A Guide to Teaching English in Japan
by Michael Chan
This resource is aimed at those interested in pursuing a teaching career in Japan.
We welcome further additions and comments to this page. If there is information you cannot
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Why do it?
A new culture, a new environment, money, personal development, professional development,
adventure -- these are just some of the reasons why foreigners come to Japan to teach
English. Japan is home to over 120 million inhabitants, and the popularity and necessity
of studying English is met by a multi-billion dollar English-language-teaching industry.
A continuous flux of foreigners entering and leaving the country means that there are
always opportunities for those looking for teaching jobs in Japan. There are four main
types of teaching jobs:
The Conversation School Teacher |
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English conversation schools (popularly known as ‘eikaiwa’
schools) can be located in almost every town and city in Japan. They hire native
English speakers to teach conversational English to children and adults. The size
of these schools range from small office buildings to national chains covering the
whole of Japan.
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The Business English Instructor |
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Some companies require their employees to study English for their
jobs, others may also offer free or subsidized English lessons as a benefit for their
employees. The highest demand for business English instructors is in Tokyo, since this
is where most of the companies are located.
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The High School Teacher |
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English is a part of the high school curriculum in Japan. Although
all high school students study English, the emphasis is on reading and writing. It is
often the case that most Japanese teachers of English can't speak English at all. The
Japanese government-sponsored JET program hires over 2,000 native English speakers every
year to teach in Japanese high schools.
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The University Teacher |
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Many universities hire English teachers for their foreign language
faculties. Working conditions and salaries are comparable to their Western counterparts.
See the Universities page for more information about
working in the Japanese university system.
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Japan, perhaps, is the only advanced industrial nation in
the world that has a large number of uncertified native English teachers teaching in the
EFL field.
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What is the minimum qualification I need to teach English in Japan?
A lot of conversation schools only ask for a university degree. Whereas a teaching qualification
(such as the CTEFLA or Trinity Cert.) is a prerequisite for a lot of English-teaching jobs in
Europe and around the world, it is not essential in Japan. Schools, however, will generally favor
those with qualifications and experience than those who don't. A post-graduate level qualification
is considered the minimum for a university teaching position.
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