How To Become An English Teacher In Japan?

[BakemonoRicer]

Hey,

Just wondering whats required to become an English teacher in Japan, preferably in Osaka?

I heard you dont need any qualifications to teach at a conversational/vocational school...

And what is the pay like in terms of figures per week etc?

Also, on another topic.... I'm nearing the end of my construction management degree but have limited knowledge of the japanese language....so is there any construction firms in Japan that also speak English etc?

Cheers

[bufforah]

Never done it myself, but I am interested in it. Websites like the follow may provide some more information:

http://www.jetprogramme.org/

http://www.amacrecruitment.com.au/index03.php?id=14

http://www.aeonet.com/application/index.html

Cheers

[*LOACH*]

Hey,

Just wondering whats required to become an English teacher in Japan, preferably in Osaka?

I heard you dont need any qualifications to teach at a conversational/vocational school...

And what is the pay like in terms of figures per week etc?

Also, on another topic.... I'm nearing the end of my construction management degree but have limited knowledge of the japanese language....so is there any construction firms in Japan that also speak English etc?

Cheers

You need a degree (in any area of study is fine) and a job to get a working visa.

Getting a job in Osaka is really hard, from what I have seen even more difficult than Tokyo.

The pay is around 250 000 yen per month for English teachers regardless of the city/area you work in. However the cost of living in Tokyo and Osaka is significantly higher than most areas. For example I have a friend in Tokyo renting a new one room apartment (near the border with Yokohama about 15 mins walk to station) for 90 000yen/month whereas my rent (in a rural area of Japan and about 20 mins walk to nearest station) also for a new one bedroom apartment is about 50 000 yen/month. Parking is also more expensive (you have to have a car space owned/rented before buying a car) so owning a car in those cities may be difficult.

Edited November 20, 2012 by *LOACH*

[elrodeo666]

1) Get a drill.

2)Mark an x on middle of forehead

3)Drill on x marks the spot.

4) Bingo self made lobotomy.

Now your qualified !

[t_revz]

Who let benji out of the wasteland.

+1 for the country. I taught in Miyazaki in a small city. Cheap as chips. 40,000¥ month rent

[elrodeo666]

Who let benji out of the wasteland.

+1 for the country. I taught in Miyazaki in a small city. Cheap as chips. 40,000¥ month rent

Dunno what you mean mate... who let what out??

My post is spot on. Full of sarcasm but totally true.

To teach english in Japan you just need to have english as your native tongue, no special qualification.

It is only the Japanese government that brought the stipulation of University degree as a minimum requirement to obtain working visa and there's ways around this as well.

They did this bacuse at the time, anyone who could speak english was able to get a job as an english teacher.

A degree does not mean you can teach english. Any neanderthal can teach and trust me in my experience of nigh on 18 years of living off and doing business in Japan, I've seen plane loads of em.

Teaching english in Japan is great if you look at it as a way to supplement your stay in Japan but you'll get a rude shock if you do it long term 5-10yrs and return home.

Your experience is worth jack shit on a resume. Try get a job in an english language school in oz with Japanese language teacher as your last 5-10 yr resume.

I've got two mates that have returned back to Oz who were highly qualified Uni grads in their time but have returned back to Oz with Japanese wives and are struggling to get a decent job as same questions keeps popping up..what have you been doing for the last 10 years. err teaching english, drinking heaps of piss,spading jap candy and bugger all really. These guys both taught business english at very high levels and are already contemplating returning to Japan but wont due to the radiation problems still current.

Yes mate, personally I dont have much respect for english teachers as you have to be a complete utter moron to not be able to get a job and it does not take much in the way of brain power to do the job.

My hat goes off to the few who actually use their brains and nouse actually get out into other work fields, business ventures etc.

Its not hard,just takes a bit of brain power and determination and goal setting.

Also as for pay lets put it in perspective 250,000 a month is not a lot. The days of 400,000yen a month as a english teacher are pretty much long gone.

Talk to most teachers and they are far from rolling in it. You dont need to live in the country to get cheap rent just some I had an 1 bedroom apartment in Tokyo for 60,000 including water and 2 bedroom mansion in Sapporo for 45,000 a month and that smack bang in the middle of the wealthiest area

Anyway, I've already sent Benji some good info re getting a job.

Again I reiterate working as an English teacher is good fun and a good way to have a holiday for a couple of years and dont let my pessimismput anyone off but be wary of making a career out of it as one day you'll want to go home (happens to everyone) and the wake up call is pretty tough and yep I taught english all for 1 day and thought this is a mugs game and never did it again.

[t_revz]

Dunno what you mean mate... who let what out??

My post is spot on. Full of sarcasm but totally true.

Teaching english in Japan is great if you look at it as a way to supplement your stay in Japan but you'll get a rude shock if you do it long term 5-10yrs and return home.

Your experience is worth jack shit on a resume. Try get a job in an english language school in oz with Japanese language teacher as your last 5-10 yr resume.

I've got two mates that have returned back to Oz who were highly qualified Uni grads in their time but have returned back to Oz with Japanese wives and are struggling to get a decent job as same questions keeps popping up..what have you been doing for the last 10 years. err teaching english, drinking heaps of piss,spading jap candy and bugger all really. These guys both taught business english at very high levels and are already contemplating returning to Japan

Sorry first comment was aed at OP as he rarely ventures out of the wasteland. My boss in Japan returned to Perth 2 years ago after being there for 22 years. He hasn't been without a job since returning, jumping between a couple top private Perth schools. Unfortunately nothing permanent but 6 month contracts. I guess now he has done that he should be able to pick up something decent when it comes up.

I would be very surprised if he ever returned to Japan as he got so sick of the usual BS that goes with living there

[elrodeo666]

He's in the minority basket and lucky enough to have gone through the hey day of teaching in Japan when there was plenty of money being payed.

[timmy_89]

My girlfriend is interested in doing this sort of thing for a year after finishing uni and had mentioned the 'JET Programme' to me. Anybody gone through these guys before?

I just found this thread, it was good to read the few points that have been made, just curious on peoples thoughts with doing this for a year? I was looking at also going over with her, not sure on whether it would be to do the same thing or not? What are other peoples experiences?

[GTS4WD]

I'm just about my 5th and last week of travel through Japan.

Once I get back home, this is the first thing I will be looking into as well.

Will try to keep this thread alive for future reference

[ricsvtr]

Hey elrodeo666 some good advice you have there. Do you know if is harder for an Asian (native english speaker) to get work as an English teacher? Ive heard they prefer Caucasians? Any truth to this?

[noname]

Dont quote me but when I first lived in Japan as a kid (Early 90s) in Kobe, the foreigners concept was fairly new to the Japanese and I copped a bit of the usual Gaijin Gaijin crap... once I learnt the language though it was fine.

However when I went there with work last year (mind you to Okinawa) they seemed very open (specially if you say you are Australian, the Americans are not very liked down there) and I got along just fine with anyone I met.

BTW I am originally from Sri Lanka and speak fluent Japanese.... Should have seen everyone trip out when I started speaking to them in Japanese hehe!