Teaching English in Japan?

Question

So I decided after my post-secondary education I would like to teach in Japan. I will most likely be majoring in English and minoring in Humanities, so I will either have a degree or post graduate degree. And I live in Toronto, Canada. What I would like to know is... How do I get started teaching English in Japan? Are there certain programs that supply English teachers in Japan? How much do English teachers in Japan earn? How much would it cost to live comfortably in Japan? Would the government supply me with a house? How would I obtain a work visa? or can I get a Japanese citizenship? Do I absolutely need to speak Japanese to teach in Japan? Or can I get a teaching job without knowing Japaneses? Basically, I would like to know everything about how one becomes an English teacher in Japan? And what it is like for an English teacher living in Japan?

If you are an English teacher in Japan (or know someone who is), I would love to hear your experiences and stories!

Answer 1

I don't think teaching english in Japan is all that in demand anymore.

Answer 2

The webpages below should have some answers to your questions:

Answer 3

Wow, that's a lot of questions! I'm an American teaching in Japan right now through the JET Programme (though we spell it Program ;-) ) which is fairly reputable. I'll address your questions one by one:

Q: How do I get started teaching English in Japan?

A: If you have at least a Bachelor's Degree, you can obtain a work visa for Japan. You can either go through a dispatch company who will arrange a visa for you before you depart, or you can go to Japan on a tourist visa, find a job, and get your tourist visa changed to a work visa while you're in the country.

Q: Are there certain programs that supply English teachers in Japan?

A: Yes. The JET Programme is one, Interac is another. There are other English conversation companies as well, such as AEON, Geos, and ECC (NOVA is now defunct).

Q: How much do English teachers in Japan earn?

A: Anywhere from 200,000 to 350,000 yen/month on average. It's always enough to live on, though that may just mean subsistence. You may not be able to save or repay student loans.

Q: How much would it cost to live comfortably in Japan?

A: That depends on what you consider "comfortable". If you live in a one bedroom apartment, cook at home (rarely go out to eat or drink), and avoid frivolous purchases, you can really stretch your yen. Though Japan has a reputation for being expensive, it's not too difficult to live here on the average teacher's salary.

Q: Would the government supply me with a house?

A: Are you talking about government or private companies? There are programs which deal with both. For now, it's likely that whatever company you ended up working for will provide you with housing, though what kind of housing they provide may not be acceptable to you. Every situation is different.

Q: How would I obtain a work visa?

A: See above.

Q: Can I get a Japanese citizenship?

A: Yes, but the process is very involved. Japan does not allow dual citizenship, so you would have to give up being a Canadian. I would think long and hard about this one.

Q: Do I absolutely need to speak Japanese to teach in Japan?

A: Not at all, but a lack of knowledge of Japanese will put you at the mercy of your employer, because they'll have to intercede for you for even the most basic things, and it increases the likelihood of them ripping you off without you realizing it. Also, even though English is a required subject in school, the locals can't speak it for ****. Making any kind of effort to learn the language, however small, will dramatically increase your quality of life in Japan.

If you're have any other questions, please send me a PM. I'd be happy to answer them!