Not to dissuade any future ESL teachers, but Japan is radically different from western countries in more ways than you can shake a stick at.

In addition to having to adjust to different customs, work ethics, foods, currencies, transportation systems, accommodations etc.You’ll have problems with communicating. So spending some time thinking clearly about why you wish to teach in Japan is an excellent way to make sure you’re doing it for the correct reasons.

So what are some reasons why so many travel to Japan to teach? Many flat-out have a fascination with Japan and all things Japanese. Other common reasons are: for studying the language, martial arts, making money, starting their careers in ESL – you name it. The type that can’t wait to get back home never knew why the went in the first place and or had some fantasy about what it would be like.

Another group of disillusioned or disgruntled is the English teacher who plans on striking it rich working for Aeon or some other large chain school. Big money is possible, but keep in mind you’ll need quite a few or your own students or your own school.

So what kind of English Teacher is the happiest in the land of the rising sun? In general, those who really try to integrate into Japanese society. These instructors have both foreign (meaning Canadian or American friends etc) and Japanese.) friends. These ESL teachers, in general have healthy hobbies and a basic appreciation for the culture. They also learn Japanese and gain some level of fluency.

Basically Japan is a truly unique culture. One that offers a beginning ESL teacher a chance at a fair entry-level salary and a definite path of advancement for those who choose to make a career in ESL. But simply put teaching English in Japan isn’t the right career choice for everyone. It can be the adventure of a lifetime or an object of regret. Understanding what you want out of your teaching experience and understanding your motivations for going is a critical first step and one that bears repeating.

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Teaching in Japan  “Eikaiwa” The Most Traveled Road
“Eikaiwa” refers to the teaching of English conversation and basic grammar and believe it or not it’s a billion dollar industry in Japan. These consist of your large chain schools like ECC, Berlitz, Geos & Aeon. These organizations employ  thousands of  teachers throughout Japan and can be found in practically every single city in Japan irrespective  of size. There are literally thousands of “eikaiwa” schools dotting the country side.  All of them carrying out the task of teaching English to the Japanese.

What’s Needed to Teach
You need a 4 year degree from an University to get a job. (2 year degrees won’t cut it.).You need to be a native level fluent speaker of English. Some do succeed in finding work in Japan, even though English isn’t their first language but the overwhelming majority of postions that get filled are filled by native level fluent teachers.

Although there is no minimum wage, most teachers drag in  250,000 yen a month before taxes.Most work weeks will be 5 days. Don’t expect weekends off. Saturdays are usually work days. The “eikaiwa” or English conversation business whirs like a motor on Saturadays and Sundays and someone has to teach the students right? This means that most teachers work at least one Saturday or Sunday with another weekday off.  Vacation packages are quite similar for most schools. Expect 2 weeks  of paid vacation and most national holiday off. Schools differ on which national holidays they observe but the norm is 8 to 10 per year. It’s worth noting that ECC has the best vacation package of the monster chain schools and  arguably the  fewest complaints. Here is a handy chart to help you compare salaries and working conditions for huge chain schools like Geos, ECC, Berlitz and Aeon.

You should expect roughly a 40 hour work week. Each school is different but you can expect roughly 20 to 25 actual teaching hours per week with the rest being office hours.  Most schools also will provide you with health insurance or subsidize it. Most office hours get filled by preparing lessons, talking with students and taking class notes. And (depending on the school) some teachers are expected to hand out school advertisments. Make no mistake at the end of a typical day, you’ll know you worked. When the dust settles, your typical teacher workds roughly 40 hours per week.

Larger chain schools, mentioned above,  have fixed curriculums. What this means is that you’ll be using their textbooks and other teaching materials. For those who don’t have a lot of teaching experience it’s a helpful in reducing stress (there already is quite a bit in adjusting to the culture and learning the language etc.Creative types will probably find it a bit stifiling.

ESL teachers typically teach all ages. Literally from 5 to 75 year olds. Some schools have only children as students like Amity English school and Peppy Kids Club. Other  schools like Gaba concentrate on adults.  Because of the competitiveness of this industry, most schools cater to all ages. Most teachers teach children, young professionals and some housewives.

Most of your large chain schools will provide you with some type of accommodations. This is a very big help as it’s difficult to find accommodations on your own without the help of a Japanese national. And it’s definitely not cheap. Although the type provided will vary expect things to be on the small side. In general, furnishings will be a bit sparce as often they consist of departing teachers belongings.

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A Heavily Traveled Road to Teaching in Japan -ALT
Thousands of teachers work abroad and start their teaching careers in Japan as ALTs which stands for Assistant Language Teacher. ALTs are native speakers of English who  assist the Japanese teacher in teaching English to elementary and junior high schools throughout Japan.

Salaries and Such
Despite the road you choose to teach in Japan you need to be a native English speaker and need to be an university graduate. Most ALTs aren’t hired by schools but instead find employment through BOEs or Boards Of Education. Hiring agencies are quite a bit like temporary hiring agencies. Placement isn’t exactly free as hiring agencies will take a percentage of the teacher’s salary.  In general expect the salaries to be in the 230,000 to 250,000 yen per month range with fixed curriculums and work hours.
By far, most ALTs are dispatched to junior high schools. An instructor is generally rotated between 2 or 3 schools. Hours are the quite the opposite of “eikaiwas” or English conversation schools, which have quite a few evening classes and generally start in the early afternoon and run until 8 or 9 at night. In general, ALTs work between 8:00 and 5:00 p.m. with both all observed national holidays and weekends off.

Just like the JET Program, every single situation is quite different. ALT experiences are all different. Some have pretty easy work and spend time surfing the net during the day while others complain of being saddled with more work than they can handle. There are 3 roads into teaching in Japan. The most traveled one is regular “eikaiwa” or English conversation. Another common road into teaching in Japan is the JET Programme but it’s quite a challenge to get into and the 2nd most common one is that of an ALT.

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