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For Teachers FAQ Japan
For Teachers FAQ Japan | Frequently Asked Questions - Japan |
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Pre-Departure
Working Terms and Conditions
Classroom / Lessons
About Japan
What are the basic qualifications? For most schools, the basic qualifications are as follows:
How long does it take to get a Working Visa? Usually schools will want to hire a teacher at least three months before the start date. The work visa that teachers will usually be applying for is called a “Specialist in Humanities / International Services Working Visa”. Each school will have their own set of documents that they will require from the teacher, but the basics are: university diploma (original or copy depending on the school), a copy of the inside of your passport, 4 passport sized photos, a signed copy of the contract. Once the school receives the required documents, they will then send it into the immigration bureau in Japan. The first document being processed is called a “Certificate of Eligibility”. This certificate is an official document processed by immigration, and it can take between 4 to 6 weeks to process. Once this is done, the certificate is sent to the school, and then the school will send it to the teacher. Once the teacher receives it, he/she has to either go to a Japanese consulate in person or mail the required documents, including this certificate and original passport, in order to get the actual visa placed inside the teacher’s passport. Once the Japanese consulate or embassy receives the teacher’s documents, it usually takes between 3 to 5 business days to process the visa into the passport. The teacher must then either go to the consulate to pick it up, or the consulate will send it to the teacher as long as the teacher provides the consulate with a pre-paid courier envelope. The teacher is now ready to go to Japan. Do I need to provide a criminal record check? For Japan, a criminal record is not required for the purpose of obtaining a work visa. However, some schools will ask teachers to provide a criminal record check, especially if the school caters to teaching children. Do I need to be able to speak Japanese? It always helps if you do know some Japanese, but for many schools, it is not a requirement. It is suggested that you try to learn some Japanese while in Japan in order to help you become more immersed in Japanese society. When can I start? Different schools have different starting dates. Some schools will have starting dates every month, while others may only hire during a particular time of the year. For example, assistant language teacher positions for Japanese public schools have two main starting dates. The first is at the end of March/beginning of April, and the second is the end of August/beginning of September. But due to the visa processing time, it is best to apply ahead of time. How do I apply? First step is to take a look at our jobs page to see if any of the positions interest you. Second, you can then either send us a message along with your resume from either our jobs page or contact page, or, send us a message and your resume through email to the following address: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it We will then take a look at your resume, and be able to give you more information regarding the position(s) you are interested in. How long are the contracts? Most contracts in Japan are one year long. However, there are some options for shorter contracts, so please contact us to find out more. Will I be provided with an airfare ticket? Most schools will not pay for your airfare ticket. However, some schools may have a loan program or reimbursement up to a specific amount. Will I be provided with an apartment? How much is rent? Most schools will provide you with a subsidized apartment. “Subsidized” means that the school will take of all the start up costs of renting an apartment, but usually not your rent. Renting an apartment in Japan comes with all kinds of fees, such as one called “key money”, which is sort of like a “gift” to the landlord, and can be as much as 6 months worth of rent. Also, apartments in Japan do not come with any furnishings. You would have to buy your own stove, refrigerator, and even your light fixtures! So the apartments that are usually provided for teachers are single apartment with the basic furnishings. The cost of rent will depend on where you are living. In large urban areas, the apartment size will be smaller and the rent higher. Whereas, living in a more rural area, your apartment may be larger and the rent will be less expensive. For most positions, the average rent would be between 45,000 yen and 60,000 yen per month. Is there training before I start teaching? Most schools will provide training and orientation at the beginning in order for you to understand their curriculum, teaching methods and styles, how to manage the classroom, and also about living in Japan. Some schools may also provide training and teaching assessments throughout your contract. What is the average salary? The average salary for a full time English teacher ranges between 220,000 yen to 270,000 yen per month. This is quite standard in Japan. The income tax is approximately between 5 to 8 percent. What will my work schedule be like? For public schools and international schools, your work schedule will usually be five days a week between 8am and 5pm. If you are working for a private language school, your work schedule will be five days a week with your lesson times starting later on in the afternoon around 3 or 4pm and finishing, at the latest, 9:30 or 10:00pm. Most schools will provide you with some paid vacation holidays, as well as days off for national holidays. Can my girlfriend/boyfriend come with me? For schools that say no to couples, the reason usually has to do with housing issues, such as the school can only provide single housing. And these singe apartments are just too small for two people to live in together, and the landlords usually do not allow this either. Another reason a school might say no, is because hiring a couple means that, if one quits, the other will probably quit as well, and this will leave the school with two vacant positions, which will be harder to cover than if it is only one teacher quitting. For schools that do allow couples, they may be able to live together in a proper double apartment, or they may be asked to live in two separate single apartments that are close to each other. How many students are there in each class? For public schools, the class size can range between 20 to 35 students depending on the location of the schools. For private language schools, the class size is much smaller, uslaly ranging between 4 to 12 students per class. Is there a set curriculum, or do I make up my own lessons? Some private language schools may have a particular amount of content that must be taught within the school year. But the teacher may have flexibility on how he/she teaches the content. Some smaller schools will give you lots of freedom and allow you to create your own lessons from scratch. Larger schools, on the other hand, usually have a set curriculum and the teacher will follow it, while creating some parts of the lesson on their own. For the public school sector, English is a mandatory subject in junior high, and therefore has a standardized curriculum. For elementary schools, the Ministry of Education has recently implemented English as a mandatory subject in grades 5 and 6. However, there is no standardized curriculum as of yet. When teaching, what should I wear? Teachers work attire can range anywhere from business formal to business casual to relaxed casual attire. It will depend on the school and what image they want to portray to their students. For public school positions, business attire is necessary, whereas private language schools each have their own policies. If you are worried about purchasing business attire before going to Japan, we would suggest that you do not buy that much. Japan is a suit wearing culture, so there are many stores that cater to this, and the prices are very reasonable and the quality is very good. But also be aware that sizes are catered toward Japanese people, who are definitely smaller than western people. Airplane – Flying to Japan If you are flying from North America to Japan, you will most likely be arriving in one of the three major international airports – Narita International Airport (Tokyo), Chubu International Airport (Nagoya), or Kansai International Airport (Osaka). Depending on where you are flying from, there will be a direct flight to one of these major airports. If you are flying from the west coast of North America, a direct flight usually takes about 10 hours. If you are flying direct from the east coast, it will take about 14 hours. The common airlines used from North America to Japan are: Air Canada, Japan Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Northwest Airlines. Banking You can set up bank accounts in Japan as long as you have what is called an “Alien Registration Card”. Most teachers apply for and receive this card once they get to Japan. When opening an account, teachers should have this card and their passport. Japanese people use a stamp, called a “hanko”, which acts as their signature, but foreigners can use their normal written signature when signing documents. After opening an account you will receive a bank card, which you can use to withdraw cash at bank machines. But be aware, many bank machines are not open 24 hours and may not even be open on weekends. So plan ahead if you are going to be needing cash for the weekend. Many teachers want to send money home for different reasons such as paying off student loans. The easiest way to do this is to use something called “telegraphic transfer”, which is simply an electronic transfer of your money from your account in Japan to your account back home. There is usually a fee for this, about 2500JPY to 4500JPY per transfer. Computers/Internet Many teachers bring their own laptops to Japan. However, there are companies where you can buy a computer, have an English operating system, and have support in English as well, and it is not too expensive. If you don’t have a lot of money to spend, you may be able to buy a used computer from another foreigner or teacher who may be heading home. Internet connection is relatively easy to get. However, depending on the area and the building you live in, your connection options will be different. The most common types of internet connections are ADSL, which is through the phone line and relatively inexpensive, or fiber optic cable, which is a super fast connection but a little more expensive. Most large companies offer English support. Driver’s license If you are planning on driving in Japan you will want to get an international driver’s license before you depart. These licenses are good for one year, and only renewable if you leave the country once within one year. If you don’t renew, then you will have to get a Japanese driver’s license. If you have the necessary requirements, you can get a Japanese driver’s license through a simplified process. There will be some fees to pay, some documents to fill out, a simple written test, and a simplified driving test. Entertainment There are so many options. Tokyo is the party capital and will have all different types of night life entertainment, and since there are no laws on closing times, you can party all night However, some establishments are not foreigner friendly so be careful. There is abundant night life in all large and medium sized cities so you will always have many choices. Other types of entertainment include concerts, theatre, and sports. There are English magazines that provide information on all types of events, and they are distributed in all major cities. There is always something happening, so there is much to experience. Etiquette Most Japanese people understand that as a foreigner, you would not be familiar with all the different customs of Japan. Being in an unfamiliar country, you should observe people, listen to those who have had experience living in Japan, be open to the new customs, and adapt the best you can. Please see the following link on more detailed etiquette and customs in Japan: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e622.html Food Regular grocery stores and supermarkets will usually have everything you need. You will find some differences with supermarkets back home such as: meat will be packed in smaller portions, one liter milk cartons will be the largest size, and there is definitely more variety of fish. You can find some western made products such as Campbell’s soup, but you probably won’t find Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. If you do have a craving for western food, there are usually “international stores” which sell food from around the world. There are all types of restaurants in Japan. You can find different ethnic restaurants from around the world, especially if you live in a large urban area. But since you are in Japan, you should try the many varieties of Japanese food, not just sushi. Japan is a great place for food, and it will definitely be something you will miss when you come back home. Health Insurance You must have health insurance while living and working in Japan. Many teachers purchase travel medical insurance in their home country before they depart for Japan. If you would like more information on obtaining travel medical insurance and to hear about the different options of coverage, please email or call our medical insurance advisor Mr. Carey Alden. Carey is an insurance advisor for MacNaughton and Ward Insurance. He has had experience with many teachers from Canada and the USA who have gone abroad to teach. Please contact him to find out more information. Carey Alden Cell: (604) 783-0703 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Website: www.macwardins.com If you are planning on staying in Japan for more than one year, you might want to consider Japanese national health insurance. Premiums for this insurance are based on your previous year’s income, so your first year will be relatively cheap. However, you will have to purchase travel medical insurance before you go to Japan because you may not receive your Japanese national health insurance right away. Learning Japanese Making the effort to learn Japanese before you depart and during your stay in Japan will add to your experience. There are different options to choose from depending on what you want to achieve and what you want to pay. There are private schools which offer Japanese classes, but these are usually quite expensive. In many areas of Japan, there is usually an “international center”, which provides cheap or sometimes free Japanese conversation classes. You could also find a language exchange partner, where you teach your partner English and they teach you Japanese. Money / Cost of Living / How much can I save? When bringing money to Japan, you should bring cash and traveler’s cheques. However, make sure you bring your traveler’s cheques to a major bank, as some smaller banks may not be able to cash them for you. Japan is still primarily a cash based society, with credit cards not being as popular as they are back home. Personal cheques will not work, and as mentioned in the “Banking” section, bank cards can not be used as debit cards. Most people have a pre-conceived notion that Japan is a very expensive place to live. While this is true in some areas, and also depending on your lifestyle, once you have lived in Japan for awhile, you will know, for example, where the cheap supermarkets are, or when particular stores are going to have sales. Japan can be an expensive place, but it will depend very much on your lifestyle and your spending habits. If you are receiving a standard full time salary, after all the expenses - rent, bills, transportation, food and entertainment, you can save anywhere between 30,000 to 80,000 yen per month Telephone/Communications When you are in Japan you will definitely need a mobile phone. Mobile phones are relatively cheap to purchase, sometimes free, and you pay a monthly fee based on what type of plan you are on. You will be amazed with all the different styles and colors of phones the stores offer. A landline is usually not very beneficial for a foreigner, and it is expensive. You have to purchase the actual phone line, before you can set up the phone. If you want to call home, a cheap way is to set up an IP phone through an internet connection. There are pay phones in Japan, some being used only for local calls, while others can be used both for local and international calls. Usually the green colored pay phones are for local calls only, and the grey colored pay phones can be used for both local and international calls. Transportation The public transportation system in Japan is excellent. There are trains, subways, buses, and taxis. They are all very efficient and run on time. Travel within Japan is made very easy because of this, and so going away for the weekend, or heading to Tokyo to party for the weekend is not out of the question, unless you are living in the very south of Japan, or the very north. The Shinkansen, or the bullet train, is very fast and runs through all the major areas. If you want to travel within Japan on an airplane, these flights are relatively expensive. Traveling internationally from Japan is relatively inexpensive. Riding a bicycle is another option for commuting. However, Japan’s urban areas are not very bike friendly so don’t expect any bike lanes on the road. People rarely wear helmets, and mountain bikes are not as popular in Japan as they are in North America. Visas The typical visas that teachers may have are: Specialist in Humanities / International Services Working Visa - This visa is what more teachers go to Japan with. Most schools require a Working Visa, which allows you to work full time for one year with the possibility of extending. You must have a university degree, or a college diploma in a related field with documented teaching experience, or a minimum of three years of documented teaching experience. However, applicants must be aware that visas are never guaranteed. Working Holiday Visa – This visa allows you to work, but it mainly for people who want to travel. You must be between the ages of 18 and 30 and be a Canadian citizen to be eligible for this visa. Spousal Visa – This visa is issued to those who are married to a Japanese national. This visa will allow you to work full time similar to the Work Visa. Heritage Visa – This visa is issued to those who are the child of a Japanese national or permanent resident of Japan. This also allows you to work full time similar to the Work Visa. For official information regarding visas, please see the following link: http://www.mofa.go.jp Weather In general, southern Japan is warmer than northern Japan. In the north, the winters are very cold with the average temperature at about -9 degrees Celsius. In the middle area of Japan, where the large cities are located, the average winter temperatures are about 3 or 4 degrees Celsius. In the southern parts of Japan, the average winter temperature is about 7 degrees Celsius. In the summertime, the southern and middle areas of Japan are very hot and humid. The average temperature is about 27 degrees Celsius, but there are days when it is 35 to 37 degrees Celsius. The northern areas are cooler with less humidity, and with the average temperature at about 21 degrees Celsius. |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 13 March 2009 ) |
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