How to become an English teacher in Japan

The JET program (teaching assistant)

Run by the Japanese government since 1987, the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program is perfect for budding young TEFL superstars seeking their first taste of teaching English abroad.

Although it encompasses other fields, the JET program in Japan primarily allows foreigners to live in the country while working as a teaching assistant. As the name implies, you’ll be helping an experienced teacher rather than running a class yourself, which makes it an attractive role for newly-minted ESL educators. Typical everyday duties include preparing materials, participating in extra-curricular activities, and assisting the headteacher with various tasks.

Applicants must:

• Hold a BA degree
• Have citizenship with a participating country
• Demonstrate a genuine interest in Japanese culture
• Have spent less than 6 years in Japan during the last decade

If approved, you’ll get an extendable one-year contract with the following benefits:

• An annual salary of 3.6 million yen per year (approx £24,000 / $31,500)
• Return flights to and from your home country
• Accommodation assistance
• 10-20 days of annual leave

While you can request a placement in a specific city, the government will ultimately decide where you live and work. As there’s a shortage of native English-speaking teacher assistants in small towns, there’s a good chance you’ll end up somewhere rural. What’s more, the work itself isn’t as rewarding as a proper teaching job—you’ll constantly parrot certain phrases in your smooth, native-speaking accent.

Applications typically open sometime during October and close in November. If you pass the first round, you’ll be invited to attend an interview at the closest Japanese embassy in January the following year. You’ll find out whether you’ve been successful sometime in March or April—if so, expect to start your exciting new role in July or August.

If you’re in your last year of university, then you’re eligible to apply so long as you plan to graduate before the program commences.

Eikaiwas (conversation schools)

If being a teaching assistant doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, you could kickstart your Japanese TEFL career with a role at an Eikaiwa. Translating to “English conversation,” an Eikaiwa is a privately run institute that helps local language learners achieve verbal fluency. From young learners to professional executives, a broad range of students attend Eikaiwas.

While the Japanese public school system covers English as a core part of the curriculum, its methods are somewhat rigid. Students memorize vocabulary and grammatical structure in order to pass a series of gruelling exams but don’t spend sufficient time honing their conversation skills.

These staunchly professional, privately run institutes strive to fill the skill gap, providing in-depth conversation classes led by native English speakers. As the lessons primarily entail chatting, you don’t need extensive experience or qualifications to apply (although they do help). Most provide on-the-job training.

Eikaiwas are either small, independent operations or large-scale nationwide chains (e.g., AEON, ECC, NOVA, Peppy Kids Club, and Bertliz).

The smaller players tend to operate in less desirable rural regions and have fewer resources to spend on marketing. In some situations, the independent Eikaiwa may struggle to stay afloat, and you’ll be out of a job if your employer goes bust. On the plus side, it’s easier to get a gig at an independent school and most tend to treat their teachers better. Some teachers find they get more autonomy and can foster closer relationships with the students.

The nationwide chains dominate in larger cities and offer more competitive pay packages, sometimes with perks like flights and accommodation thrown in. But as a result, it’s harder to secure a position and they’re less likely to retain under-performing staff.

The big chains focus on maximizing enrolment rates, leaving the teachers in charge of upselling extra products. Some teachers complain they feel more like a salesman than an educator. What’s more, many oblige you to work across multiple campuses, which entails a maddening amount of transit time.

To work in an Eikaiwa, you’ll need:

• To be a native English speaker
• To hold an appropriate work visa
• A bachelor’s degree
• A 120-hour TEFL qualification is preferred

The salaries vary from school to school, with the big-name brands offering the best packages. On average, an Eikaiwa teacher earns 250,000 yen per month (approx US$2,200). Some offer extra benefits like flights, accommodation assistance, and transportation costs.

Universities

Experienced ESL teachers who’ve already proven their TEFL mettle could snag themselves a position at a Japanese university. Around 700 tertiary institutions operate throughout Japan, and almost all teach English as part of the curriculum.

University positions tend to attract higher salaries than other teaching roles—it’s a prestigious position aimed at the best in the field.

The easiest way to apply for university gigs is via an established agency (such as Westgate Corporation), which advertise upcoming roles on all the major TEFL job boards. Most agencies offer renewable short-term contracts starting in the spring and fall.

Agencies generally have the following requirements for teaching in Japan:

• A bachelor’s degree
• A TEFL qualification
• Citizenship from a native English-speaking country
• Extensive TEFL experience

Although it’s possible to obtain a more lucrative deal directly with a university, that’s no easy feat. You’ll need extensive TEFL experience, impressive academic qualifications, and, preferably, contacts within the university to succeed.

Japanese universities offer three types of direct TEFL contracts:

1. A part-time renewable contract requires prior tertiary-level teaching experience, an MA in a related field, two publications in TEFL-related journals, and conversational Japanese language skills.
2. A full-time renewable contract means even more experience, academic prowess, and Japanese language proficiency—the precise requirements vary from college to college. Most universities prefer PhD candidates.

Finally, the tenured position is the crème de la crème of TEFL jobs in Japan. Don’t even bother applying unless you’ve got a relevant PhD, a slew of publications in prestigious TEFL-related journals, extensive tertiary education experience, and superb Japanese language skills. You’ll get a cushy lifelong salary and awesome benefits for your efforts, not to mention the admiration of your peers.