Teaching English in Japan

If you’re interested in Japanese culture, becoming a TEFL teacher is the perfect way to really explore it. As a respected teacher, you’ll interact with locals and work closely with students and other local teachers. It’s the perfect way to embrace the culture and completely immerse yourself in it!

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> Frequently Asked Questions: Employment in Japan
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Recommended Training

While you can find a teaching job with basic TEFL skills, our in-country partners recommend our top-level courses in order to find you the best job abroad!

A top level course will increase your prospects, as you’ll qualify for more specialised and challenging TEFL jobs with higher salaries.

The Employment Basics

• Salary: Earn up to 250,000 Yen (€1,800*) a month
• Requirements: You must be a native English speaker and have a university degree
• Contract Lengths: 6 - 12 months (renewable)

How to Apply

1. Get in touch with us

• If you don’t have a TEFL qualification, give us a call on 058 40050.

• If you’re already TEFL qualified, send us your details and we’ll be in touch with you shortly.

2. We’ll provide you with all the details you need to start your application

3. Our in-country partners will then begin their search for your dream job!

Please note: The job placement service does not guarantee that an applicant will be offered a position. A job offer will be made providing you meet the initial requirements, successfully pass any interview process and that a suitable position is matched to your profile.

i-to-i UK Limited is acting as an employment agency for the purposes of the job placement service.

*Currency conversion accurate at time of publication.

What can you expect in Japan?

• Salary: Minimum 250,000 Yen (€1,800*) per month.

• Accommodation: Full support and assistance given to find an apartment. A flat is 50,000 – 70,000 Yen (€376 - €520) per month

• Arrival: All teachers are met at the airport and given a week of orientation and training for teaching in Japan

• Locations: Mainly Fukoka, Hiroshima, Nagoya, Hamamtsu, Yokohama, Chiba City, Hitachi and Tokyo (not central Tokyo).

• Contract length: March 12 Months, April 11 Months, May 10 Months, August 7 months, September 6 months, October 5 months, November 4 months, January 2 months

• Departure dates: Various

• Student age range: 6 - 18 years old

• Japanese lessons: Free Japanese lessons provided for all teachers

• Cost of living: Accommodation 50,000 – 70,000 (€376 - €520) per month depending on location. Cost of living is approximately 60,000 Yen (€450) per month

Requirements in Japan

i-to-i's Overseas Partner requires that all candidates meet the following criteria:

• Native English speaker

• 12 years of education in an English speaking institution

• TEFL qualification (100-hour or 120-hour TEFL course recommended).

• University degree holder.

• Minimum age requirement 21 years of age.

Frequently asked questions about teaching in Japan?

1. What age and level of students will I be teaching?

You will be teaching students between 6 and 18 years old.

2. How many students will there be in each class?

There will be 30 to 40 students per class

3. How long are the classes?

Most classes are 45 minutes long

4. Are there any teaching resources?

There will be plenty of resources available to you.

5. Will I be teaching alone or team teaching?

You will be team-teaching with the Japanese English teacher.

6. What kind of school will I be teaching in?

Teaching is in state schools. You are also welcome to undertake your own private lessons outside schools hours.

Frequently asked questions about employment in Japan?

1. How much will I be paid?

You will be paid a monthly salary of 250,000 Yen (€1,800*) per month, before withholding taxes, which average 7%. The monthly salary includes an attendance bonus component which is paid in full each month if all professional responsibilities are executed. There are a number of positions that pay between 260,000 - 280,000 yen (€1,950 - €2,100) per month. These special positions are dependant upon certain specific criteria such as location.

2. Do I receive a bonus or flight re-imbursement?

Bonuses vary with positions.

3. How many days holiday will I receive per year?

You are entitled to school holidays and public holidays of which there are 19 days throughout the year.

4. When will my teaching position begin?

Exact start dates will be provided later on in the application process. Teaching placements start approximately five to ten days after arrival, once candidates have undertaken the training and orientation programme. Applicants that wish to start at the beginning of September should travel to Japan by mid to late August for training. Applicants that travel after August are alternates (ALTs) and will cover positions, so the exact date that you will start teaching will depend on when a teaching position is available. In this situation, the contract will start after the training, even if there isn't an immediate teaching position, so the salary is guaranteed. You may be required to do some admin tasks in the branch office you are assigned to until a position comes up.

5. What are my working hours?

Working hours are Monday to Friday and between 8am and 5pm.

6. Can I renew my contract?

Your contract can be extended; you would need to discuss this with the agent.

7. What happens if I need to break my contract?

As the work visa has been applied for by the school, to break the contract would directly cause your stay to be illegal. You would lose your bonus and any other related payments.

8. What will my accommodation be like?

You will be given full support in finding your own apartment, often teachers take on departing teachers’ apartments.

9. Can I be placed with somebody else?

While at one time it was possible to be placed with a friend or partner, it is now highly unlikely that you will be placed in the same area or school if applying with a friend. If you still wish to go ahead and apply with a friend / partner it is best to apply in March or September (the two main intakes). No requests can be guaranteed.

10. Application process

Once documents have been passed to the agent / partner you may be invited to attend a presentation, complete certain tasks and attend an interview. You will be required to perform a demonstration lesson as part of the interview process. More information about the demonstration lesson will be made available at the time of interview confirmation.

After you have attended a presentation, and all information has been assessed and, if offered, the agent will apply for a Certificate of Eligibility which is taken to The Japanese Embassy and converted into a working visa. This process can take from one month to two months depending on the country of residence.

11. When should I book my flights?

It is your responsibility to book and pay for your flights, and to arrive in good time for your flight. We advise not to book your flights until you have signed your teaching contract.

12. Who is my contract with?

The contract you sign will be with the language school or institute that you will be teaching at, not with i-to-i or with our overseas partner.

13. What visa do I need?

Our in-country partner will advise on the visa process and requirements for this. It is important that you meet all the requirements outlined for the placement as some or all of these may be essential requirements to get the correct working visa.

100 Hour Online and 120 Weekend TEFL course

i-to-i's overseas partner requires that all applicants have a TEFL qualification to apply for the positions. If you need to get TEFL qualified, i-to-i's 100 Hour Online and 120 Weekend TEFL courses are our most comprehensive TEFL courses, providing you with in-depth TEFL training. Not only will you receive in-depth theory training, but also specialist courses for every teaching situation. Increasing the number of hours of study will also give you more confidence, make your CV more attractive and maximize your earning potential.

Choosing the 120-Hour Weekend TEFL course also adds practical training your certification!

• Internationally Recognised Certificate
• 20 hour Weekend TEFL Course*
• 20 hour Specialist Certificate in Grammar
• 60 hour Online Course
• Video & audio tutorials
• Tutor support
• Lifetime Access to Teaching Helpdesk
• 20 hours in 4 Specialist Certificates

*Not included in the 100-hour Online TEFL Course

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