TEFL in Japan

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TEFL Jobs in JapanA Guide to Teaching English in Japan


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Japan is one of the worldstop TEFL destinations: thereare plenty of jobs, thewages are very good,and Japanese studentsare renowned for beingenthusiastic and polite.

And Japan is a great place to spend a year or two. It somehow manages tomix the best o sci- uturism and technological innovation with elements o traditional

Japanese culture in a way that can seem strangely otherworldy to Western visitors. Once

you land in Tokyo or Osaka, youll soon realise why its such a top TEFL destination.

TEFL J J: a Lttle bckgrudThe recession that hit Japan in the 90s had a huge impact on the TEFL market: demand

or TEFL teachers dropped o the scale, a ew o the major language school chains went

bankrupt and 1000s o English teachers were let without work.

Since then, the Japanese economy has strengthened greatly and at the start o the

new millennium, Japan went through a period o sustained nancial recovery which led

to greater need or English language teachers and the already high demand or English

teachers went through the roo. According to reputable sources, and the testimony o

teachers working in Japan, the market or TEFL teachers has not been too badly hit by

the recession o 2008/9 and there are still ample opportunities or teaching English in

Japan.

The TEFL jobs market in Japan is well established

and well organised: and while there are lots o

TEFL jobs available in Japan, newcomers are no

longer guaranteed to nd TEFL jobs. However,

a well respected TEFL qualication will make

nding work a little easier and will set you up

or the challenges ahead


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ortute fr TEFL TecherTEFL jobs in Japan can be ound in any number o dierent settings,

rom state schools and kindergartens to private tuition and private

language schools. In recent years the demand or business

English classes has increased massively. This is due to employers

demanding higher levels o English rom their employees in an

attempt to take their place in the increasingly global marketplace.

The huge demand is also uelled by the act that people who

have three years employment insurance can claim back part

o the cost o courses rom accredited organizations. So i you want to get

involved in this lucrative market, make sure the school or company you work or is on the

accreditation list.

The avored accent is denitely American, but clear precise diction, a tidy appearanceand a proessional manner are perhaps more important: so all you Brits, Irish, Aussies,

Kiwis and Canadians shouldnt be put o.

our T Three TEFL DettThere are opportunities to teach English across Japan. However,

due to higher demand in the main commercial and nancial areas,

concentrating on the ollowing cities should give you a higher

chance o success.

Tky

Tokyo is Japans capital city and perhaps the

countrys premier TEFL destination. There are lots o TEFL

jobs available at language schools and institutes across

the city. Many oreigners live and work in the Roppongi

district, so its a good place to start looking or a job and a

place to rest your head. Another top place or hopeul TEFL

teachers is the Kimi Inormation Centre in the Toshima-ku

district (dont try to nd it without a map!). Their website is in

the useul links section at the end o this guide. Its also worth

picking up the ree Tokyo Classieds paper that is handed

out in Roppongi in Friday and the Monday edition o the Japan

Times they both have job and accommodation ads in.


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Ke

Kobe sits on a steep hillside overlooking Osaka

Bay and is widely regarded as one o Japans most

attractive and cosmopolitan cities. It is not a huge

tourist destination, and it has a charm and relatively

laid back atmosphere (or Japan at least) that isa world away rom its Kansai neighbour, Osaka.

Kobe is also home to the Japanese headquarters

o over 100 multinationals, including Nestl

and Procter & Gamble. The presence o these

international businesses has driven an increased

need or trained TEFL teachers with some

knowledge o teaching business English.

Kyt

Kyoto is also in the Kansai region o Japan. As

with all Japanese cities, it is something o an urban

jungle. But tucked away saely behind the brash

aade o fashing neon and highrise concrete

are the hidden gems that make Kyoto something

o a repository or the soul o ancient Japan:

17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, over 1,600Buddhist temples, around 400 Shinto shrines

and enough real Japanese culture to keep

any TEFL teacher happy. All this culture pulls

in tourists rom around the world and with the

tourist trade comes an increased demand or

English teachers.

shw Me the Mey!Wge d Ct f Lvg JWge

Obviously that depends on your level o training and experience, but with a

degree and a TEFL qualication, you should be able to demand somewhere

in the region o 250,000 Yen a month. Thats about 1,850 or US$2,800.


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Hw Much TEFL Trg Recmmeded?Most schools in Japan will want to see that youve done at least

120 hours o TEFL study either online, in the classroom, or a

mixture o both, especially i you dont have previous teachingexperience. These courses will all qualiy you to teach in Japan:

http://www.onlinetef.com/tef-courses/combined-tef-courses-120.html

http://www.onlinetef.com/tef-courses/combined-tef-courses-140.html

http://www.onlinetef.com/tef-courses/online-tef-course-120.html

Cmm Techg CdtYou will typically teach or 6 hours a day, 5 days a week; with the

occasional 6-day week. Most lessons happen in the aternoon

or evening, although this can vary. Most students are eager and

respectul. Children usually expect lessons to be un, while the

standard o English amongst adult students tends to be a little

lower than in other Asian countries.

aythg t be Wry fArriving in Japan or the rst time can be a real culture shock, so

arm yoursel with a basic understanding o the country and a healthy

appetite or new experiences. Your employer will probably invite you to

take part in extra-curricular activities. These will help you get your head

around lie in Japan and declining the invitation could be seen as rude.

Wrkg d VFdg TEFL J frm Hme

To help you nd your eet in the job market, i-to-i can help

you arrange a well-paid teaching job in Japan. Otherwise,

its relatively easy to nd a teaching job beore you leave

home, either through the Japanese governments JET (Japan

Exchange & Teaching) program, university careers departments

or specialist recruitment agencies. Given the current ashion

or learning other languages such as French and Spanish, theability to speak a second European language could boost your

employment prospects.


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Fdg TEFL J J

Japan is one o the easiest places to nd a job in-country, as long as youre a native

English speaker with a university degree; and i youre willing to venture outside o Tokyo,

the lack o competition could make your search easier. Just be sure that your savings will

cover your rst ew weeks without a job, or youll be back home quicker than expected!

The Hrg prce

Once youve applied or a position, youre usually interviewed over the phone. The

Japanese value enthusiasm and proessionalism in their English teachers, so make

sure youre enthusiastic and speak clearly and precisely. Equally, i youre invited or an

interview, it helps to be smartly dressed and respectul.

Gettg Yur V

It is essential that you have a work visa to teach in Japan. I you have a job oer, your

employer will send you an ocial Certicate o Eligibility, which you then take to your

countrys Japanese embassy who will issue a work permit. I you want to nd work

while youre in Japan, you can enter on a working holiday visa (except US citizens) and

upgrade when youre out there. Youll need to do a border run, but a fight to South

Korea (and a day or two sight-seeing in Seoul) isnt too much o a hassle.

Requremet fr Wrkg V:

A University degree

No criminal record

Citizen o Australia, New Zealand,

Canada, the Republic o Korea, the

United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany,

or Denmark

Primarily in Japan or a holiday Have a return ticket or enough

money to purchase one

Have savings o at least

2,500 (US$4,000) or

living expenses (this varies

depending on your

nationality)


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Ueful Lkwww.kimiwillbe.com

www.eslcae.com

www.eslbase.com

www.gaijinpot.com

www.teaching-english-in-

japan.net

www.kansaireeads.com/

www.teach.nichibei-job.com/

www.www.aeonet.com/aeon_index.php

www.recruiting.ecc.co.jp/

www.careers.gaba.co.jp/overseas/index.html

www.kansaiscene.com/current/html/home.shtml

www.km.to/www.whynotjapan.com/

Ueful bkTeaching English Abroad by Susan Grifth

This is something o a Bible or TEFLers and will give you all the ino

youll need to get started.


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TEFL Jobs in Japan A Guide to Teaching English in Japan

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TEFL in Japan