Teaching English programs/companies in Japan?

Question

Anyone who lives in Japan (teacher, student or otherwise) have any thoughts on the programs? I've read that the general trend of teaching English to Japanese has become less important. Ie, parents only send their kids if they have the money and to boast that the kids are learning English, the teachers who are hired are often hired for their looks (blond and blue eyed) and have a terrible work ethic.

Anyone care to share any thoughts? It seems for the teacher side of it, it's what you make of it--your experience can be terrible or it can be wonderful, so long as you keep a realistic expectation and go with an open mind.

Answer 1

I have been teaching English in Japan for over 15 years. I started out teaching in a private Christian English school on a one year contract. As most people on a one or two year stint in Japan, their goal is not really education, but rather taking in as much of the Japanese culture as possible and teaching English is merely a means to an end. I also had that attitude in my first year since I was not planning to come back to Japan after my contract was up.

My life went 180 degrees and I ended up finishing up my linguistics degrees and came back. Again to work at a private non-Christian English school. It was now for a living. I met several people in the same situation and their goal was to make money and take in as much Japanese culture as possible. Not to educationally minded again. The owner of the school was always worried about the bottom line which was always money. Of course I know that private schools need money, but if that is the goal, students eventually feel it and then leave. I transferred to another private English school that was a sub-company of a larger language system. There English education was very important. I was able to see how English should be taught and was able to form my own theory of English education for Japanese. I stayed their for three years.

Finally, I made the move to a university. There, the type of teacher ranged from lazy to dedicated to over worked, to admin butt kissers, to "stuck in High School" mentality types.

You are totally right when you say teaching in Japan is what you make of it. It is entirely possible to teach in Japan and not be educationally minded, but the students suffer. I have seen a lot of ALTs come over who are so selfish to the point of ignoring the students needs while enjoying their life in Japan. They're just here for the experience. I wish they would not come.

As to places hiring teachers who are blond and blue eyed, I am oriental in lineage, but American by birth. Needless to say I don't look American. But it wasn't that hard for me to find work. You can find work very easily if you look. Private students are everywhere. Work at educational institutions is a lot more difficult to find, and basically, you are on a contract. I was the last foreigner to get tenure at my university.

I would be happy to answer any questions you might have that are more specific in their formulation.

Answer 2

Firstly schools don't hire by looks, I was hired and have brown eyes and brown hair, it's rubbish.

There are so many myths about teaching in Japan, it's ridiculous. Of course schools are into making money and retaining students, how do you think a business exists? I don't know why people moan about it?

Some teachers do have a terrible work ethic but this is the individual not the school, thats why the school puts you on an annual contract so they can get rid of you if you are no good. Believe me I've seen it happen to loads of teachers.

The biggest mistake most people make is that they make work their lives. They work all day with teachers then go home and spend time with them, bad. Get out and interact with Japanese, if you don't like Japan, leave, don't rubbish the school because you didn't like it. They should also consider if they actually like teaching, not everyone is going to love teaching, this is not the companies fault it's the individual. I had times in Japan where I thought I had enough but after calming down and reflecting I realised this same thing would annoy me back home, it's me not Japan.

Answer 3

I am not a blue eyed blonde but I have been here for 2 years. People are not hired by their looks. One must have at least a university degree to be able to teach English here. If you have a bad work ethic, it doesn't matter what you look like. Work hard and you'll do fine. Being a foreigner in Japan will have its ups and downs. Just be strong and make the best of your experience.

Answer 4

There are three types of English teaching:

1. in a regular elementary, junior high, or high school; this job is usally called "Assistant English Teacher", as you work with the Japanese teachers to provide a native-speaking voice, and interact directly with young students. This is often done through the JET Programme, but there are many for-profit companies that hire foreigners as contractors for this purpose, too.

2. in an English conversation school, called "Eikaiwa". These are private, for-profit schools that make money by providing chances for Japanese people to practice English. Students can be adults or children, depending on who's signed up at the time. The larger companies are names like NOVA, Aeon, and Berlitz, but there are a lot of smaller companies as well.

3. private tutoring sessions, either from adults who want to practice English for business or fun, or from parents who want their children to get an advantage at school.

The first two, you mainly need a 4-year college degree, and be a native speaker of English. The pay is decent but not great, and the experience will vary greatly from school to school, so it's best to do your homework beforehand. They will generally sponsor your visa for you if you pass their initial screening.

For private tutoring sessions, you need to have connections, and you will already have to be residing in Japan, but it's a way to supplement income from the first two types of jobs.

There are a lot of resources out there for English teaching jobs in Japan (and in other countries as well), so go do your research and find out what's right for you!

Answer 5

It is definitely what you make of it. Some of those companies are a little shady and unethical.
Here is my advise: If you really want to come to Japan and teach, there are still many wonderful opportunities here. You can take a job with one of the major companies (Nova, Geos, Aeon, ECC) and then find something better once you get here. There are lots of companies that do not hire from overseas, but they'll hire you and sponsor your visa once you're here.
It's true that the demand for English has decreased, but there is still high demand for English teachers - especially if you really care about what you do.

Answer 6

I have just returned to the UK after teaching English in Japan for two years.

"English, the teachers who are hired are often hired for their looks (blond and blue eyed) and have a terrible work ethic"

If you are over worked and underpaid you'd have a bad attitude - most companies know they have another plane landing at Narita with several dozen fresh bodies (blonde, brunette, green eyes brown eyes - they are not so fussy) so most English teachers are treated pretty shady.

That said for every lightweight teacher you will have one that puts as much in to their teaching as they can regardless of being over worked and under paid/trained.

I worked with four companies while there - one dreadful and three good. At the end of the day they are in it to make money and not to have people taught English - so if you are looking for a good school meet your teacher (or the teacher that will teach your children) and judge them rather than the company.

I loved every moment being there even in baking heat - jumping around singing songs for 12 hours a day - it was a great great experience. (even with teh bad company - I put heart and soul in to it and I know I was appreciated very much - many many tears were shed when I left so doing a great job is rewarded just maybe not in your wage packet)

Answer 7

What you read was wrong, honey.

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