With so many people interested in living and working in Japan there are a lot of lies, misconceptions, and misunderstandings about working in Japan. I will answer ten of the most commonly asked questions that I have received.
1.) How Much Do English Teacher’s Make in Japan?: What’s The Average Salary?
The Average Salary for Teacher’s in Japan 250,000 yen per a month the lowest end is 150,000 and the highest end is 350,000. Unfortunately most schools don’t consider individual qualifications and pay all of their teachers the exact same salary regardless of what position you have, your country of origin, age, language ability, educational background, or work experience.
2.) How Many Hours Do English Teachers Work in Japan?: How Long is The Average Work Shift?
Conversation schools generally require less hours for the same salary if not more. You will generally teach 3-5 hours or lessons per a day
International schools usually have you work a standard 9:00am-6:00pm shift, and (most) Public schools will require you to work for 4-6 hours per a day between the hours of 9:00am-3:00pm.
You are generally expected to arrive at least 20 minutes before the start of your shifts to prepare lessons organize clean and/or change your clothing if necessary.
Which in other words means it’s best to arrive at least 30 minutes early and preferably an hour early if you require a lot of time to prep as Japanese people are very punctual.
A lot of people worry about having crazy overtime hours and having to go out with their boss and coworkers every night but this doesn't apply for English teachers in Japan. This is something that only a Japanese salaryman would generally have to deal with. At the most your job might ask you to stay behind for an hour to help clean up and plan lessons for the next day but you will not have to spend the night at a capsule hotel or worry about having a near death experience from being overworked. Even foreigners with office jobs generally work at companies that aren't ran like a normal office is hence the reason why they hire foreigners in the first place!
3.) How Long Does It Take For You to Get or Change Your Visa Status?
Changing your residence status to working visa usually takes less than a month but can take up to 8 weeks. In generally the process is completed within 14 days.
However if you are applying from outside of Japan this can take as long as 2 months since you will have to mail, email, and fax papers back and forth, as well as visit your local Japanese embassy, and if you miss anything it can prolong the process even more!
4.) Is 250,000 Enough Money to Move to Japan?: Will I Be Poor in Japan?
Yes, it is more than enough! No you will not be poor. Despite what most people seem to think you can live very comfortably in Japan with this salary. A lot of salary men make just a bit more or less than this amount. The average salary in japan is about 3,600,000 yen a year so while your pay as a teacher will generally be below average you're probably also not as qualified or working as long of the hours that a Japanese man is. Keep in mind that even in America teachers are also underpaid.
Anyway you can cover all of your bills, transportation, food cost, entertainment, and rent without having any roommates with a salary of 250,000 yen a month.
Of course obviously the more money you have the easier things will be for you here. There’s also nothing wrong with having roommates, living with your partner or staying at a share house to save money which can also help you get your own place in the future!
It is somewhat unreasonable in most (keyword MOST) situations to ask for or to expect a higher salary than this.
If you decide to work and live outside of Tokyo you can save a lot more money since your rent will be cut in half and groceries are a little cheaper too.
5.) Should I Work at a Public School as an ALT, be a Head Teacher at an International School, or a Tutor at a Conversational/Cram School?: Which Job Should I Choose (Which is Best)?
Before you decide you should consider your own English writing, listening, comprehension, and speaking skills.
1.) If you are NOT a native speaker it will be easier for you to get hired and to successfully and properly teach young children.
2.) If you are good at lesson planning then being a head teacher at an international school is a great job for you.
3.) If you are not a morning person an international school is NOT for you but a conversation school would suit you better.
4.) If your English grammar (writing & spelling) skills are good then a conversation school is a great fit for you.
5.) If you prefer to have someone else decide most of the if not the entirety of the lesson for you then an international school is NOT for you but a conversation school might be more suitable.
6.) If you are NOT shy and enjoy working with preteens and teenagers but don’t enjoy extensive lesson planning, and you are okay with traveling to different schools everyday or throughout each week then being an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) would be a great job for you.
7.) If you prefer working with adults,aren’t awkward, can lead a conversation, have a good vocabulary, are a fast thinker, can speak slowly and clearly, possess good grammar skills, can avoid using slang, and if you are good at explaining things in an easy to understand way then you’d probably prefer working at an English conversation school.
8.) If you need a permanent set schedule with a stable income and working hours then teaching at an international school is best for you. If you want a flexible schedule then an ALT or conversation school position would be a better choice.
If you are still Undecided please answer yes or no to the following questions.
- Do you like children?
- Are you patient?
- Can you deal with screaming and crying?
- Can you understand and speak basic Japanese (are you willing to learn some)?
- Can you deal with unruly disobedient children and continue teaching or discipline them in a calm and professional manner?
- Can you sing and dance (are you willing to rehearse singing and choreography)?
- Can you create fun games and activities?
- Do you mind sacrificing your holidays and miscellaneous weekends leading up to them to prepare for events and to go on field trips without receiving additional compensation (possibly reduced hourly pay for the day)?
- Do you not have stage freight (you don’t get nervous or anxious easily)?
- Can you talk loud and clear?
- Are you friendly understanding and welcoming?
- Do you want a job with set stable hours (consistency)?
- Do you want to work Monday-Friday?
- Are you okay with germs(scratching nose picking)?
- Can you wake up as early as 5:00AM-7:00AM to eat, freshen up, and board the train during rush hour?
- Are you willing to go without a lunch break on occasion (to assist staff and students or to work on other projects or events and lesson plans)?
Mostly Yes
If you answered yes to most of the above questions and you can do and have no problem with all of the above questions, you like kids, you know how to work with them and you don’t have any problem with speaking loudly in front of large groups of people (for events, orientations, and introductions to students and parents), and you’re okay with working long hours without a guaranteed break, then I would suggest being a teacher at an international school.
Mostly Yes (but don't like kids)
If you answered mostly yes but you don’t like working with young children then an ALT or Cram School (eikaiwa) position would be best for you (most students at cram schools are in elementary-high-school so there’s less crying, playing, and disciplining involved).
Mostly No
If you answered mostly no, you don’t like children of any age, or you feel that the thought of doing all of those things would drive you crazy then you'd probably work best at an English Conversation School (eikaiwa) that is aimed towards adults and businesses.
6.) Can I Teach in Japan With a TEFL Certificate if I Don't Have a Bachelor's Degree?
No! You have to have a bachelor's degree. It's a catch 22. You don't need a degree to get a job but you DO need a degree to get visa sponsorship. The government requires it. However keep in mind that even if you do have a spouse visa most companies still prefer someone who is a native speaker and/or that has a bachelor's degree (preferably in education).
7.) Which Visa is Better?
A work visa of any kind is better than a student visa but a spouse vis his the best since there are no restrictions on where you can work, the amount of hours you can work, and it doesn't need to be updated at immigration if you change jobs etc.. A spouse visa provide the most freedom in Japan without having to become a permanent resident.8.) Is It Bad to Accept a Contract?
Contracts are normal in Japan it isn't a bad thing! Unlike America having a contract is seen as a positive thing and is proof of a stable career, income, and clear working conditions. It can be used to help you get an apartment, or to get bills or loans in your name. You should be more concerned if you are offered a position that doesn't have contact! Even Japanese employees sign contracts for 1-3 years for their job.9.) Should I Get Insurance Through My Company or The Government?
It is generally cheaper to get insurance if you don't have children, and if you go through the Japanese National Health Insurance program however some companies require you to be insured through them as your employer which costs more but it's easier for you to pay for it since it is usually deducted from your salary automatically so your company does all of the "hard work" for you.10.) Can Non-native English Speakers and Black or Asian People Teach English in Japan?
Yes! Just because you aren't a native speaker doesn't mean that you cannot find work in Japan as an English teacher. You will have better luck with finding employment outside of Tokyo, with younger children, if you have Japanese proficiency, and if you already have a spouse visa (since the company won't have to sponsor your visa).
Black & Asian people can work in Japan too! Companies don't have a "White's Only" policy despite what many people think but they do have a strong preference for English speakers that are from America and that are young, attractive, and have a clear accent.
10.) If I Quit My Job Can My Company Cancel My Visa?
Absolutely NOT! Your company does not have the ability to cancel your visa even if you deserve it. They have no control over your stay here. What they can and will do is notify immigration that you are no longer being employed by them.
You can easily quit your job and switch companies as often as you'd like to as long as you have a legal and valid visa to begin with. If for any reason you decide that your current visa sponsor (job) is too bad of a company to work for you can quit at anytime. All you have to do is update immigration about your new place of work within 90 days. 3 months is more than enough time to search for and to secure a new job here.
I personally wouldn't recommend quitting before you secure a new job and do keep in mind that you should work at your current (first) visa sponsor for at least a somewhat reasonable amount of time before quitting even if you hate it, otherwise you might have to do some explaining to your new employer. In Japan loyal is valued. Japanese people seldom quit their jobs no matter how bad it is.
All of the schools here have pros and cons. There is no such thing as the perfect job. However if you find your place of work truly be unbearable, you won't have to leave Japan and start over the visa process again. This time you'll simply apply for another job, show them your visa, and BAM! You're hired! Just tell immigration what's going on and your new company will now be responsible for sponsoring your work visa upon its expiration.
Stay Tuned!
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