5 Reasons Why You Can't Find a Job in Japan: How To Fix Your Resume

Unlike America most jobs in Japan will require you to send your own personalized resume to apply. Whether it's a waitressing, IT, or a teaching position you'll probably have to send them your resume by email instead of feeling out an application, calling, or answering 200 scenario based questions online.
 Companies are very prompt and will contact you in as little as an hour to a few days at the most if they are interested in interviewing you.

Since this is Japan, most of the people who will view your resume will be native Japanese speakers and have average to poor English reading and writing skills. Japanese people are also a bit too trusting and tend to believe that everyone has good intentions. Employers usually take your word and assume that you would never lie. For these reasons it can be tempting to be dishonest and honestly it is very easy to lie on your resume of to even submit a poorly written one and get a high paying full-time job solely based off of your appearance and/or "qualifications". However you can get caught up in your lies and sometimes you'll be interviewed by another foreigner who will noticed your grammatical errors and lies.

I have been working in Japan for over a year and I have worked several different teaching positions. My latest one requires me to conduct interviews, screen applicants and conduct on the job training for new employees.
 I am not an expert on creating or writing resumes but after having received a few emails asking for resume advice as well as reading hundreds of comical resumes I decide to put together a blog post to tackle the real reason why you're having so much trouble finding a job in Japan and it all starts with you and your resume.

What Your Application Should Consist of

Subject 

This is often times overlooked and left blank. Emails that don't have a subject can end up automatically marked as spam, trashed or simply overlooked. Your employer should know what your email is about without having to open it. Many schools only have one email address so the same address that your applying to they also receive inquires about student enrollment, or other business matters. A simple title is fine.

I recommend that you label all of your documents that you attach to your email to send to your employer. 

Professional Photograph

First impressions are lasting impressions! You should include a clear professional self photograph at the top of your resume NOT as a separate attachment. You should be dressed preferably in a men's or women's business suit. You should have neatly styled hair and wear a black jacket and a white dress shirt, with a blue tie (if you're a man blue is a good color for interviews in Japan).

Personal Statement 

This should be place in the body of text within your email. 1-2 short paragraphs that introduce yourself to the employer in professional manner. You should explain your goals for obtaining the position that you're applying for. Your nationality, education, age, language skills, as well as the answers to other particular questions or requests should be smoothly added into your personal statement as needed. 
For example if your employer asks you to list your closest station or for 3 professional references you can add these at the bottom of your statement or you can attach an additional document with the answers to those questions. Avoid talking about your interests in Japan or your family. Be sure to list the relation that your references have to you as well as their position. Most companies don't ask for references even if they're Japanese/in Japan.

Cover Letter 

This should explain why you'd be a competitive candidate. It should highlight your resume and emphasis your related skills, and professional experiences that will set you a part from other applicants. Feel free to brag about yourself but remember to keep it brief and professional 1-2 short paragraphs at the most. Do not beg for a position or make promises in your cover letter.

Resume

This should list your previous and sometimes current work experience, education, certifications, your personal address, email, phone number, full name, and volunteer experience. There's no need to talk about your first job at Wendy's from when you were 15 when you're 32 years old and trying to become the principal at an international junior high school.

NOTE: Do not contact the school directly to follow up with your application. If they are interested they will contact you.
There is no need to send more than one email, to call, or show up to the school in person unless they have requested that you do so.

If you have applied and it's been a while (1 week or more) I can assure you that you were not selected for an interview. the reasons can vary. Your resume could be garbage or maybe they have already filled the position. 

Simply move on and find another job. Nobody wants to be stalked. Have some class and don't waste your time leaving a negative review as it could came back around and keep you from obtaining another job in the future. 

Now that you know what you need to apply for a job let's critique your submissions. 

1.) Your Resume Sucks!

You'd be amazed at how poor a lot of (young) people's resume skills are. I blame the lack of practice that you receive during both high school and college. I have both seen and read resume's that were very disorganized, juvenile, and full of unnecessary information, grammatical errors, and obvious lies.
I have read more than 50 emails in which applicants talked about having a big family, kids, a spouse, pets etc.. That's fine for telling your employer about your personal and educational background in person as an icebreaker, but its totally inappropriate for a professional resume.

Solution:

Use a simple template to help guide you. Using a template as an outline for your resume will help clean things up and keep your potential employer focused. Your resume should ONLY provide your potential employer with current and previous work experiences that has some form of relevancy to the position that you are applying for. Despite what you may have heard there is absolutely NO need to list irrelevant work experienced such as being a cook at McDonald's or a beautician. The only exception is medical, management, CEO/Presidency, or engineering experiences such as working as a nurse, technical, doctor, company president etc.. Only major accomplishments worthy of bragging about should be mentioned in your resume. You don't want to have too many jobs listed even if they are relevant as it can backfire and make you appear an a unstable candidate. Remember that Japan isn't America. Most people are very loyal to their jobs no matter how toxic the environment is or how low the pay. Japanese people tend to stay at the same company until they retire. The average person only changes jobs 1-2 times throughout their post college professional career.

Don't:

• Mention how many family members you have. Your family shouldn't be mentioned anywhere in your resume.
• Describe your job in great detail. It should be summarized using bullet points similar to how job positions are posted telling you what they are looking for, what tasks the job included, benefits etc.. I should not have to read a paragraph of you explaining your job in poor detail as though you are talking to your friends. Nobody wants to read a manual of how you think your job was/is done
• List your previous or desired salary. It's very unprofessional.
• Include your references. You can attach an additional file or list them at the bottom of your personal statement.
• Explain why you're leaving or looking for a new job. Save that for your interview if that question arises.

Do:

• Use bullet points to organize your resume
• Check for grammatical error by proofreading. If possible forward your resume to your parents, friends and a mentor/professor from college to critic your resume and check for errors that you may have overlooked.
• Double check important dates
• Include a corner (medium sized) professional photograph.
• Use fancy words to describe your position and it's duties.
• Use dates that show when you began and ended your work for each company.
• List the name of the company you worked for, it's location, and your position.
• List volunteer experience (irrelevant experience here is okay).
• List any certifications that you have in ANYTHING professional.
• List your degree, grade point average, date of graduation.
• Add photos that show you that display you teaching in a professional setting (preferably in Japan).

NOTE: I highly recommend that you include the katakana spelling/pronunciation of your name next to or underneath your name.

2.) You're A Bad Liar

If you're going to lie on your resume you should use a bit of common sense. I do not recommend telling lies as they will and can come back to you. It could cost you your reputation and visa status in Japan.`The more lies you tell or the bigger they are, the more you'll have to remember. Japan is a small country word travels fast and a lot of schools are connected to each other so you might want to think twice before lying about your qualifications. You might slip up and make mistakes if you're questioned before during or after your interview and can even be terminated if your lies are ever found out.

Common Lies and Mistakes:

• Job dates that don't add up
• Graduation dates that are off season for the university/country
• Degree information that doesn't match what was written in your resume (different major, degree shows bachelors of arts, your resume says science)
• Claiming to have a masters or PHD's in the medical field at an age that is far too young to have completed med school as well as other necessary steps
• Lack of start and end dates 
• Fake company names
• Fake university degree's (some schools do verifications and even call your previous employers).

NOTE: Remember you're just applying for a teaching position. Lying about being a neurologist or a rocket scientist from NASA isn't going to give you a higher salary offer.
Most of your coworkers at any given school have no teaching experience or lack a (relevant) degree and yet they are still getting paid the same amount if not more than you are!
You might even be questioned and asked why would you want to give up being a doctor to teacher English in Japan and I'm sorry to say it but claiming that you love Japanese cultures, anime and your girlfriend isn't a reliable story for most.
There's much more that could be added be these are the most reoccurring lies that I have seen.

3.) You Lack Experience

Its a catch 22. You need experience to get the job but you need the job to get experience. Most jobs in Japan require that you have 2-5 years of relevant teaching experience but some schools are willing to hire and train people with no educational background or teaching experiences and will instead offer to train you themselves.
If you do have experience you might just need to reorganize your resume. You should minimize the amount of experience that you put on your resume. It should only be 1-2 pages long. Your most relevant experience should be listed at the top of it.
If you have no experience consider volunteering. You can offer free private and group lesson on your own or you can contact schools with your current resume requesting volunteer work to help gain experience for your resume and future endeavors.
Everybody loves free stuff especially free English. English language schools are very expensive for most people so you'll quickly find students that will sign up for your lessons and schools that will gladly accept some helping hands. This is a great idea if you are a non-native English speaker too.
You can use your volunteer experience to get your foot in the door. One of your students or even the company that you're at may offer you a position or recommend a good company to you.
There's always room for growth and development and volunteer experience looks great on your resume.
You have to remain competitive as their are hundreds if not thousands of other applicants that they can choose from. You have to sell yourself!
If you don't have experience volunteer until you get some!


NOTE: You don't have to say that it was volunteer work or that discuss your previous salary. Because of this you can simply state that you were an assistant teacher at "insert school's name here".
Again avoid lying as it can and will catch up to you!

4.) Your Professional Photo is Bad

First impressions are lasting impressions. In Japan unlike America it is 100% legal and normal for a company to request your headshot as though you are interviewing to become an actor. This is not exclusive to foreigners as even Japanese people must do the same thing for every job that they apply for. These photo booths automatically edit your picture by whitening your skin, brightening your eyes, slimming down your face, and smoothing out your hair and skin for a flawless airbrushed look that is much more natural in comparison to it Pikura (the fun photo booth for teens and young adults that makes you look like an anime character or a feminine looking guy if you ask me) counterpart. You'll notice that these photo booth kiosks are everywhere so there is no excuse to not have a good photo! There's no need hire a photographer or even ask a friend to snap a photo for you.

 I have seen teachers displaying tattoos, unnatural hair colors, bad blonde hair dye jobs that looked Naruto-banana yellow, dirty gym shoes with a Walmart suit, cosplayers, wedding, and even group photos and  vacation pictures that probably came from Instagram.
Whether you agree or disagree, if you want to improve your chances of employment you should assimilate and try to blend in and follow the rules not break them or attempt to stand out. Blonde hair and blue eyes paired with pale skin and a white smile may get you far but all it takes is for a more professional, better looking, and more qualified gaijin to apply at the same time and you can say goodbye to your chances at landing that opening.

Don't:

• Use a blurry or unclear image
• Use an outdated or heavily photoshopped image. You should look identical or very similar to the picture on your resume.
• Use a full body picture
• Show your teeth (especially if they aren't white and straight)
• Wear casual, unprofessional, or street clothing
• Wear provocative, tight or cleavage bearing clothing
• Wear full-face western style makeup. Avoid wearing false giraffe lashes, eyeshadow, cat eyes, lipstick, eyeliner, heavy contouring etc.
• Wear hats, shades, scarves, bulky jewelry, hoop earrings

Do:

• Use a white/clear background
• Wear a suit or a white blouse/dress shirt
• Wear makeup. In Japan men commonly wear makeup for their photos too!
• Wear modest jewelry (such as earrings if they will be visible ladies).
• Wear lip balm (light pink colored lipgloss is okay for ladies)
• Wear modest and conservative clothing
• Style your hair nicely. Consider having your hair professionally, cut, styled, and colored.
• Cover your tattoos with clothing and makeup.
• Remove ANY piercings including earrings that you may have if you are a male. If you are a woman only one set of modest silver, gold, or diamond earrings are acceptable.

NOTE:
Religious headwear such as a hijab should also be removed. Refusal to do so could hurt your chances of employment. It is ultimately your own personal choice but be aware that you'll have a significantly harder time finding a job in Japan.

Your nails or hands shouldn't be showing but only clear or light pink is acceptable if you absolutely must break that rule.

Tattoos and exotic body piercings are NOT acceptable in Japan. It is unprofessional and associated with gangs, dropouts, lowlives, and rebels.

5.) You Didn't Answer Apply For The Position Properly

One of the biggest mistakes are people who have become so accustomed to sending their generic copy and paste download and upload resume that they forget to make changes and adjustments as needed.
For example some positions my request that you provide professional references, your closest train station, a copy of your residence card, a copy of your passport, a copy of your degree, explain your Japanese ability, explain why you want to work for the company.
All of those questions should be answered in your personal statement. Your personal statement is best put in the body of your initial email. Within your personal statement you should write a brief paragraph that tells employers about your nationality, language skills, visa, and education. Any additional documents should be attached and labeled so that your employer can easily access and find your information if needed. Labeling your documents will help your resume standout as we receive hundreds of resume most of which have generic names or computer generated file names and number.

If you don't answer all of the questions that the job ad or website asked this is a red flag for an employer. It shows that you can't follow instructions and while some schools are aware that your resume is generic and that you're probably going to apply to other companies with the exact same copy & paste method, they still want you to show that you understand the specific position that you're applying for.

Be sure to thoroughly read the job description or ad and reply accordingly. Some companies might even quiz you and test your knowledge during the interview.
If you don't submit everything that the employer is asking for or if you forget to answer all of their questions your resume will simply be trashed unless their desperate and nice enough to give you a friendly reminder of what to submit.

NOTE: Always use caution and common sense when giving your personal information especially if the school's name, address, and contact number isn't listed in the advertisement you should avoid giving too much information.
Avoid giving them copies of birth certificates, bank degrees, passports, or identification cards of any kind.
Your resume already have your full name, email, home address, and contact number which is a lot of personal information to share. A legitimate company should never ask for these things before having conducted a phone or physical interview in person.
While most companies and ads are legit and are not scams some of them are and you don't want to be the victim of identity theft which still exists in Japan.
Some legitimate companies request copies of your official documents to help them screen but this is taking gamble for you as an applicant. I personal recommend avoiding such a company or asking if you can provide the copies in person at a later time.

Jobs Are Everywhere

There are thousands of English teaching jobs available in Japan all throughout the country. Don't limit yourself and whatever you do never give up! Remember in Japan, most companies only hire for Fall (end of August-October) and Spring  (beginning of January-April).
Consider moving to another city or prefecture. Update your look by changing your hair or makeup. Update your resume by volunteering or even gaining more experience at home or abroad in another country. Study and perfect your craft. Read some books and watch videos on how to teach English and create a resume. 
Once you land you first job you'll find it much easier to get employed with other companies. 
If you want a job then you have to turn looking for a job into your full-time job!






Thank you so much for reading! Do you have any tips, tricks or advice to share with other job seekers? Have a question about resumes? Please share your story or ask your questions in the comments below.

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Do You Really Need TEFL Certification to Teach English in Japan?

If you've set your heart on teaching English in Japan then you are  bound to have done some research on what qualifications and certifications are required to do so. There's lots of different certificates, diplomas, and even degrees that you can obtain that will prepare you to teach English as a second language in Japan. I have personal obtained a TEFL certificate from a short course that I took a few years ago. In this post I will give you some insight into what this certificate is all about as well as it's usefulness or lack there of.

What is TEFL?

TEFL is an acronym that stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. It is usually used in reference to a certificate that is obtained through a university, online program, or in person class. The class teaches you how to teach other people English through various assignments games and activities.

Who's it For?

TEFL is available for any adult located anywhere in the world. Anyone can sign up! There are no real requirements as long as you pay. Most people who obtain TEFL certification of any kind are those who don't possess bachelor's degree but are permanently living in Japan, individuals that are married to a Japanese spouse, or those who have bachelor's degrees in fields and subjects irrelevant to education/teaching.

What Will You Learn?

TEFL prepares individuals for some of the challenges that may arise in a classroom. It provides you with listening and speaking skills, teaching strategies, and hands on practice (should you choose to take a course in person). It essential trains people how to be teachers within a short period of time (if you're taking a non-degree course) with an emphasis on how to teach English as a second language. Course structure varies depending on the amount of money that you pay and which company you take your classes through.

Where's It Located?

Coursed can be taken online or at various locations around the world on every continent and in just about every country. Private for profit companies, junior colleges, and universities commonly offer TEFL classes.

How Much Does It Cost?

Prices range from $200-$4,000 USD. If you are traveling to an in person course that is extended you'll also need to have enough money for transportation food and accommodation during your out of town stay. Otherwise if you take a course online you won't get to experience any hands unlearning with a real classroom (which to me defeats the purpose if you're taking this course to gain experience and confidence in teaching for yourself and NOT just to impress employers).

How Long Is The Course?

Depending on how much you pay determines the longevity of the course. It varies from 8-200+ hours. Some courses last for 2 days others can take a few months or more to complete.

There's Three Sides To It!

Before you decide that you'd like to sign up for this course or brag about your certificate, I want to help you understand why it's become so heavily talked about.

The Turnover Rate

The turnover rate for English teachers in Japan is EXTREMELY high! People quit their jobs and switch to new one's daily. Why? The short answer is simply because of the low pay, high stress, unrealistic expectations from parents and management, and let's not forget about the extremely bad, rude, childish, yellow-fever driven, creepy, unprofessional men who make up almost the entire market of "teachers" here.
The interview process is too fast and too easy so naturally there's a sea full of garbage applicants who are just trying to get their foot in the door or working to keep their spouse happy temporarily before giving up and quitting. Most foreigners come here to party, have sex (sex tourist), runaway from their problems, and get drunk. Contracts are commonly broken. Marriages end in nasty divorces, engagements are off, and foreigners get homesick.
With all of the things considered an applicant/teacher with TEFL certification is seen as a more reliable, professional, and serious applicant.

Most English teacher's here are hired based off of 3 things. 

1. Their sexual attractiveness [looks matter here a lot].
2. Their Country of Origin [If you're an American (preferred) Canadian, British, Australian, New Zealand?] HIRED!
3. Their visa status [Companies hate sponsoring visas from the start] that allows work legally.

In order to weed out applicants many schools are now "requiring" that applicants have the following....

1. A bachelor's degree in a field related to education/teaching
2. Native English speaker from an English speaking country 
3. 2-5 years of teaching experience (preferably in Japan)
4. Experience teaching the specific age demographic that you're applying for
5. Certification of N4 level Japanese
6. Valid visa with permission to work
7. TEFL certification (course hours requirement varies)
8. 3 professional references
9. A 1-2 page essay on "Why do you want to live and work in Japan?"
10. 2-3 letters of recommendation 

Don't worry this list is NOT a real requirement. School's commonly ask for all of that and even more! I've seen jobs that requested musical abilities! 

They'll hire you regardless. It's just a way of scaring off and weeding out bad applicants. Besides why wouldn't you want an overqualified good teacher? 

Japan has become a very popular place to live and work as an English teacher. There's too many applicants but there aren't enough GOOD ones! Most of the people who apply for these jobs lack proper valid working visas, and aren't native English speakers.There's a cesspool of bad applicants. For every 100 applications I'd say only 5 are even realistic options.

The Teachers

Because you have looked into TEFL certifications a bit too much (or because you believe everything you've read about them) you have convinced yourself that you'll be able to walk into your interview with a chip on your shoulder and plaster your certification all over your resume and emails. 

If you are serious about becoming an English teacher in Japan then you probably want to give yourself the best chance possible to land the job right?
The longer it's been since you have taught and the less experience that you have, the more uncertain you're bound to be about your teaching abilities. Teaching can be very fun and rewarding, but it is still a job, and it can be hard at times. 

Many people are afraid that they will make grammatical errors or that they are simply unable to teach English even although it is their first language. Taking a TEFL class will help calm your nerves and it will provide you with some experience before you ever press submit on your application or conduct your very first demo lesson. The idea of paying for experience helps to develop and reassure your teaching skills. It's really no different than paying for college!

Keep in mind once again that not everyone who takes this class is a newbie! A lot of people with degrees in education chose to take it as a refresher course and as a way of gaining experience specific to that of an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher.

NOTE: While obtaining this certification can be beneficial to non-native English speakers it isn't very helpful and provides an almost invisible advantage. You'll only be considered over other non-native English speakers who are equally educated. For example a non-native English speaker with no TEFL certificate but that has a bachelor's degree or above in any field will be chosen over you if you only have this certificate. You will not be chosen over a native speaker even if said native English speaker has no degree or certification. It can happen otherwise but it's rare.

You can't get a visa to work in Japan with just this! Most employers don't really care about your degrees or certificates unless English is your native language AND you are from a "preferred" country such was America, Canada etc..

your best bet is to teach in another Asian or European country besides Japan. Keep i mind that even There you'll still almost always play second fiddle to an American. It's not fair in a sense but that's just the way it goes. Particularly in Asia the requirements to teach English are more relaxed and you can even get a visa more easily.

Nevertheless it can provide you with experience, practice, skills and confidence.

It's Still a Business

The creators of these TEFL programs have successful scared and tricked professional teacher's into obtaining additional certification by reminding them that teaching English as a second language is not the same as teaching a normal elementary or high school class. There is obviously a lot of truth to this not to mention the cultural differences and language barrier but it's a scare tactic and marketing scheme.

Schools that offer TEFL have convinced people who have no teaching experience that they are pretty much useless without having this certification by stressing how much employers and schools require TEFL certification and usually suggest that you take a lengthy course of about 120 hours or whatever the mid range priced course is.

They have sadly given false hope to non-native English speakers by suggesting (not promising but implying) that by finishing their course you'll be able to teach just about anywhere and it's really quite the opposite. Most schools and recruiting agencies won't give a non-native English speaker the time of day if even if they are a neurological scientist (I worked with an Indian woman who was and she was my assistant and being paid $15 LESS an hour than me! She was almost twice my age too.).

Employers have become brainwashed by TEFL as they have been convinced that a teacher with this certification is a professional and won't quit before their signed contract is up. It has also become a way of avoiding the need to train teachers. As I mentioned earlier almost none of the teachers here have a degree that is actually in education. Teaching is a gift for some and a skill to others. Most school's offer very little to absolutely no training whatsoever. TEFL is an affordable certificate but it's still just a luxury.

It's a recipe for profit!

The Final Verdict

I believe that TEFL certification is good for both experienced teachers and those who desire to become one. It is a great idea to obtain this certificate or diploma if English is not your first language as it will help you stand out a little bit in a sea of applicants.

However it is nothing more than a little fancy decoration on your resume (it's like purchasing a bikini DLC for Resident Evil). Most companies don't care about your certifications and will never ask to see them.  They will simply take your word for it and have you conduct a demo lesson, grammar test, phone interview, and degree verification (if even that!). It would be a huge waste of money to pay for a course that is close to $2,000 just for the class itself. If you are really uncertain about your ability to teach you'd be much better off with watching YouTube videos, borrowing some library books, going to Barnes and Noble, or purchasing an ebook/podcast on how to teach in general as well as how to teach English as a second language.

Have you considered volunteering to gain experience? Maybe you should try offering free private 101 and group English lessons. Every loves free stuff! You can add your experience teaching 101 to your resume. Find a non-profit organization that meets in your neighborhood or in a major city. A lot of colleges, churches, city halls, and recreational centers offer free English classes.

Hands on experience is so much better! It is more valuable than any piece of paper or even a degree (especially if English is your first language)!

I received my TEFL certificate free of charge through a non-profit organization that I was volunteering at in Chicago. While my Certification is listed on my resume, and I always carry it with me in my folder to every interview that I have attended, I haven't had even one employer request to see it and nobody even cared to mention that part of my resume!

TEFL certification is more beneficial to you as a teacher than it is to your employer as it give you some basic skills for teaching but it is nothing more than a way for schools and recruiting agencies to test how serious you are about being an English teacher in Japan.

Japanese schools know that their employment requirements are ridiculously high for just a measly salary of $1,500-$3,000 a month. Even if you don't have all ten of the things that are commonly "required" you'll still get hired anyway. Their goal is to simply scare off the uneducated, lazy, and potentially bad teachers, It is NOT mandatory to have this certificate.

If you have already obtained TEFL certification like I did before I came to Japan then don't worry it's not totally useless it's just unnecessary. It will not improve or hurt your chances of employment. It is somewhere between neutral and irrelevant. It is a "resume-filler" as I'd like to call it.

The choice is ultimately yours but if you can't afford to shell out $200 or more then I suggest that you pass on this course.

A lot of teachers here are married to a Japanese national and have neither a degree or a certificate in any form of education. 

Having a degree is simply a requirement for a work visa. TEFL cannot help you obtain a work visa in Japan.

To summarize everything that you have just read TEFL is a nice program, but it is not a requirements and for most people there is no advantage to having this certificate. It CANNOT be used as a substitute for having a bachelor's degree in Japan. It cannot help you obtain a work visa. It is the equivalent of being CPR & First Aid Certified and trying to become a doctor.

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you found the information here useful. If you have any questions or if you'd like to share your experience or advice please feel free to comment below!

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How To Create The Perfect Demo Lesson

If you are planning to become an English teacher in Japan than you've probably already read about, heard of, or have personally endured the awkwardness of giving an actual demo lesson.
There isn't really much information out there in regards to demo lessons. Your potential employer will probably give every little to no information (explanation) as to what they want to see from you.
In order for you to be prepared for your demo lesson you I first want for you to understand why parents want their child to go to these kinds of schools and what these schools want their students experience to be like.

You can also checkout my YouTube video for more advice and to see my sample lesson How To Prepare The Perfect English Demo Lesson

Schools Expectations

Schools want their students to learn English in a fun environment at any and all costs. Their goal is to show the parents that their child is having fun while learning. In order to accomplish this you will spend a lot of class time in which students could be learning how to read and write fluently in English, playing "English games" and singing ridiculous songs that bare no real meaning.

Understanding Why

Japan is full of English language learning schools. There is a ton of competition and each individual school has pros and cons for both the parents and students alike. While some parents will choose a cheaper school over a more expensive one, many parents are starting to realize or at least believe that there is a difference in the quality of their children's education based off of the school's tuition. Parents who pay more will natural expect more. The school has to give them a reason to spend more and to find a purpose, or some sort of reason to pay more.
For example my current company ONLY hires native English speakers from America and they must be under 40, capable of passing a very strict physical exam, must hold a bachelor's degree in education.

The Applicant Pool

Considering that most of the English teachers in Japan are old men, don't have a bachelor's degree (and if they do its usually unrelated to teaching), lack experience in teaching, and simply lack a passion for teaching (no shade), having these seemingly ridiculous standards for hiring actual start to make more sense.
This is why schools want you to be a part-time teacher and a part-time gaijin clown.
In a sea full of crams schools, preparatory programs, international schools, and private tutors schools and teachers alike must adapt what they offer to remain competitive in the English education market.
Unfortunately this means more work for you and often without an increase in pay, vacation or benefits and as for the teacher, greater difficulty/desperation as an employer trying t find potential applicants.

Staying Competitive

In order to be competitive schools have to offer things that are unique, rare, and highly sought after.
These things include......

• Having native English teachers (preferably from America or at least Canada or the United Kingdom)
• Female Teachers (most people feel more comfortable learning from a woman)
• Physically Fit Teachers ( not obese or restricted due to health etc.)
• Young/Attractive Teachers (attracts students/ feelings of trust/ stereotypically nicer)
• Teachers with bachelor's degrees (preferably in education)
• Teacher's with musical/insturmental skills (assuming that you'll perform for the school)
• Teacher's with years of experience
• Inclusion of English games (that will be played to make things "fun")
• Inclusion of English songs (that will be learned thought the year)
• International Field Trips (students can study in New Zealand or Australia for a homestay and learning experience)
• Affordable pricing
• Small classes
• English conversation practice/presentations (Japanese students usually have little to no speaking experience from public school) 

The Cost

Think about it from a Japanese parent's perspective. Would you rather pay $900 a month for an American teacher with a bachelors degree in education to teach your elementary aged kids or would you rather pay $350 a month for a non-native English speaker from India?
You'll save money but the lessons will lack in quality from a non-native speaker as mistakes are inevitably bound to be made from accents, to incorrect verb tenses and lack of understanding for slang, and figures of speech etc.. In defense of non-native English speakers I'm American and I make TONS of mistakes myself so I can totally understand why you would too.
However while developing a non-native accent may been inevitable in most cases most of the native speakers that I have met are pretty bad at teaching English! Teaching is a skill it is not for everyone and just because you know how to speak English DOES NOT mean that you can teach it properly. This applies to everyone!!
Anyway lots of parents don't mind and would rather save money others want to make sure that they are giving their child an advantage in both their potential college and professional career.

English Culture

Japanese people need strong English skills in every area specifically reading and writing in order to get a good or high paying job. Most companies will request test scores and tons of companies won't even accept or seriously  consider applicants who have low test scores or that attended low ranking universities.
This is something that I don't understand since Japanese is already a difficult langue to learn (ONLY because of the writing systems) and I'd say about 80% of the companies here don't do business in other countries especially not in America. I will never understand why this is a mandatory skill to have in order to really be successful here. However my opinion is irrelevant. English is in demand and sounding native is VERY desirable.
My ex-boyfriend and a few guys that I befriend were all students and alumni from Waseda University (which is one of the top 5 schools (#2 I believe) in all of Japan.) all spoke native level English. They never really accepted my compliments and simply brushed them off but I really couldn't tell the difference between them and an Asian-American (FYI Japanese people don't like being called "Asian" and they don't consider Japanese people living/born in other countries outside of Japan as REALLY being Japanese but that's for another post I won't get into this debate with you today)!
What they all had in common was that they went to expensive international schools, cram schools and studied abroad in America/Canada.
It is very unfair to me because basically if your parents couldn't afford to fork over half of their salary for their children to have a private English education you are arguably set back for life and will struggle as an adult to binge watch Netflix, Spotify, YouTube and shell out cash for private lessons in the hopes of improving your English to pass standardized tests for work in order to update your resume with something that will surely help yours stand out above the rest.

My current job requests that....

1. I teach my students at least 1 new English song per a month 
2. We play an English game of some sort during each class
3. "Hello" and "Goodbye" song is sung at the beginning and end of each class
4. I give at least 1 Homework assignment per a class
5. Optional: Encourage conversation in English

All of these things seem very reasonable but if you've every worked at a cram school you will know just how ridiculous this is.

Students don't listen! They've had a long day at school. They have sports practice, piano and violin lessons after they leave their English lesson. These kids are hungry. Their English levels are also too different to be in the same class as their peers but unfortunately schools allow the parents to decide what class to put their kids in. This often means regardless of their speaking, reading and writing ability students in the same grade will be placed in the same class. 

I can see the embarrassment of being a big kid and put in a class with little kids but you cannot catch-up to students who cn speak English at a 5thgrade level when you are at a 2nd grade level at best

As always expectations vary from school to school. Some schools are much more lenient and will not care about how bad simple and unprofessional your demo lesson was. A lot of the male teachers that I have seen act as if they are being invited to a child's birthday party and put on more of a circus show act speaking really loud and making big gestures in a rather goofy way. This is nice don't get me wrong! But these types of "clown presentations" lack creativity and persnickety schools might feel as though you aren't suitable for the job. 

Now that you understand what the parents and schools want for their students and why let's talk about the actual demo lesson itself.

The Big Bad Demo

Ahh the moment that nobody was waiting for the demo lesson! It's okay to feel nervous and shy about presenting your lesson whether it be online via Skype or in person. It is a nerve wrecking experience for most. I know its hard but try your best not to worry about it! Remember you are the native speaker and you are the language expert! 

I recommend watching some YouTube videos for inspiration and reading some lesson plans for kindergartners or 1st graders in America. Keep your lesson short sweet and simple! Your demo lesson can be as short as 15 minutes or as long as 1 hour depending on the school. Most jobs request a 20-30 minute demo lesson for a classroom of about 20-25 kids.

My current job only requested a 3 minute lesson!

NOTE: Some schools will request that you teach a specific topic that has already been predetermined such as "Emotions".
You may be allowed to use the materials from the actual school to give your lesson.

Your employer will typically and secretly judge you based on these five things...

1. Your voice projection and presentation
2. Clarity and speed of voice
3. Creativity/fun
4. Ease of understanding presented materials
5. Timeliness

Speak loud and clear so that everyone in the room can hear you. You should seem genuinely happy (big smile!). 

Don't increase your speed! Please try your best to speak with a clear accent and slowly so that you can be understood remember English is not their first language.

Employers love teachers who can incorporate songs, games, crafts and dances into their lessons

Your lesson should be easy to follow for someone who doesn't speak English. Think of charades! Again hand gestures, body movements, songs, videos and flash cards are your best friend.

Try to start and end your lesson promptly. Its okay to end your trial lesson a little early but try to avoid going over the allotted time or ending too early. Ask your potential employer if it's okay to end the lesson a little bit early before you start and hopefully as you show them what you have prepared.

Tips:

• It may seem over the top to have to put on a circus show for your students for both the demo lesson and possibly for future lessons too but you should keep in mind that companies are taking a risk by hiring you as there is a 90% chance that you will quit before your contract is up, or simply be a bad teacher. Their goal is to weed out potentially bad teachers.

• You may think that you aren't being paid so why go through so much for your interview or demo lesson but adding fun activities such as videos to watch and songs to sing and dance to will help you kill the trial lesson time.

• If you speak slowly and clearly and review vocabulary and practice dance movies or quietly listen to the songs before singing and dancing this will also help to kill time.

• You will earn some serious brownie points if you bring your own lesson materials and notes for the demo lesson as this shows your level of seriousness and professionalism.

• I would suggest using a simple topic that's easy to teach such as emotions, colors, or days of the week. Most schools will allow you to use their supplies and materials if you arrive early and simply ask them if it is okay to do so.

Thank you so much for reading! I hope that you found this information very useful. I wish you the best of luck in your search for a job in Japan! Please leave a review, comments, or suggestions that you may have below so that you can help other people who are interested in working and living in Japan too.

Any help or advice is appreciated!

Stay Tuned!

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10 Tips For Foreign English Teachers in Japan

Whether you're an ALT or a homeroom teacher being a teacher can feel like a very tough and thankless job especially if you're new to this whole thing. I've spent countless hours and nights staying up late grading papers, looking for projects and organization ideas on YouTube, Pinterest and pretty much anywhere else that you can imagine. I used to arrive to work 3-5 hours (yes you read that right) early to organize folders print worksheets and make arguably illegal copies from my students textbooks in preparation of the day and month ahead. I am a self-proclaimed workaholic and I am passionate about teaching, but teaching students in a new language that you'd hope to become their second language is a challenge and your day (or year) will not always be picture perfect and your cookie-cutter methods and plans that may have worked in the past in America or even Japan won't necessarily go as smoothly as you expected from school to school or class to class.

Here's a list of ten things (in no particular order) that I think every (English) teacher in Japan should try their best to keep in mind.

1.) Remember You're Being Paid (You're The (Teacher) Adult Here!)
Whenever I feel really stressed out I remind myself that I am being paid generously with "hush money" to put up with it. I get a free 3 month train pass to go anywhere I want between Kyoto and Osaka. I have 1 month of paid vacation, 7 sick days, I'm also making a name for myself and my community,  I am doing what I love which is teaching but with a purpose, AND I get a visa to stay in this beautiful country. More importantly I am helping my students prepare for their adult lives by teaching them the language of the world... English. Your hard days will be worth it in the long run. It's always sad and hard to say goodbye to your students as you watch them grow-up and graduate or simply move to another city/prefecture. Even if you don't enjoy working with the kids personally, it's definitely a great learning experience both for you and your resume!
It's a chance for you to learn and grow. I have learned a lot about teaching, caring for children, and preparation. I have improved my public speaking skills and I have great (and embarrassingly bad) pictures and videos from work to add to my portfolio/resume.
Don't let your students or your coworkers get the best of you! You have to try your best to remain professional at all times. Regardless of whether they walk out of your class with new found knowledge and understanding or not, you will still be paid your hourly or monthly wage as compensation for all that you're doing (see number ten for more). Remember at the end of the day the jokes on them! You're still getting paid regardless of how much they learn or how much you actually teach.
They're kids and they're overworked as it is. They will make mistakes, zone out, have bad days, or months, but you're getting paid to do this. I don't know about you but I'd much rather teach bad kids than have angry Christmas customers through their merchandise and Driver's Licenses at me upon being told you need to show ID to use a check. Who even pays with checks anymore (this was back in 2013)?!
You have to be mature! Don't stoop down to anyone's level. Remain calm and quiet. Save your time and don't add any unnecessary extra stress to your life. I know it's hard but you will feel so much better if you stop allowing little things at work to make you so angry.

2.) Have Some Patience 
Everyone learns differently in many ways. Not all of your students will be excited about learning English especially if they're young and they're taking classes with you at a cram school. These kids have had a very long day full of rules, dress codes, non-stop lectures, difficult kanji, math (BOOOO!) and every other boring and hard thing imaginable. Then to top it all off their parents have forced them to listen to some random foreigner for 30-minutes-3 hours (I have many students who take 3 hour English classes at my job!). I struggled to make to 2:30PM and in High school 3:15 was a nightmare for me. Imagine being in school until 3:30PM and then taking English lessons until 7:30PM and then having piano/violin lessons until 8:30PM and then you have to practice, study finish your homework etc. upon actually getting home that is after you've walked miles all day long to and from the train station to your front door carrying your heavy backpack.
Anyway my point is some kids will be excited about your class because its fun to learn new words in a new language or simply because they know how important English will be for them in the future (it's used for both acceptance into good schools and for employment at major/good companies with high salaries and good vacation and retirement plans).
Japanese students aren't robots although it may seem that way at times! They're still kids and teenagers (or even adults). They will make mistakes. They will have bad days. Some students learn better through hands on or physical (conversational) activities others through reading and writing. Not everyone is the same! Don't get frustrated with your students because they can't understand you! Sometimes you might feel tempted to use a little Japanese when students seem lost, sleepy or frustrated but this should be avoided at all costs unless it's an emergency situation as most jobs (and parents) ask that you refrain from using any Japanese. The idea is to provide students with an immersion lesson.
Understand that practice makes perfect! Figure out what works best for your students both collectively and on an individual level. Your job is to get everyone involved and to make sure that everyone can understand the material that you are teaching. Don't embarrass students for not understanding. Have some patience. Learning English can feel like potty training a toddler sometimes.
Speak softly and slowly. find fun games and activities or even videos and songs based on the topic that your students are learning. Encourage your class to try their best and to not give up.
Offering a variety of learning methods will also help students to focus and keep them from becoming bored.

3.) Reward and Praise Students for Good Behavior and Effort
Don't get too caught up with unruly students! Never overlook the students who are trying their best to learn, improve and putting the work and effort. Be sure to praise and compliment students who are listening to you and following your directions by name. I highly recommend saying something along the lines of "Great job Maho! Thank you so much for listening! Can you give me a high-five?!" This is great because it will make the students who aren't listening to you feel jealous and it will also encourage your "good noodle" to continue doing the right thing, that is paying attention in class and following your directions.
This almost always works especially with kindergarten students who tend to be very competitive.
Remember effort is just as good as perfection! Just because a student's work isn't perfect doesn't mean that you shouldn't reward them for their handwork and effort. As a teacher your job is to encourage your students too! Try saying something like this "That's a good guess Keishi! It's very close to "b" base rhymes with vase but "vase" is spelled v-a-s-e . Vase starts with "V" as in violin not "b" as in boy." Try not to be too critical or harsh on students as you'll discourage them from ever participating in class by raising their hands, trying, or working all together.
It's easy to judge students and critique poor performances but don't forget to to give praise too! Take note of little improvements too such as a student who never talks in class that voluntarily raises her hand in an attempt to answer a question. A simple "High-five Aoi-chan!" can go a long way.

4.) Just Keep Teaching (Don't Feed The Bears)
No matter how crazy things get NEVER yell at your class. You have to stay calm and keep your cool as a teacher. The joke's on them when they try to get into a prestigious high school or college or when they're ready to become salarymen or salary women and their English speaking/understanding skills and test scores are too low to meet the minimal requirements for acceptance. Not to mention when they decide that they want to befriend or date a "foreigner".
If you always stop your lesson and feed into the negativity you'll only encourage the students to act a mess overtime they see you. This is also unfair to the students who are listening and ready to learn. The worse thing that you can do as a teacher is punish/reward everyone for the good/wrong doings of a few. Instead just make notes and talk to your manager and the child's parents about their unpleasant and disruptive behaviors.
I personally did this for 2 of my classes and my boss was very hesitant about doing this as I'm sure she feared that the parents would be offended. Well after I had a sit down with the parents my worse student came to class next week as an angel and a few of the other students mothers observed the class to ensure that their child wouldn't be a burden. A few of the parents personally apologized as they had no idea that their child was bad in class as nobody had ever told them after 2 years of learning at the same school! I was overwhelmed with the parental support 2 parents made their child bow and apologize to both me alone and then before the class for being a disturbance and 1 of the dad's yelled at his son in front of everyone after class.
 You might be the first person to ever be brave/bold enough to complain about their child. Of course keep things realistic and professional. Kids are... well, kids. They will laugh at you and make jokes. They will mimic you. They will not always listen to your every word and sometimes it will drive you crazy, but don't let this consume you and cause you to become so angry that you forget to teach the class.  Have realistic expectations. Take baby steps. It is possible to to have harmony in the classroom but you must be willing to compromise.
Remember your job is to teach! Sure this involves a little bit of discipline and parenting for/to your students too but the main focus should be on presenting learning materials. Once you've finished your job explaining the rules/ lesson etc. then you can begin to focus on individual behaviors. Ignore the bad students and reward the good. Just keep teaching and talking no matter what! Nicely ask for your student to be quiet and listen. Tell them that you will talk to their parents about their behavior and follow through! Again don't forget to get support from your boss/management. Explain to them that when the kids act out it hinders the other well behaved students from learning and this makes it nearly impossible for you to teach. Ensure them that you understand that they're kids and that the class won't be perfect but imply that there is an easy and sure way for improvement with both the student's and parent's cooperation. I would also mention that most of these parents probably have no idea how bad their kids are behaving in the cram school thats costing their parents $100-$600 a month! It's easy to become angry and to just give up. Sometimes I too want to yell at my class or worse as it is very clear that most of these kids aren't being disciplined at all when they're at home, but it's not my job or place to do so. Remember you're being paid for this! Both the good and the bad it's all your job! You have to stay focused and remember that your job is to teach. Don't feed into the negativity.
There's nothing wrong with addressing bad behavior but don't let that be the only thing that you notice.

5.) Keep Track and Organize Everything You Need For The Month
I like to spend the last weekend (sometimes week) of the month in preparation for the month that's to come. In my classes I focus on one chapter/theme for each month (5 weeks actually).  Decide what pages your student will learn from and make a generic outline of the days focus and homework.
For example if the chapter is on Days of the Week find a few videos to show the class, a few worksheets and make additional copies of the workbook so that students can try to answer the questions correctly again. Don't be afraid to reassign the same classwork. It makes great practice! Most of your students will only see you once a week and therefore only "study" while they're in class with you. I am amazed at the number of students that I have whose parents clearly don't pack their bags or check their homework.
Here's a sample of how I conduct my class taken straight from my Pages documents.....

Monthly Lesson Guide

9 Units Per A Year

1 Lesson per a Month

42 Classes per a Year

Week 1 Lesson 

• Unit Introduction
• Picture Dictionary Page observation (what do you see) Vocab introduction
• Complete 1 page from the Activity Book in class

Homework

2 pages of homework from the Activity Book

Week 2 Lesson 

• Unit Review
• Practice Writing and Reading Vocab Class assignment
• Have students write each vocabulary word 5 times each in class
• Have students copy sentence samples for each vocab word in their notes
• Talk about vocabulary in detail (give examples)

Homework

Use each vocabulary word in 1 complete sentence.

Week 3 Lesson 

• Unit Review
• Picture Dictionary I SPY & Vocab Review 
• Complete 1 Page from the Picture Dictionary activity book in class
• 1-2 Coloring Activities/Projects (based off of the Picture Dictionary Unit)

Homework

Journal Writing Assignment (based off of the unit)

Week 4 Lesson  

• Briefly review vocabulary from both unit lesson and picture dictionary
• Have students read Journal Aloud for the class
• Practice self-introduction and Greetings
• Open Conversation/AGO Cards

Homework

Write each vocabulary word 5 times each 

Week 5 Lesson 

• Watch 1-3 (semi-lengthy)Videos based off the the current unit
• Open Conversation/AGO Cards
• Coloring Activity/Art Project based off of the current unit
• Give Students Certificates of Completion for learning new vocabulary and completing the months lessons.
• Optional: Give a special treat at the end of class as a reward for good behavior and completion of the months homework assignments

Homework

None

Of course life happens, things change, and sometimes we are short on time so I have to maker adjustments to this but again this is just a rough outline based off of the usage of "Super Kids & Super Tots". With my younger students (preschoolers) I don't assign any homework but I maintain a monthly theme such as colors. Each day of class is about colors through various means such as stories, crafts/projects, videos etc..
I have 1 folder for each class and I keep track of all of the assignments that we have done. At the end of the unit I give my students all of their completed assignments to take home and show to their parents.

I take and keep notes of my students behaviors and skills/abilities that I have noticed during class. This is very helpful for days when you can't make its to work and you need someone to substitute for you. They can simply look over your student notes and view your monthly folder to get an idea of what to expect and some ideas in regards of what and how to teach.
This will also help you to memorize your students! If you take and keep notes of what happens during each class you will quickly become familiar with your students names, faces, and behaviors.
You can also leave book marks and take notes to help you keep track of where you left off at.

6.) Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help (Students Parents, Co-workers, Management)
Sometimes you'll feel lost and that's okay too! Teaching isn't always an easy job and it most certainly does't come naturally for everyone but it is a skill that can be learned and even perfected! Sometimes it's best to just ask for advice. Maybe your coworkers can tell you what the previous teachers have done. You can learn about what has or hasn't worked in the past.
If you are having a hard time controlling your class just speak calmly take a deep breath and explain (in a professional manner) your frustration/dilemma to management. They will work with you to resolve your problems but you have to speak up! Once again many parents have no clue that their beloved little babies are being bad in class. You shouldn't have to fear or dread going to work.
Remember it's all about how you make the suggestion. I had a really bad kindergarten class 2 of the boys in particular would fight non-stop until I suggested that a phone call to mom and dad be made. I asked that she simply say that I am concerned that they might have a learning disability such as ADHD as I noticed that it is very difficult for them to pay attention, sit still, or focus for any length of time. I also emphasized that this unruly behavior is unfair to the difficult students peers/classmates and that it's disrespectful words me as the teacher.
 My boss hesitated to do so but the parents had no idea that this was even going on and seemed to have been rather embarrassed by their child's behavior and were very apologetic. Discipline starts and ends at the home! Don't try to take matters into your own hands. It's not only illegal these days but it's simply not your job. Again you never want to make accusations but simply suggest what you think is the problem and hint at a few ideas of ways that this problem can be resolved (if appropriate).
These parents are paying hundreds of dollars a month and MOST of them don't want they money to go to waste because their kids was busy being a class clown.
You might feel incompetent and unprofessional because you're the teacher yet you're asking for help but as a teacher you have to know your limits and set boundaries to keep your own sanity.

7.) Make Plans for "Me Time"
All work and no play is a major no no here in Japan. You'll become overwhelmed and you'll find yourself eyeballing TripAdvisor and Priceline for the cheapest and fastest flight back home. It's very important that you find time for leisure. If you think you don't have time you'd better make some! Work in Japan is very stressful and time-consuming. Between the endless showers, nearly 2 hour train rides and hour long walks to and from everywhere you'll feel exhausted. Working with kids is very hard. Of course the sweet little cupcakes that listen and that are studious, and eager to learn are the greatest but this isn't how everyone is going to be. No matter how much you think you love/like kids and no matter how many children of your own that you have being a teacher to someone else's kids is very challenging. All of this plus the added language barrier and you're in for a ride!
Find groups to join or download some old reliable social media apps (I'll make a post about my recommendations for meeting people in Japan). Don't be afraid to ask your coworkers to go out for lunch or dinner during the weekend. You can play a day the aquarium, a theme park, a trip to the mall or for some fun at the arcade. This is a great way to relax and get to know one another. You can even have a language exchange or possibly find that special someone.
It's okay to love your job and your students, but be sure to love yourself even more!
If you never make time to meet new people, hand out with your friends or to simply enjoy the things you've purchased like your new clothes, CD's, video games etc., you'll be miserable and will always be in a bad mood because you will of course naturally feel underpaid, taken advantage of and drained of your energy. You're more than an English teacher. You are a human being with emotions and you deserve to have weekly treat for yourself.
If you think that you don't have enough time consider cutting back on the time you spend planning lessons. You can consider moving closer to your job if you live more than 30 minutes away (it will be worth it in the long run). Don't arrive to work so early and don't stay too late! Schedule your private lessons/students on weekdays only (avoid having private lessons during the weekend).
If you're not having fun and enjoying yourself you will not last long as a teacher in Japan.
You don't have to have crazy drunken parties every weekend or waste money going out every night. All it takes is a simple bubble bath, playing some video games, streaming music, catching up on some TV shows, drawing, painting, taking some photos, or even exploring your neighborhood to make you feel relaxed.
You have to give yourself something to look forward to after work (always).

8.) Set a Budget (for Yourself and Your Students)
As a teacher sure you're not making billions of yen a year but you definitely should be with the amount of work and love you're pouring into your job and your students. I often times find myself getting a bit carried away and I tend to splurge a little bit too much on both myself and my students. It's okay to think about other people and want to buy school supplies and materials for that awesome Pinterest or YouTube craft that your mother emailed, or to decide that you'd like to make Pokemon Cake-pops for the monthly birthday babies but don't go overboard! Decide how much you'd like to spend each month and stick to it! Personally I'd never spend more than $100 USD per month on my students and for myself I try to spend $100 or less for my breakfasts and lunches for the month during the work week. Avoiding fast-food and nights of heavy drinking with your coworkers is a must if you want to have money to travel to other countries, make a trip back home  or to explore Japan during your vacations and time off from work.
You should really spend much less than this for your students and some months I don't buy anything for my classes. $100 may seem like too much to some people but I often times find good ideas for classroom learning and projects from the internet so I have to be construction papers, stickers, glue, crayons, and other miscellaneous supplies. I like to buy or sometimes make a small card with a gift card and treat for my students birthdays.
Buying a bento everyday can add up quickly! Instead by some discount meat bread and vegetables and simply freeze them until needed. I like to make green smoothies/juice for days when Im in a rush so that I can just grab it and go. When I'm feeling lazy or if I have a busy week ahead I will make a pot of spaghetti, Brat-burgers, sausages, tacos (or anything else that's cheap and can stretch). The left overs can serve as both a quick lunch to take to work or as an easy microwaveable dinner for those ate nights the you don't even want to think about cooking.
I usually leave croissants, cookies, crackers, chips, tea, water, energy drinks, and jerky at my office so that even if I am in a rush I will always have some food on hand. Nothing is more embarrassing than a noisy stomach during a lecture.
It's okay to go out every once in a while with your friends or coworkers but you have to be reasonable sometimes you will have to say "no" in order to save money and stick to your budget.
Try to avoid crafts/projects that are costly or consider asking your boss to cover the expenses or to chip in and help cover the costs (maybe even the parents would be willing to put a few yen towards your ideas).
We're human we all make mistakes you might go over budget some months and that's okay, but try to avoid making fancy/expensive crafts, and konbini bentos into a habit.

9.) Don't Rush Lessons/ Classes (Set a Schedule and Make Time for Review) 
I sometimes find myself moving to fast because my students are too smart and are completing their worksheets faster than I had expected OR sometimes the opposite happens. My students are having a hard time understanding the instructions that I gave them so we spend the entire class on 1 out of the 10 worksheets in the packet for the day. remember you have to have patience and remain calm. Use a friendly, calm and soothing voice and break it down in the simplest way possible (avoid using stand or big words). If students finish early have them copy sentences, write vocabulary words 3-10 times each etc.. Don't be afraid to get creative! I often times will have students listen and reread/repeat the stories, vocabulary or phonics from the unit. Theres nothing wrong with a few minute son peace and quiet. Consider working on some of the homework slowly together as a class or read a book or watch a video to kill any remaining time.
If you're always finishing too early maybe you're moving to fast for your students to really learn and memorize the vocabulary that you have taught them. Speak slowly. Offer help. Come up with a game to play together as a class.
You don't always have to punish your class with more work just because they finished early. Indoor recess anyone?!

10.) Don't Forget Why You Started!
No job is perfect! Yes you will have to work with difficult students, coworkers/teachers,and even parents at times! I always try to remind myself of how miserable I was making $8.50 and hour at Walmart and $8.35 an hour at Starbucks. I've worked at almost every retailer that you can think of and I pretty much hated all of my jobs back in America! I was overworked, under appreciated, and underpaid. I had to deal with racists and put up with disrespect. I've been cursed out and had things thrown at me and even had a run in with the law!
Whenever I think that I "hate" doing this I simply take a look back and see what I've done and been through to get here. Even in Japan I had garbage jobs! I've quit and I've been "let go of" A.K.A fired. This happened right before my birthday and Christmas and New Year by "so called" black Christians for no reason other than they didn't feel I was worth paying for (I'll explain this late but I moved and my transportation costs doubled so they came up with crap reasons to fire me). I felt unsafe working as a maid and quit due to privacy concerns (I'll explain this in a later post too).
My point is think about how much you you've done to get where you are. The countless hours in college. The nervous nights and early morning practicing for your trials lessons and interviews. All of the rejection you've experience. You have to want this just like you did before you were hired or maybe back before you had enough money to actually get to Japan.
You can do it! Don't give up! Don't let go of a good and stable job over something ridiculous and meaningless. Many people would give up and do just about anything to be in your position. I spent over 2 years binge watching YouTube videos, NHK Japan and random anime as well as scouring the web for anything related to Japan to read. I felt hopeless and wanted to give up. No matter how angry you become. No matter how much you swear you deserve more pay and appreciation (which you probably do)  both you and I know that you'd seriously regret leaving.
It's okay to switch jobs or even to return to your home country, but make sure that you have a clear mind and that you aren't making decisions out of anger or sadness.
All of the hard days that you have at work or working from home will be worth it in the future. The best thing about life is that pain, sadness, and stress don't and won't last forever.
I promise that your happiness will return no matter how seemingly lost it (and you) appear to be! Coming to Japan was and still is your dream. are you really going to let someone or something else take that away from you?...

Above all else remember that you are the teacher! You are the language expert! You have the power and the control. Only you can make it or break it. At the end of the day you are responsible for your own happiness and success. There will be bad days and you will make mistakes. Sometimes your feelings and stress will get the best of you, but there are better days to come and possibly a better job or position as well.

Be optimistic and remain positive. You're a great teacher!




If you have any advice comments, questions or tips please leave a comment below. Thank you so much for reading and I wish you the best of luck in your career and life in Japan!

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