some of the best are a short drive away, to the Izu region, although it’s worth visiting nearby Miho beach for the amazing views of Mount Fuji.
Shizouka is also located centrally in Japan, and very close to Tokyo, which makes it a good base to explore other parts of the country.
I found the teaching very rewarding, as some of the students progressed well, and were really keen to learn. It hasn’t given me the desire to teach back in the UK, as I’m not sure if I’d get the same reception, but I’d certainly look to do something like this again in the future, by way of a career break. Japan is a beautiful country and also a very safe place to live and travel. There is some marked differences in the culture, but in general I found the Japanese very welcoming and friendly, and in all it was a memorable experience. It’s a perfect year out for the fresh graduate without enough money in the kitty to go and travel the world.
Jemma Phillips - 1st February 2007
Jemma used TEFL Online to help prepare for the teaching. For more information on them, and to sign up to their TEFL course follow the link below.
Also if you would like any further information on TEFL courses or other teaching programs in the Far East, go to Far East Travel Resources - Teaching Project
The Region
Shizuoka is best known for being home to Mount Fuji, but also has an abundance of beautiful scenery and some fantastic hot springs. More by luck than judgment, it actually turned out to be the perfect location. There were some amazing treks in the surrounding valleys and mountains, and it’s also close enough to Tokyo for the occasional weekend, (normally after pay day). Beaches don’t necessarily leap to mind when you think of Japan, but Shizuoka’s is very close to the coast, and some great beaches. Some of the best are a short drive away, to the Izu region, although it’s worth visiting nearby Miho beach for the amazing views of Mount Fuji.
Shizouka is also located centrally in Japan, and very close to Tokyo, which makes it a good base to explore other parts of the country.
I found the teaching very rewarding, as some of the students progressed well, and were really keen to learn. It hasn’t given me the desire to teach back in the UK, as I’m not sure if I’d get the same reception, but I’d certainly look to do something like this again in the future, by way of a career break. Japan is a beautiful country and also a very safe place to live and travel. There is some marked differences in the culture, but in general I found the Japanese very welcoming and friendly, and in all it was a memorable experience. It’s a perfect year out for the fresh graduate without enough money in the kitty to go and travel the world.
Jemma Phillips - 1st February 2007
Jemma used TEFL Online to help prepare for the teaching. For more information on them, and to sign up to their TEFL course follow the link below.
Also if you would like any further information on TEFL courses or other teaching programs in the Far East, go to Far East Travel Resources - Teaching Project
After graduating I was reluctant to go straight into full time employment, knowing that it could have meant 'head down' for years, with only a couple of weeks holiday a year! Many friends of mine had travelled, and taken gap years, but I couldn’t really afford to simply float around for a year without income. Even in the cheaper countries around the world, you still have to pay for accommodation, food and getting around. By luck of birth I’m a native English speaker, and can therefore sell my language. It seemed strange after years of education at school and a four-year degree course, my most relevant skill I had for this was being a native English speaker. I had not travelled extensively in the past, and only ever been to Europe and North America, but having investigated the options, I decided to apply for positions in Japan.
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The Teaching
I was actually teaching at four separate schools. My role was more of a teacher support role, and to help correct students, and bring on their English conversation skills. Most of the teachers I worked with spoke some English, but there were frequent moments where we were unable to understand each other, as my Japanese didn’t go beyond the very basic greetings. Fortunately all of the members of staff were very friendly and helpful, which goes a long way to breaking language barriers.
The children were all in either middle school or high school. Middle school is the last three years of compulsory education and high school is the following three years before university, and the cast majority of children will go on to complete high school. It’s a bit of a cliché that Japanese students are very obedient and hard working, but it is generally true. Some were a little surprised to have a westerner in their classroom, but the novelty wore off very quickly, and many of the older students had been taught by English natives in the past.
I was actually teaching at four separate schools. My role was more of a teacher support role, and to help correct students, and bring on their English conversation skills. Most of the teachers I worked with spoke some English, but there were frequent moments where we were unable to understand each other, as my Japanese didn’t go beyond the very basic greetings. Fortunately all of the members of staff were very friendly and helpful, which goes a long way to breaking language barriers.
The children were all in either middle school or high school. Middle school is the last three years of compulsory education and high school is the following three years before university, and the cast majority of children will go on to complete high school. It’s a bit of a cliché that Japanese students are very obedient and hard working, but it is generally true. Some were a little surprised to have a westerner in their classroom, but the novelty wore off very quickly, and many of the older students had been taught by English natives in the past.
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