A Guide to Teaching English in Japan
by Michael Chan
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Most teaching vacancies are in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
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Where are the jobs?
The saying goes "All roads lead to Rome", and this could easily apply to Tokyo,
Japan's capital city. Of the 120 million Japanese, 30 million live in and around the Tokyo
area. The capital is the political, corporate, geographical, transportation and academic
center of Japan.
If you don't want to work in a big city, then applying for a position with one of the big
chain schools would be a good idea. They have branch schools all over Japan and preferences
can be made at the interview. The smaller cities and towns offer a more Japanese lifestyle
though salaries can be lower. The Jet Program offers the opportunity to work outside
the metropolitan areas with the added advantage that the salary is the same regardless of the
teacher's location in Japan.
Further Reference
Map of Japan's
major regions and cities.
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The Internet is becoming a popular medium for schools to
advertise their vacancies.
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Job hunting resources
The Monday edition of the Japan Times newspaper is the most-read resource for people already
in Japan and looking for teaching jobs. For those inside and outside Japan, the Internet is
the way to go. The ELT News Job Classifieds is
a popular jobs page for teachers and potential teachers looking for teaching positions. It is
updated daily and offers positions from all over Japan. Other Internet resources include
Ohayo Sensei, The English Resource, and Jobs in Japan. The next step,
once you have found a position of your choice, is to find out whether such positions are open
to those not already resident in Japan. Some companies want only applications and enquiries
from within Japan. This is because the application process for the work visa can take up to 3
months. Teachers already in Japan, and with valid visas, can start work immediately.
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Getting a work visa in Japan may require more work, expense,
and time, than getting the job!
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Getting a visa
According to Japanese immigration law, any foreign national who wants to work in Japan
must have a "status of residence" that allows them to do so. A quick read through
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs web site (see link below) reveals that, while the term
commonly used for this is "work visa", that isn't actually the correct official
term. But as the site then goes to use the word "visa" and for ease of understanding,
we use the term in this guide.
Anyone considering coming to Japan is strongly advised to refer
to the MoFA web site. Details change and may vary depending on the citizenship of the applicant.
Officially, it is recommended that you get a Certificate of Eligibility, which is basically a
check to see that you meet the immigration requirements. It generally makes the visa application
a smoother process.
The visa for the vast majority of English teachers is the working visa. It used to be issued for
only one year at a time, but recently three-year visas have been issued. There seems to be a lot
of inconsistency about this. To get the visa you'll need to:
* have a bachelor's degree in any discipline (though the official line is that it should be related
to their job).
* have a Japanese company or resident willing to sponsor you. In most cases, it will be
the company that is offering the teaching position.
* make the visa application at a Japanese consulate outside Japan.
There is a small paradox. The school is in Japan, yet the visa application has to made
from abroad. It is not unreasonable for schools to have at least a face-to-face interview
before they consider whether to hire a teacher or not. So in theory, you'll need to come
to Japan, have the interview, leave the country, make the application from another country,
and return to Japan again! Some companies cover the expense of the foriegn trip, usually to
a neighboring country such as South Korea, but this is less common in these economically hard
times. Again, the rules vary and some applicants can complete the entire process in Japan.
Applicants from several contries, including the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, can go for the working
holiday visa. This visa is easier to obtain but applicants must show proof of US$2000 or the
equivalent for living expenses for their initial stay in Japan. There are 2 basic options
for the job hunter: have everything arranged at the home country before arrival to Japan, or
take a big leap and fly to Japan and go job hunting on a tourist visa. The latter route is not
officially endorsed but immigration authorities tend to turn a blind eye in most cases.
Further Reference
A guide to Japanese visas - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MOFA) Web site
Working holiday visa - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MOFA) Web site
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For the very brave (or rich)...
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Fly to Japan and look for a job
You have to be very brave and well-connected to do this because it could cost a lot
financially. A probable scenario:
1). You'd have to find somewhere to live while you are job hunting. You'd most likely
end up in Tokyo (since this is where most of the jobs are) and living expenses are going
to be high. Let's imagine that you're lucky and a school hires you after a 2-week search.
2) Your new employer would then prepare the relevant paperwork to submit to immigration
for your work visa. Unfortunately, as mentioned earlier, you'd have to make the visa
application outside Japan. This would mean a trip to close neighbors Korea of Hong Kong.
Let's say that this takes a week.
3) You return to Japan. The application is made and all documents have been sent to the
Ministry of Justice. Now comes the wait for the vital stamp. This can take from 2 to 6 weeks.
In the meantime, you are idle and your cash reserves are running thin...
4) Your visa is granted and you start your teaching job at your new company. Great!
However, schools usually pay 2-4 weeks in arrears after the work month. You could be working
for 6 weeks before you'd get your first salary payment.
If you consider the four steps above, you are looking at a probable minimum of 11 weeks
from your time of arrival before you'd get your first paycheck. During this time could be
living on your own money (or a company loan). It is a big commitment. Teachers have managed
to get teaching jobs through this method, but without assistance, it's going to be tough!
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