| The Far East was once a mystery to foreigners. | | | | Many will hire you with an interview over the telephone |
| Many countries had closed their borders for fear the | | | | after reviewing your application but would prefer to |
| "Western influence" would corrupt the value system of | | | | meet you in person. |
| its citizens. That ideal is changing and countries are | | | | There are many things that will help you to be |
| opening their doors to Western influence. Japan is one | | | | successful in your job seeking. First off, the more |
| of those countries. They welcome native English | | | | credentials you have the better off you will be. They |
| speakers who desire to teach English in their country. | | | | require a teacher to have certain credentials to be |
| Many people in Asia realize that in order to function | | | | considered for employment especially with agencies |
| well and be successful in international business | | | | that hire on behalf of Japanese schools and |
| relations, their businessmen and women need to be | | | | businesses. A bachelor's degree is required by many |
| able to speak English. Conversational English lets them | | | | schools and businesses will look on you more |
| interact with foreign business contacts more easily | | | | favorably if you have a business degree or a |
| than their native tongue. Teachers, with and without | | | | background in the business world. |
| formal training or experience, are sought after to do | | | | The teaching environment in Japan is quite structured. |
| the job. | | | | Teachers are required to show up on time and dress |
| Before choosing where to go overseas to teach, ask | | | | accordingly. The attire is conservative and teachers |
| yourself some questions. Will I find a job? Is living in a | | | | are required to take off their shoes before entering |
| foreign culture for a year what I want to do? How will I | | | | the building and to use a pair of sandals or walk |
| learn the language? What kind of structure do I like? | | | | around in stocking feet until you are ready to leave. |
| All of these are valid questions to ask before | | | | Teachers are required to be prepared. A "winging it" |
| committing to such a large undertaking. It is no small | | | | attitude towards lessons is not looked upon with favor. |
| thing to pack up, leave everything you know, and | | | | Japanese schools like a disciplined schedule for their |
| move half way around the world for a year or more. If | | | | students. You may be team teaching with a Japanese |
| things get off to a rocky start, you will long for the | | | | teacher who knows something about English. |
| comforts of home more and more. Each culture is | | | | Team teaching can work out in your favor especially if |
| more diverse than the one before it. Besides that, | | | | you have trouble with the native language. Japanese |
| Asian or European languages for that matter are not | | | | students are familiar with grammar from an early age, |
| easy to pick up on. | | | | so your job will be to teach conversational style and |
| If you are attracted to orderliness and discipline, Japan | | | | the art of English pronunciation. The Japanese teacher |
| might be the country for you. Their culture is one that | | | | will aid in translation of harder concepts. They can |
| is steeped in tradition and customs. As a foreigner, | | | | speak Japanese to your students when your |
| they won't expect you to know all of their customs, | | | | instruction is not getting through. Unfortunately, if they |
| but will show respect as a result of your efforts to | | | | speak very little English to your very little Japanese, it |
| comply. | | | | can pose interesting situations in the classroom. |
| Japan has opened up in recent years to foreign | | | | Teaching jobs in Japan require a year commitment, |
| teachers. They actually have a very streamlined | | | | money to find housing and get situated, a professional |
| process for dealing with Westerners who wish to | | | | attitude, and discipline to your craft. If you can supply all |
| work in their country. Thousands of applications for | | | | that and an adventurous attitude, teaching English there |
| work visas are approved each year. There is a lot of | | | | could be the career move you have been looking for. |
| competition for the English teaching positions available. | | | | |