| Japan seems to attract an almost endless supply of | | | | week over 5 days, of which 30 or more hours might |
| EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers, and for | | | | be spent teaching. Holidays can be anything from 2-4 |
| good reason. Very few local teachers are qualified or | | | | weeks per year. In primary and secondary schools, |
| able to provide instruction in spoken English, and so | | | | teaching hours are likely to be much less, however |
| demand for native speakers remains high. | | | | you can still expect a total working week to be |
| Furthermore, there are abundant entry-level teaching | | | | around 40 hours. Holidays will be in line with regular |
| positions available which makes Japan an ideal | | | | student breaks. Corporate and university positions |
| destination for those who are just getting started in | | | | offer the most relaxed working schedules, and |
| TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). There | | | | salaries for full-time positions can be in the range of |
| are also plenty of opportunities for mid-career level | | | | ¥350,000-¥400,000 (US$3,872-4,425) per month. |
| teachers, and these openings increase the longer you | | | | Of course, such positions are much harder to come |
| stay in the country. | | | | by. |
| Note: Most people refer to teaching English abroad as | | | | The JET Program, which places Assistant Language |
| ESL (English as a Second Language). ESL actually | | | | Teachers in public schools, has long been considered |
| refers to teaching English to immigrants in an English | | | | the ideal way to begin teaching in Japan. ALTs enjoy |
| speaking country. Teaching English in Japan is really | | | | a salary of ¥320,000 (US$3,540) per month, cheap |
| EFL (English as a Foreign Language). | | | | accommodation and extensive holidays. However, |
| Teaching positions are available in a variety of | | | | due to budget cuts, many education boards have |
| working environments, including language schools, | | | | abandoned the program and now hire teachers |
| primary, secondary and tertiary education, cram | | | | indirectly. Salaries tend to be 30% lower and often |
| schools and large companies who provide classes for | | | | don't include holiday pay and other benefits. |
| their employees. Almost without exception, they hire | | | | Living Costs |
| only native English speakers from the USA, UK, | | | | Although the cost of living can be quite high, a frugal |
| Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South | | | | lifestyle would enable most people to save up to |
| Africa. | | | | US$1,000 per month on an average salary. Avoiding |
| Requirements | | | | expensive imported goods and adapting to the |
| In order to teach in Japan, it is necessary to have a | | | | Japanese way of eating will save a considerable |
| university degree for the purposes of obtaining a | | | | amount on groceries. |
| work visa although, in most cases, the field of study | | | | Culture |
| is unimportant. Previous experience and/or TEFL | | | | Japan has a lot to offer from an historical and cultural |
| certificates are not often necessary, though they | | | | point of view; you can explore centuries-old temples, |
| may give you a distinct advantage when applying for | | | | shrines and castles; huge fireworks displays |
| the more sought-after jobs and, quite possibly, a | | | | throughout the summer; a multitude of ancient |
| slightly higher salary. For full-time university positions, | | | | festivals, some of which continue long into the night; |
| a masters degree is usually required. | | | | and take advantage of the vast swathes of |
| Salaries | | | | countryside outside the cities. |
| Average salaries for full-time teachers continue to be | | | | Whether you are just starting out in TEFL, continuing |
| around the ¥250,000 (US$2,950) mark. Take a look | | | | a career, or simply want experience Japanese culture |
| at some current English teaching jobs in Japan to get | | | | first hand, it is hard to find a better destination for |
| a feel for the typical salary and benefits. In language | | | | teaching English. |
| schools, it is likely that you will work 40 hours per | | | | |