What Do I Need To Teach English In Japan?

If you want to teach English in Japan, I’ll tell you right now that it’s a wonderful experience. Not only that, the money is great. The demand for English (and native English speakers to teach) has never been higher and shows no signs of falling.

Most people who come to Japan to teach English are actually not teachers at all. Like the job ads tell you, you do not need any teaching experience or Japanese language ability to teach in Japan. It sounds unbelievable, but it’s true.

So, what do you need to become an English teacher in Japan?

- Native English Speaker. First off, you have to speak English as a native. Actually, even if English is your second language and you speak it well, you may be able to teach in Japan. Still, the demand is highest for those who grew up in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK or South Africa. Most people want to learn from a native speaker, even if you’re teaching experience is pretty limited.

- A Bachelor’s Degree. Japanese law states that you have to have a BA to teach in Japan. There are stories about people that come here fresh out of high school and score teaching jobs, but there are many more stories about those same people who end up going home after a few months because nobody will risk hiring them.

The good news is that your degree can be in anything at all. It doesn’t have to be English, education or anything else remotely related to teaching. So, YES you can get a job with your art history degree making 36K a year!

- Other Skills. There has been increasing demand in the last few years, especially in Japanese public schools, for native teachers who have other specialized skills, like music or sports. Lots of progressive English schools have programs where other subjects, such as PE or computer science, are taught in English. You don’t need to have any other special skills, but if you happen to be a musician, athlete or expert in some other field, you may be able to put that skill to use in Japan.

- Be Fun. Kids in Japan aren’t interested in English because they are bored to death by their teachers and textbooks. There is no creative, fun approach to teaching in Japan, so your fun ideas and creativity are what they need.

The first step in teaching is to show the kids that learning English is fun. You will find yourself spending more time playing games or doing activities with kids than lecturing at the blackboard and giving tests.

- Willingness To Learn. Japan is very different from the west, and the more you learn about Japan, the better equipped you’ll be to live here. Culture shock is a natural thing that happens to everybody, but if you meet Japan halfway and learn a little about them, it will make life much more rewarding.

You don’t need much to be an English teacher in Japan. If it doesn’t work out, you can always head home with all the money you’ve saved. But, for those who really want to teach and enjoy the culture, Japan is an amazing experience. Check out teaching in Japan guide for everything you’ll ever need to make the most out of teaching in Japan.