I’m expecting to get my degree in the spring and then…well, let’s say I have no concrete plans. One of my Japanese friends suggested that I spend a year or two or three teaching English in Japan. Sounds good to me. After all, I like the Japanese, and I speak English! However, I don’t personally know anyone who’s ever taught English in Japan. How does one go about finding such a job? Could I expect to be treated and paid well, or badly? What sort of scams should I look out for? I turn to the teeming millions for help and guidance. If any of you have ever taught English in Japan or know anyone who has, please share your wisdom and experience with me!
Here’s all the relevant personal info I can think of:
I am an American citizen and native English speaker. I have a double major in Communication and Philosophy, with a minor in International Studies. I will be 22 when I graduate. I have no formal training in education, but did about two months of student teaching in a high school English class (women’s literature, with a focus on writing research papers) when I was 18.
I’ve spent the past two summers volunteering as a conversation partner for Japanese students of English in my hometown, and am in my third year of volunteering as a conversation partner for foreign exchange students at my college. I have never studied Japanese, but am willing to learn. I cannot read Japanese at all and do not speak it beyond a couple of polite phrases and a few dozen words I’ve picked up from Japanese friends. Some of these friends were foreign exchange students who are now back in Japan, so I would have people in-country I could turn to for help. Oh yes, I also spent a couple of months living in Japan when I was a little girl while my father was participating in military exercises in the Far East.
There is a lot of good information at this site on all aspect of ESL. I do not know of anyone who taught in Japan, but from what I hear it is best to have some sort of ESL certificate, though it is not required, for the better jobs. And definitely get everything in writing. In Asia schools will often take advantage by increasing class size, hours and pay you as little as possible. Go to Daves ESL Cafe, find out the general starting rate, hours etc. then when you negotiate a contract accordingly. In Asia (particularly China, do not know as much about Japan) contracts are not as firm as here, but it is a good thing to have.
I have been thinking about going to China to teach English for a while and know someone who was there and really enjoyed it. One suggestion she had was read a few books on the culture, to get an idea of what it is like. Also take some DVDs because you will get a bit homesick at points and some good movies or shows can really help you relax.
Hope this helps a little. If you have any other questions I will try to answer if I can, but for now I need sleep.
As far as job-hunting goes, if you know anyone in Japan you can stay with for a while (anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months), I’d advise coming to Japan as a tourist (you’re a US citizen, so you can stay 90 days without a special visa, IIRC) and doing your job-hunting here, rather than looking for a job from the States. It’s pretty easy to find a job teaching once you’ve come here, but not a lot of schools are willing to go through the trouble of hiring and arranging a visa for someone who hasn’t arrived yet. When I finished college, I sent letters to about fifty different schools, and almost every reply I got back said “call us when you come to Japan.”
Typically, the only schools that are willing to risk having their investment succumb to culture and hop on the next plane home are the ones that can’t hire anyone locally, and in most cases, they’re in that predicament because none of the local foreigners are willing to work with them. NOVA is a good example, as is the small school I ended up working at (I’d tell other foreigners where I worked and would get a shocked silence, followed by “…I’m sorry”).
If you come here first and hunt around, on the other hand, you shouldn’t have much problem finding a school who will sponsor your visa and possibly even help you find a place to live (as in recommend a place and act as your guarantor. You’ll probably still have to pay the rent yourself). They’ll probably also let you work a few hours to earn some money and see how well you do, even though you technically aren’t allowed to on a tourist visa (nobody really cares, just don’t mention at the immigration office or at customs that you worked).
One scam to look out for is schools that won’t pay overtime (my first school had an overtime system that was rigged so nobody could ever collect). Minimum salary for a fulltime worker is 250,000 yen/month (this is one of the requirements for the government to approve the visa application), with 80-90 class-hours/month being an average-to-busy schedule. Part-timers usually get from 2500-4000/hour. Also, make sure the school pays for your transportation.
That’s just what I can think of off the top of my head. Feel free to email me anytime, and I’ll try to answer any questions you might have.
This is sort of off-topic, but I don’t want to clog the board with another thread on basically the same subject, so here goes-
My friends in Japan tell me that Japanese teachers teaching English are usually very poor at conversational English, so people who want to become fluent usually seek out native English speakers for classes. But they also tell me that these poor gaijin are usually getting robbed for their services, making far less than what they should. Is this true? My friend Mayumi speaks the best English I have ever heard from a native Japanese speaker- she has almost no accent, and she learned by taking several years of just conversational English with a native English-speaking teacher. All my other Japanese friends speak varying degrees of English, but they can all read English extremely well. What’s up with this?
Unfortunately, as an American citizen, you’re not eligible for a working holiday visa, which would have been a good option.
Absolutely the most trouble-free way to get a teaching job in Japan, IMO, is the JET programme. Much of what usually makes moving to Japan hell (e.g. finding a place to live) is taken care of for you and the pay is about as good as you can get without specialized education. The downside is that you have little say over where you’ll be sent - so if you’re thinking Tokyo, pick another option.
The second-most trouble free option is to find a job with a company that recruits abroad, like Geos. Usually these places will help you with your accomodation (if not provide it) and give some form of support after you arrive. You still don’t get to pick where you end up, but placement tends to be much more urban than with JET - most of the schools are in the greater Tokyo area.
You can also look for a job online on sites like http://www.jobsinjapan.com/jobs/teaching.html . The places that advertise online tend to be smaller schools and the overall deal might vary from place to place.
You should be warned that getting installed in Japan is a royal pain in the neck if you’re on your own. Rooms in gaijin houses are easy to rent but these places tend to be dirty, depressing, and too expensive for what they are.
My advice would be, be prepared, both logistically and mentally.
“Robbed?” No, not usually. As a matter of fact, if you take into account actual qualifications of your average native-language teacher and compare it with what locals can expect to earn with a part-time job, English teachers are outrageously overpaid. That’s not to say that some schools aren’t trying to rip the teachers off, though, but overall teachers are very well off.
Lamia!
Did you know I lived there for 5 years? I didn’t teach English myself (I worked at two different international schools teaching elementary students) but I now a lot of people who did.
I have a few contacts there as well. I’d actually advise the opposite of what Sublight suggests wrt to going over and then finding a job, but only because if you get your job while in Japan, you are considered a local hire and will have to go abroad (probably Korea or Hong Kong) to get your work visa at a Japanese Embassy abroad. Foreign hires (those who are hired and sign their contract abroad) are given more benefits: paid flight, help with housing, etc. If you can afford a trip over, you should go to decide if you like the area your prospective school is in, but when it comes time to signing, I’d do so anywhere outside of Japan.
Also, you could look into the JET Program, which is usually where new graduates start off, though sometimes you get placed in pretty remote areas. You can do a search for JET Program to get all the info.
If you’d like, please email me at anahita444@hotmail.com and we can discuss it, possibly by using ICQ or AIM.
I have two friends who both participated in the JET program. I applied to (and was accepted, as was my wife) to the program but went to graduate school instead. As jovan noted, it is the most hassle-free way of getting over there and working. The program has been in place for a number of years so it established and safe. The original contract is for a year but you may re-up twice, for two additional years, if you like it.
From what I remember, there is no specific major required but you do have to have graduated with your B.A. Additionally, you need to show your desire to learn the language and culture. Finally, the application period is right now (I think, I remember it being due at the same time as some of the grad school applications) so get on the ball and send it in! I think you find out in late spring for a mid-summer departure date.
One more thing, one of my friends was asked for her best Elvis impersonation during the interview. I don’t know the purpose of this other than to gauge her reaction to a ludicrous request, but be prepared for anything!
A couple of people have recommended applying from overseas, rather than going to Japan first. There may be some big advantages to it, but I really have to disagree. The main reason is that the number of available jobs to choose from is so much bigger if you’re applying in person. Also, for a school to be willing to go through the visa application process and even buy a plane ticket (my school didn’t go that far) on someone who hasn’t already passed the ‘culture shock’ phase when there are so many eligible teachers already in Japan, indicates to me that they’re having real problems getting anyone local to work for them.
By the way, the deadline for application to the JET program is around now, IIRC, so if you’re interested in going that route, get over to the nearest embassy or consulate quick!
Thank you for all your help and advice!. I should have mentioned this in my OP, but I had already decided not to try for the JET program this year because the deadline is so close. I’m in the process of sorting out some medical issues and what with one thing and another I don’t think I’ll be able to get the doctor’s note I’ll need for the application in time. I wish I’d come up with this plan earlier! Oh well. If nothing else, I can always apply to JET next year. But I’d rather go sooner than later, so keep those alternative suggestions coming!
