Anyone who has ever studied Japanese has probably wondered what it would be like to live in Japan. Some will eventually take a few adventurous trips out to Japan in their lifetime. Others will decide they want to try to live and work in Japan for an extended period of time. The easiest entry ticket: teaching English.
There is a wealth of information about teaching English in Japan on the internet. Some very detailed and in depth, some very critical, and some outright ridiculous. I would like you take all of this information and ignore almost all of it.
99% of what you read about teaching English in Japan comes from the perspective of a foreigner who speaks minimal to no Japanese. It’s very important that you understand this. Teaching English in Japan when you don’t know Japanese and teaching English in Japan when you do know Japanese are two entirely different beasts. I will take you through the latter, the experience that I had.
Before I get started, I don’t recommend teaching English in Japan unless you are serious about Japanese. If you are on this site, I’m assuming that you are, so I will continue.
Q: That was not a proper introduction to teaching English in Japan. You do know you haven’t even touched on the subject yet?
I don’t like standard introductions so here are very brief bullet points of the basics:
– Teaching English in Japan is a way to live, study in, and explore Japan for 1+ years, get paid, and have everything set up for you.
– Requirements: 4-year university/college degree in anything (even something completely unrelated like art history), a nice smile with a somewhat pleasing personality, and can hold a conversation.
– Finding the job: See internet. Yes I know I just got over saying ignore everything you find on the internet about it, but you need to at least read through job sites. You’ll find them easy. Ignore all info except how to e-mail an application and resume.
– Interview: Either occurs in person in your home country, or on the telephone
– Money Needed: Enough for a ticket (~$700-1400?), and to keep yourself afloat before you get your first salary (~$1000)
And now you’re in Japan! Wasn’t that easy?
Q: I really just want to check out some reviews and experiences before I decide to go over. Wouldn’t it be okay to do this just a little?
See title of post. The internet is home to these unfortunate things called “negativity”, “misconception”, and “misinformation”. Teaching English in Japan happens to have an extreme concentration of the 3. If you want to ignore me on this, go ahead, but I guarantee it will end with you either 1) not going to Japan or 2) you hating your life. You are warned.
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Okay I’d say this is a good start. I’ll actually get to the Japan part next time!
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Ack, I was kinda worried about the 4 year uni degree part..
I was interested in teaching as a window into translating (I’m 24 and don’t have a degree) since it seemed to have entry level stuff.
Am I totally screwed(as I am)? I was thinking of taking a TEFL course, and for that they have had people head off to Japan to teach. Not sure if that holds the same weight as a degree in Japan, it costs around £713 for the whole thing, so it must be pretty solid. (But this might fall into jobs for non japanese speaking category..the guy on the phone said no knowledge of the language was neccessary)
I’ll be following your anki steps to try and level up my Japanese anyway, if I can feel proficient in that I don’t think Uni would be such a drag, especially if I could combine it with studying something related to language.
Neil,
I’m sure there are some slight exceptions (and people who work illegally), but for the most part, a degree is required to teach English. Before you spend the money on TEFL, I’d look into the requirement. All teaching jobs say no Japanese is necessary, so that doesn’t really tell you much.
Age is completely irrelevant, so just because your 24 doesn’t mean anything. I met plenty of people in there 30s and 40s. Going to university would give you time to work on your Japanese while you are studying something else. Especially since you want to go into translation, this is probably the best route.
Anyway, if you need any other info let me know.
hi!
how about teaching English in the university level. Would that be a good career path in Japan? I have heard that foreigners are always branded as “outsiders,” hence, not receiving the same benefits and privileges and not having chances of getting a tenured position.
thanks for any advice.
Neil you can study an MA for one year. That will satisfy Japanese visa restrictions. It will also let you apply for the JET programme because that’s exactly what I did. I don’t have a BA so I applied for an MA and was accepted. I then passed my MA meaning I only had to study for one year, it also saved me a lot of money. The JET programmed confirmed an MA is ok.
You did an MA (i.e. a Master’s degree) in a year without first having a Bachelor’s degree? I didn’t know that was possible, at least the the US pretty much every Master’s program I’ve seen either requires a Bachelor’s degree as an admission requirement or less commonly is a combined program that takes even longer than a Bachelor’s. Do you mind me asking where you studied and what degree?
Because I have always wanted to go to live and work in Japan I have spent a lot of times in forums listening to peoples experiences. 90% of the time it makes me feel like shit. But it’s hard for me to rationalize that it is for the most part just “negativity”, “misconception”, and “misinformation” because I have never been to Japan.
Being able to read this article though, written by someone who has been there, makes me feel a lot better.
Thank you for that.
Stop reading those sites and work towards whatever you have to do to get to Japan. You’ll have an unforgettable, incredible experience.
This is what I needed to read thankyou. I plan on being a linguist and since I need a degree in something I was gonna take Spanish. If I end up being consumed by Spanish during college will I be able to learn Japanese in Japan? Will I have time apart from teaching? That’s the whole reason I want to move there, to learn Japanese. Besides wanting to live there of course.
If you want a degree in language and want to live in Japan, why not Japanese? Of course you can learn while you are there and you will have plenty of time outside of teaching.
I have no experience teaching English in Japan but I’d just like to add that I totally agree information posted on the internet is almost always overly critical. People like to moan, but not many people like to share their good experiences.
The internet negativity on teaching English in Japan is really a shame, as I’m sure it has discouraged a number of people from going over who normally would have had a great time.
Another point is that in some countries, depending on the course, a uni will hand out the equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in just 3 years.
Just one of those left to go for me! ^^
You can use free online matching sites like gaijin-cafe.net until you find a “real” teaching job… no degree is needed ! :-)
Thanks for providing that additional info. I guess the only issue would be the visa, but this could work temporarily such as if you are on a working holiday visa.
Adshap,
Teaching English in Japan is definatly an ultimate goal for me. I want to teach at a Japanese university rather than to school children, however both is fine.
Am I right to assume that the 4 year bachelor degree is a requirment only because it is nessessary to get the working visa in Japan?
As you already know my wife is Japanese, so I am able to get a partner visa. Can I teach English in Japan without the degree?
Me and my wife are not looking at moving to Japan for about 5 years, and I have a few personal goals I want to achieve before then:
1) I want to clear N1 or atleast N2 in that time,
2) I also want to get my CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).
I am currently enrolled to start a Bachelor of Asian studies majoring in Japanese, but due to work comitments I may have ot move to another city which means I may have to cancel it.
It is becomeing a real pain trying to work full time and do a degree, so If a 4 year degree is also a requirement then my only option may be to do a degree online or something to tick that box, but Id rather not waist time and money if it is not needed.
Would a degree in something to do with English hold a greater weight in an interview process?
I am thinking of doing a Bachelor of Arts (Professional Writing and Publishing) as it is offered in Australia completely online.
Thanks
I’m quite a bit out of date with the current English teaching scene, but yeah, a 4 year degree was usually the base requirement to get the proper visa (though there were some exceptions even at that time)
The “spouse visa” gives you unlimited right to work in Japan, regardless of having a degree or not. It will put you at a bit of a disadvantage not having the degree, especially with the larger teaching establishments. However I’ve definitely heard of people getting jobs on mere spousal visas (without the degree). Especially in the smaller more remote schools.
Then again, with N1 and higher (especially spoken), and a spouse visa, you obviously aren’t just limited to teaching English. You can do a wide range of jobs that a typical Japanese person could do.
As for the type of degree giving you an edge, really there isn’t too much difference affecting your ability to get an English teaching job. Though university teaching is different probably (and maybe requires even a masters?)
The most beneficial degree I’ve heard in Japan for foreigners is computer programming, as if you combine this with fluent Japanese, you have a good in. Though this is unrelated to English teaching.
Hope some of this helps.
If some of this info seems outdated, anyone feel free to correct me.