Teach English in Japan

Quick Facts

Program Options

What’s included for each Program Option

Full Program Highlights

• Comprehensive pre-departure support and guidance

  • Getting the necessary documentation prepared prior to departure.
  • Assisting you with all planning, packing, visas, costs, budgets and booking flights.
  • Answering your questions to help ease any anxieties you may have regarding your trip.

• Logistics and safety when arriving

  • Airport pickup (provided participants land on the Sunday before the program start date).
  • Transfer from the airport to your arranged accommodation (included for in-class applicants only – if no actual pick-up at the airport is provided, then full guidance and support are given in order for you to make your way from the airport to your front door.
  • SIM card guidance/assistance.
  • Local bank account guidance/assistance.
  • Welcome dinner to meet your fellow teacher travellers

• A toolkit for navigating Japanese culture

  • Cultural Orientation and excursions
  • Social events and meet and greets.

• Practical Teacher Training

  • To hone your craft and ensure confidence before you begin teaching professionally.
  • Lesson Plan templates and resource directories.

• Guaranteed Job Placement

  • At carefully vetted schools.

• An Internationally Accredited TEFL/TESOL certification

  • The knowledge required to teach english successfully.
  • You will graduate with an Internationally Accredited 120 hour in-class TEFL/TESOL certificate that never expires and can be used to teach all over the world.

• A support network of fellow teachers

  • Lifelong friendships and travel opportunities

• 24/7 In-country support

  • Ex-foreign teachers and local, on-the-ground support staff provide you with personal assistance throughout the duration of your teaching experience.
  • You can rest assured knowing that any queries will be answered such as translation help, legalities, emergencies, travel options or school queries. Someone is on hand.
  • Teacher meet-ups.
  • We check in with you regularly and keep up to date with your teach abroad experience.

• Lifetime Teaching Placement Guarantee

  • Once you’ve completed your contract, we can guarantee you a position at another partner school throughout Asia for which you are eligible, at no additional charge to you.

• Self-development and advantageous future employability

  • When you do head back home, you’re not just another resume in a pile of resumes – you are someone different who’s done something interesting and rewarding.
  • Add teaching abroad to your CV to stand out from the crowd.

So you might find a job but you’ll be unprepared from a teaching, cultural, financial and emotional perspective.

You might think you’re taking a step back by taking a year off but nothing could be further from the truth!

Although you may think it’s a halt in your education journey, you’re actually fast tracking yourself through:

• Learning independence.
• Learning how you react to different situations.
• Learning how to master and grow your confidence in public speaking.
• Learning how to overcome obstacles.
• Learning about yourself through your own personal self discovery.
• Learning how to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself.

These would normally take much longer in a normal, sheltered environment and wouldn’t be nearly as much fun!

When you do head back home, you’re not just another resume in a pile of resumes – you are someone different who’s done something interesting and rewarding.

Teaching Placement Overview

Teaching Placements

There are two main types of teaching positions available in Japan – public schools and private language centres (known as eikaiwas in Japan).

The role is slightly different in each school type.

In eikaiwas teachers will work very independently and will lead each class.

In public schools, teachers work alongside a Japanese classroom teacher in the day-to-day school system as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT).

Public School (Alt) Positions

Assistant Language teachers work in public school alongside a Japanese classroom teacher. Teachers at public schools work a regular Monday to Friday schedule. This will be a great cultural experience as it is a chance for teachers to experience the day-to-day school system in Japan. Teachers will typically teach between three to six classes each day. ALTs may be required to teach at several different public schools in the area during the week.

The day-to-day role of an ALT will differ depending on the teacher they’re working alongside. Sometimes they will take the lead in delivering lessons with guidance from the Japanese classroom teacher on what to teach. Other times they will act in an assisting capacity and will help with conversational English.

Eikaiwa Positions

Eikaiwa positions are where students pay to learn English outside of the traditional school system. The majority of the Eikaiwa schools we are working with focus on teaching young learners. Due to this, the teaching times are typically outside of traditional school hours on evenings and weekends. Days off commonly fall on weekdays.

The class sizes of these schools are around 6 – 10 students per class. They tend to have quite intensive working hours where you will teach up to 6 or 7 classes, with a 10-minute break in-between. In Eikaiwa school’s teachers will be guided on what to teach and typically will have access to materials such as a curriculum, text books and some basic games and toys to use for lessons.

There tends to be flexibility for teachers in crafting their lesson around the topics to teach. Teachers in Eikaiwa positions tend to have some autonomy in teaching and need to be highly independent.

Each eikaiwa is different so exact teaching hours and what the school looks like will differ. Some eikaiwas are based in shopping centers for the convenience or parents dropping their children to attend lessons. Others are stand-alone classrooms in towns throughout Japan.

Most of our Eikaiwa positions require commuting to different locations for work, up to an hour is common. Some will have several branches in the same city that teachers will attend on different days. Others may require teachers to teach on a rotational basis spending around a week at each location, across four centers.

With these positions the teaching contact hours are shorter to allow time to commute and travel is reimbursed (not all positions provide this). In these positions the teacher is the one who opens up the classroom, sets up, teaches the class and then closes for the day, so a great deal of independence is required. You wouldn’t be teaching alongside many colleagues if in this school placement.

Do I have a say in what placement I receive?

Our placement team does their utmost best to place all our teachers at schools which best match their preferences (in terms of location, age group, and the type of school). While preference cannot be guaranteed, we can guarantee that our team will do everything possible to find the ideal placement for you.

We also encourage and guide our teachers to being open-minded to all types of placements – a first and vital step to a journey of personal growth and development that comes with teaching abroad in Japan.

Where will I be teaching?

Placements are throughout the country in both urban and suburban areas however the majority of positions are in the suburban areas.

You can teach:

For the placement only option is an online or in-class TEFL/TESOL required?

Yes, for this program we require at least an online TEFL/TESOL to participate. It is important to us that teachers set themselves up well for success with a good foundation of ESL teaching prior to starting the program. This will make the transition smoother and ensure that they are having a positive impact on the students they teach.

Commutes

Commutes are the norm in Japan. It is uncommon for teachers to live right by their placement schools. Teachers will typically commute from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours to work. At eikaiwas it is most common to commute using public transport, this could be buses or trains. At public schools it could be public transport, driving or cycling.

Work Hours

The position is full time, ranging from 20 – 30 hours per week and have two days per week off but the days may not be consecutive and those working at language schools should be prepared to teach on Saturday and Sunday as those are the busiest days of the week for language schools.

It is important to note the work culture of Japan is “Live to Work”, and Japanese people tend to work longer hours so foreign teachers should be prepared for the same expectations when living in Japan.

Placement areas are typically confirmed approximately one month before arriving in Japan or once they arrive in the country. Placements are rare in Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka which are the more touristy areas teachers often ask about!

School Training

All participants, whether placement only or taking the TESOL/TEFL course in Japan will likely (but not in all cases) participate in an onboarding with their new schools, which can range from 1-2 weeks prior to starting their teaching assignments. During these onboardings, most of which covers the teaching style and curriculum of your school, you typically receive most or all of your wages, so this is essentially paid onboarding.

Locations

Placements are throughout the country in both urban and suburban areas however the majority of positions are in the suburban areas.
There are a wide range of teaching environments, from more advanced, modern classrooms with small class sizes and extensive technology in the classroom, to classrooms that are standard, and lacking in technology. Some placements will have assistant teachers in the classroom but many will not.

Holidays

Public holidays: Approximately 10 public holidays per year (this may vary and is up to the discretion of the school). Some public holidays are off but some may be work days as well.

Paid Vacation: Approximately 5-10 paid vacation days (this may vary and depends on the school).

Dress code for teaching?

Professional dress unless otherwise advised by the school.

What is the level of English and behavior of students?

The level of English proficiency is generally beginner but some Japan people can speak English well enough to give you directions. Compared to the West, local children are much more respectful and disciplined. This is likely due to the conservative nature of Japan society and the strong respect for elders and family.

A TravelBud teacher in the classroom at his language school.

Japanese students on an outing

A picnic lunch in the park with your co-workers is common in Japan

Pre departure Support

• We’ll outline the entire process you’ll follow to realise the teaching abroad dream.
• You’ll be provided comprehensive information relating to each step in the pre-departure process and you’ll have the opportunity to ask as many questions as you like, no matter how silly you may think they are!
• We’ll explain and help you get the necessary documentation prepared prior to departure.
• We’ll assist you with all planning, packing, visas, costs, budgeting and booking flights.
• We’ll ease any anxieties you may have regarding your trip and share the positive and life-changing adventures of the teach abroad experience.

Logistics and Safety when arriving

•  Airport pickup (provided participants land before 6pm on the Sunday before the program start date. If participants arrive before Sunday, pick up is not included).
• We’ll introduce you to your 24/7 support team on the ground.
• Transfer from the airport to your arranged accommodation (included for in-class applicants only – if no actual pick-up at the airport is provided, then full guidance and support are given in order for you to make your way from the airport to your front door.
• We provide guidance you with your SIM card setup so that you can contact your loved ones back home and your new friends you’re about to make on your epic orientation!
• We provide guidace setting up a  local bank account so you can save money on international withdrawal fees. Your salary is paid into your local bank account.
• You’ll get to meet and greet fellow teacher travellers.

A support network of fellow teacher travelers

In addition the personal assistance and 24/7 support we provide, you’ll also have a support network of fellow teachers.

Have some fun and embrace your new adventure!