Teaching overseas has become very popular in the last decade. It’s a great way to see the world while helping people. You become immersed in a local culture and you get to make money while doing it! But with so many ways on how teach English in Japan, it can become confusing to figure out how to get started! So let’s go through some of the options you have to become an English Teacher in Japan and soon you’ll become a sensei (先生) !
The most popular program you’ve already heard of is JET, the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program. JET is a Japanese government sponsored program. If you are a native English speaker, JET will help you teach English in Japan by placing you in a public school in Japan.
While knowing Japanese is a plus, it’s not necessary for placement in the program. If you want to join a program that is very well known, JET is the program for you.
GABA is a private company that hires teachers that want to be private tutors. It’s a great program for people who want to teach English in Japan because of a few reasons.
If you’ve done any research on teaching English in Japan, you will have come across AEON. AEON tries to improve the English skills students already learn in public school. In public schools in Japan, English lessons focus on reading and writing. In AEON institutions, they focus on improving student’s speaking abilities. These “conversation schools” are otherwise known as Eikaiwa-gakko (英会話学校) in Japan.
Westgate is another conversation school in Japan. They offer English classes to young students as well as University students. University level positions can be hard to find, so this is a great opportunity.
You can start teaching English in Japan on your own!
One of the best (though often tedious) ways to find how to teach English in Japan is to scour the job boards.
- There is a good one at GaijinPot
- DavesESLCafe is usually known for finding jobs in South Korea. But you can find Japanese jobs at their international job board.
- “How to Teach English in Japan” also offers a list of “green schools.” Their users review these jobs as good places to work. Check it out: here!
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