Teaching English in Japan?

Question

Often times, I see people asking questions about teaching English in Japan. I've noticed that a substantial amount of people want a teaching job in Japan. However, I always wonder how many English teachers Japan actually needs. Is this a high demand job or do people simply look at teaching as an easy way to get to Japan?

Answer 1

The answer is of course both... Japan has a great shortage of English teachers. In fact, particularly in middle school, they are forced to employ a large number of unlicensed people to teach English because they simply don't have enough teachers who can pass the licensure exam.

Second, most of the teaching positions in Japan for foreigners are not as the sole classreoom teacher (though there are certanily some of us who are). Usually the roll is that of an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher). The foriegn ALT then practices team teaching with the Japanese English teacher, teaching class together and supplying a native speaking influence on the students' English study..

It is a very easy way to get to Japan in many circumstances, particularly if you come as a mermber of a teacher exchange program,; the largest of which is the JET Program...

http://www.jetprogram.org

In the end it is simply a question of supply and demand. They need English teachers. We want to come to Japan. So we get together and make a deal. If you're interested in coming to Japan for an extended stay by far the easiest way is as an English teacher.

Answer 2

Look basically, all over Asia need English teachers not just Japan. You need a degree to teach or some sort of teaching qualifications. The money isn't to bad. I am teaching English now in Japan at a junior high school, you get about £350 a week, but the tax you pay is next to nothing. The teachers are here to provide the Japanese children with a foreign experience, it's good for the children and the Japanese culture.

Answer 3

It's because of turnover that there are always openings. Most expats stay a year or two and then move on. Some organizations prefer "fresh" gaijin over cynical permagaijin as well. I used to do corporate classes which was actually kind of easy. There were classes on my schedule that never actually met that I would get paid for anyways. The company just paid for the lessons to use up their training budget a la a Dilbert cartoon. In general there is more demand for ESL teachers to chit-chat with or be decoration than there is for serious ESL lessons. When I taught in a private high school there were a lot of office politics and that was stressful, but the kids were OK. There's no easier way to get to Japan, and I can tell you there are people in the industry with diploma-mill degrees. It's no coincidence that periodicals targeted at the expat community invariably have advertisements for dimploma mills.

Answer 4

The Japanese start teaching English in Middle School. Then, they have high school teachers as well. It would be a job that is wanted in Japan because, usually, the English teacher changes towns or leaves the country after a few years.

Answer 5

English is a hot item in Japan now. The JET Program was started by Reagan. It brings teachers into the schools. They want their kids to learn English. The workers need it for business. A lot of people are interested in learning it there.

Answer 6

Well English teachers are constantly coming and going and English is required in the curriculum so there's usually a decent demand for teachers. The thing is, if you're anything other than Asian, the only job you can get in Japan is an English Teacher. It's not so much an easy way to get to Japan but the only way unless you're military...

Answer 7

It is an easy way to get to Japan. Most companies sign a teacher up to a two-year contract and require the teacher to pay their own way over. Schools are a different (and better) deal, if you can get one. Schools will provide housing, pay for return flights on holidays and usually are one-year contracts.

The for-profit teaching is 90% conversational English, which means if you possess the charm and warmth to keep the customers...er, students coming back, you've got a great teaching career ahead of you in Japan.

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Addendum
Several people (including the rude rat below) mentioned the need for BA/BS degrees, which is true. However, I knew several conversational teachers who had submitted degrees from online 'schools.' The degree was purchased for $500 and no one in Japan knew the difference.

Conversational schools don't bother to do a background check on the quality of the applicant's resume. That's not the case with actual primary schools or universities (but, again, these are the better jobs in terms of benefits).

I stand by my earlier statement, you need charm and guile first. Without those traits, you won't get hired no matter what degree you have in your portfolio.

Answer 8

There is definitely a high demand for English teachers, especially those actually from America. This is because when Japanese people speak English, they have an accent, so when they teach English to Japanese students, the students learn to speak it with the same accent. So by having an American/English native, the students can actually learn English without an accent.

Answer 9

Japan pays very well, my friend got a job teaching English in Japan. She doesn't have to speak japanese and they reimburse her for room and board. But she had to sign a one or two year contract with the school.

Answer 10

It is a high demand job. You'll need at least a university degree. With that, it is VERY easy to get a job. You could probably be hired next week if you wanted to start soon. It is good work if you have the right situation. Research the companies you want to work for.