Teaching English in Japan

Krislen Ghodsee

Teaching English has been, and continues to be, one of the most lucrative ways to finance travels abroad. There are no shortage of countries in need of teachers. However, the majority of these countries are very poor, and salaries are usually paid in relatively useless local currencies. Money earned will be enough to survive on while in the country, but don’t count on saving much for that second-hand Landrover that 34’ dream boat or even for your plane ticket home.

For the independently wealthy philanthropist, such arrangements maybe alluring. But for those of us, who must work to travel, Japan is a virtual paradise. Rather than spending long months or years in our home countries’ scraping together the resources to go on our next adventure, Japan offers the opportunity to live abroad and save money at the same time.

As I write this (March 1994), the Yen is getting lower, and everyday I see my "fixed" salary increase in value. Japan is a very rich country desperately trying to internationalise. The need for English teachers is very high. But like gold in California, recent developments have brought swarms of fortune hunting "job-diggers" to the Land of the Rising Sun, and competition is tougher than ever before. Not so long ago, all you had to do was turn up and "WHAM!" you were an English teacher. Nowadays Japanese schools have more foreigners to choose from, and they’re getting picky. This article will detail some of the options available’ the qualifications necessary, and some hints on getting settled once your here.

The most financially secure way to teach English in Japan is by applying to the JET programme (Japan Exchange Teaching). This programme is Japan’s best-kept secret and is open to all American, Canadian, Australian, New Zealanders, British and Irish citizens between the ages of 20 and 35. The only qualification is a B.A. or B.S. In any subject, and an interest in Japan. No teaching experience or Japanese language ability is required. The programme is highly competitive, but extremely worthwhile if you get accepted. Additionally, you since you must apply from your home country, there’s are no risks if you don’t get the job.

The JET programme is a government sponsored programme to put foreigners into Japanese Junior and Senior High Schools. As well as an attractive salary, (Ą3,600,000 per year/about US$36,000), they also pay for your return flight, and often subsidise your housing.

Applications are due in November every year and can be obtained from the following Japanese Embassies:
Australia: Embassy of Japan "JET DESK
112 Empire Circuit, Yarralumla, Canberra ACT 2600.
Tel: (06) 2733-244

 

Canada. Embassy of Japan "JET DESK"
26S Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ONT KIN 9E6
Tel. : (613) 23G-8541

 

Republic of Ireland: Embassy of Japan "JET DESK"
22 Aylesbury Rd., Dublin 4.
Tel (01) 269-4244

 

New Zealand. Embassy of Japan JET DESK
Norwich Insurance House.
17th floor- 3-11 Hunter St, Wellington 1.
Tel.. (04) 727-807.

 

United Kingdom: Embassy of Japan "JETDESK
101-104 Piccadilly London WIV9FN.
Tel: (0171) 465 6500.

 

United States: Embassy of Japan, Office of the Jet programme,
2520 Massachusetts Ave, NW,
Washington DC 20008-2869,
Tel: (202) 939-6700.

 

As well as the JET programme, Japan has an agreement with Canada’ Australia’ and New Zealand allowing citizens under 30 years old to obtain six month working holiday visas.

These visas allow you to work legally within Japan, but you must find your own employment and all travel costs are obviously your responsibility. The one catch is that after each six-month period is up, you must return to your home country to apply for an extension. This can be very expensive, so you must find a relatively well paying job.

The good news, however, is that Japanese employers are more likely to hire you because you can work legally without their sponsorship (discussed hereafter). There are a fair number of people in Japan using this method, but as it is, the information has been kept pretty quiet, so there aren’t as many as you would expect. With a working holiday visa, you have a little more clout with the Japanese and you have the power to negotiate your salary and fringe benefits (many private schools provide their teachers with cars). University degrees will make your life easier, but they are not necessary, and you can always lie.

Information about working holiday visas can be obtained from the addresses listed above.

For us unlucky Americans and Brits, the only way to legally find work in Japan is through sponsorship. Sponsorship means that a Japanese school or company takes responsibility for obtaining your working visa. Mat this entails is either going to Japan and finding an English School which needs a full time teacher and which is willing to sponsor you, (somewhat likely) or applying to a Japanese school from your home country (less likely).

In the later case, a degree and teaching experience in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) are essential. In the former’ a lot of times it’s just a question of being in the right place at the right time. You must enter Japan on a 90-day tourist visa, and hope you find a job before your time is up. A lot of people do get sponsored, but it helps to have a friend living in Japan who can take care of you while you look for work, as the cost of living in Japan is murderous. Also, the bigger cities are saturated with foreigners so the competition is much stiffer. In the countryside, you are much more likely to find a school desirous of a foreign teacher.

Of course, you can always enter Japan on a tourist visa and work illegally. This is much more risky, but still popular’ and relatively easy to do. In this situation, however, the Japanese can easily take advantage of you, and often do, especially in the bigger cities. Also, If you over stay your 90 day tourist visa’ you run the risk of being deported. If you are only passing through Japan, and want to pick up some quick cash this may be the option for you.

If you want to play the system a little, you can apply for a cultural visa, granted to foreigner’s interested in studying some aspect of traditional Japanese culture. In this case you must find a teacher who is willing to sponsor you. Cultural visas are often granted for Shodo (Japanese calligraphy), Taiko (Japanese drumming), Karate’ Aikido, Ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement) and Ochakai (Japanese Tea Ceremony)’ to name a few. Once you have the visa, you will be able to stay in Japan legally, and then you can work illegally on the side.

So you’re probably saying, " Wow, it sounds great, but I can’t be a teacher!" Relax. The majority of teachers in Japan have never teachers, and, in fact, the Japanese don’ really want "teachers" in the way that conceive of them,

The Japanese Government requires that all children must study English for three years in Junior High School, and they must pass extraordinarily difficult entrance examinations if they wish to enter both High School and University. Most of these exams are based on grammar, and even after six years of language courses, few high school graduates can speak a word of English. Their classes are very large, and pronunciation and conversation are rarely or ineffectively taught.

For those Japanese who actually want to learn to speak English, they turn to private schools who employ native speakers. These classes are usually quite small, and the foreigner merely converses with the students on a variety of different subjects, thus giving the students an opportunity to listen to and use the "real" language, as well as getting to know a "Gaijin" (foreigner) on a personal basis.

Japan is a very closed country, and most Japanese’ particularly in the countryside, know very little about the outside world. They are usually eager to learn about the ways and workings of the West. In my lessons’ I can teach anything from Western table manners to the poetry of Robert Frost.

Additionally, knowing a " Gaijin " is a considerable status symbol for many Japanese and many are willing to pay, good money’ just for you to go to their houses once a week and eat their food.

The key word here, however is Western. The Japanese are very racist against other Asians or anyone of Asian decent. I know personally of two American citizens, one Philipino-American male and one Korean-American female who found it impossible to get a job because of their physical appearance. The Japanese don’t want to learn about the West from other Asians. The one exception is Japanese-Americans or foreigners of Japanese decent, they don’t seem to have a problem.

Once here, find a base and get searching. The best way to get information is to find out where the foreigners congregate and to start letting people know you are looking for a job. In the smaller cities, the "Gaijin" may be harder to find, but nowadays you can be sure that even the smallest cities have a foreign community. Bring copies of any relevant degrees or courses, some nice business clothes, and go for it. A business card with your name and "English Teacher" written under it will impress even the most sceptical Japanese.

Also, if you are not sure how long you are going to stay, lie, and say you’ll stay for at least six months.

You must remember, however, that Japan is not an easy country to live in I have seen many foreigners leave Japan angry and full of hatred -toward the Japanese because they were unable or willing to understand Japanese ways. Outside of the metropolises, being pointed stared, and laughed at is common. Be prepared to sacrifice all vestiges of privacy. You are fair game in Japan because you are different. You can make and save an incredible amount of money there, but you must have an incredible amount of patience and self-confidence.

The Japanese are wonderful, friendly people if you can get past the surface differences. If you’re only coming to make the quick buck, (a lot of people do) and you’re not willing to be open-minded to a sometimes radically different culture, don’t bother. You will only make yourself miserable, and worsen the ever-worsening opinion the Japanese have of foreigners working in Japan. If you’re up for the challenge, and hard-pressed for the cash, this l s the place for you.

Krislen Ghodsee

Globe September October 1994 vol. 42 No 5