Why demand is high

Demand for English teachers in Japan is high because Japanese students, sadly, are not trained in regular Japanese schools to be very proficient in English. If they are taught English at all, the quality of education in English leaves much to be desired. This is why Japanese individuals of varying ages are always looking for English teachers in Japan who can train them to be proficient in English. Some English teacher jobs are at regular Japanese schools that want their students to be good at English.

Requirements of English teachers in Japan

A person who wants to become an English teacher in Japan may have to learn a bit of Japanese as well. This would help that person communicate English language concepts to his or her students better. However, if you do not know Japanese, all is not lost because there are still openings for people who are only skilled in English. Such people would be helping Japanese students who already have a level of proficiency in English but want to get better at it.

You have to be careful, though, about where you choose to teach, as an English teacher in Japan. Some language schools have been reprimanded and even suspended because they do not legitimately teach their Japanese students and even engage in illegal activities just so their students can pass the course.

It might be best if you signed up with a language school that has a very good reputation in the international language teaching community. Generally, schools that are affiliated with other language schools in the world have such a reputation so you could apply with them.

You might also be able to get a position as a private tutor for Japanese children, particularly those who are of elementary school age. Private tutors have an advantage in that your employer might even permit you to get board and lodging privileges. This is a nice job for people who like children as a rule.

If you know your way around Japan, and the Japanese language as well, you could take the greater risk of being a freelance English language teacher. This gives you the advantage of taking on more contracts than an employee position would allow. You could freelance part-time or full-time, as you choose. However, be careful that you don’t get into trouble by heading for risky areas of Japan. Not all Japanese are nice people.

To lower the level of risk and increase your comfort level, you can look through online sites devoted to English teaching in Japan to get to know the ins and outs of the business before you submit your application and resume.

English teacher jobs in Japan offer prestige and an opportunity to see the country up close. Just be sure you are aware of what the job entails so you avoid potential pitfalls.