| Would you like the chance to spend some time in | | | | spouse you need to find a job that will sponsor you for |
| Japan but feel turned off by whistle-stop package | | | | a visa. It is possible to travel to Japan as a tourist and |
| tourist trips? If so, teaching English may be the answer. | | | | approach a few of the numerous schools advertising |
| There is no better way to get to know a country than | | | | for teachers asking if they are prepared to sponsor |
| by living and working there. By teaching English you | | | | your visa application. |
| become a part of Japanese society, rather than just | | | | It helps to undergo some TEFL (Teaching English as a |
| an observer looking in. | | | | Foreign Language) training before looking for work. Not |
| Teaching English is big business in Japan. Despite the | | | | only will this give you some basic teaching skills and |
| collapse of the so-called bubble economy Japan | | | | confidence, but it also shows potential employers you |
| remains one of the richest and most sophisticated | | | | are serious about teaching and not just a backpacker |
| nations on the planet, and this status is largely due to | | | | looking for some financial re-fuelling. |
| its success in overseas trade and investment. Thus, to | | | | TEFL courses are advertised in most English speaking |
| get ahead in Japanese society, proficiency in English is | | | | countries. The more useful ones are provided by |
| a significant advantage. Add to that the fact that being | | | | working English schools and offer face-to-face |
| able to speak English is simply considered cool and the | | | | teaching practice with real learners. |
| huge demand for English teachers becomes clear. | | | | Accommodation |
| Don't Japanese people learn English at school? | | | | If you are employed by the JET program or one of |
| Yes they do. Usually for 6 years or more. The | | | | the big English school companies they will more than |
| problem is that, unlike most of the school curriculum, | | | | likely arrange accommodation for you. You are of |
| English isn't taught particularly well. Japanese schools | | | | course free to find your own housing if you so wish. |
| tend to follow traditional teaching methods in which the | | | | Living in school-found accommodation has the |
| teacher stands at the front and lectures the class. | | | | advantage of an English speaking contact to sort out |
| Students are expected to absorb rather than question. | | | | repairs or other problems. The disadvantage is that it's |
| The method produces excellent results for subjects | | | | difficult to quit a job that may not be for you while living |
| like history and mathematics, but not for | | | | in their accommodation. I have also heard of at least |
| communicative, participative skills like language. School | | | | one school that charges its teachers a significant |
| English education is likely to consist of lots of reading | | | | premium over market rental rates for use of its |
| and writing, lots of grammar practice, but very little - if | | | | accommodation - so beware! |
| any - spoken communication. | | | | There are several English speaking accommodation |
| Do I need to speak Japanese? | | | | agencies advertising in the free English language press, |
| Not at all. Of course, if you can pick up a little nihongo | | | | and these generally provide decent accommodation, |
| (Japanese) it will make your daily life easier, but it won't | | | | but at a price. |
| help one bit as a teacher. The reason is that the most | | | | An alternative favored by many single English |
| effective way of teaching language is to use only the | | | | teachers are the so-called "gaijin houses" (literally |
| target language. Thus the only language used in English | | | | foreigner's house). These are basically hostels that rent |
| lessons is English. | | | | out basic, but adequately comfortable, rooms mainly to |
| How do I start? | | | | non-Japanese clientele. Usually bathroom, kitchen and |
| Well, you could simply buy a ticket to Japan and start | | | | sometimes communal sitting room are shared. Gaijin |
| looking for work. Unfortunately, without a work permit, | | | | house advertisements are to be found in the free |
| that strategy is illegal. Unless you have a Japanese | | | | English language press. |