If you are considering teaching English in Japan, I thoroughly recommend you to check out Craig Desorcy’s guide,
The Super Teaching in Japan Handbook

Craig’s handbook is full of valuable tips and information that will help you find and prepare for this life-changing experience as well as how to succeed as an English teacher and lots of insider info about the teaching business in Japan.

As you’re probably already aware, Japan is a very unique place. No where else in the world will you find the same outrageous opportunities to make money that are open to just about anyone.

English Teaching.

The most common job for new foreigners is teaching English. Despite the thousands of English schools and 12 years of study at school, the English level in Japan remains at lower intermediate, ensuring strong demand for teachers. Every type of class and situation exists from Elementary schools right through to Flight Attendant Colleges. It can also be a great way into a previously non-existent position. I know of one teacher at a top Advertising agency who later became an English copywriter. He had no experience whatsoever in copywriting, they just liked him and enjoyed his lessons.

Acting/modeling/voice overs.

Without a doubt, the epicenter for entertainment work is Tokyo. There are around 60 major freelance agencies that offer all kinds of work to foreigners living in the area. It is not uncommon for first timers to walk into $1000 plus jobs, while their friends back home fight over $120 extras work. Experience is not expected - simply being foreign and having the right look is enough. In fact, most highly skilled dancers and actors would be appalled at how easy it is to get work and how the jobs are selected. Actual talent is very rarely considered - it is all about the look.

In many ways, the entertainment scene in Tokyo is a big break and a way to escape the comfort zone and limitations of home. Many foreigners living in Japan, doing the work, return home to find their friends are just as broke as they were 5 years ago, fighting over the same tiny piece of the entertainment pie, hoping desperately for a break. They are not seeing that Tokyo is that break! Ewan McGregor, Edward Norton, Ashley Judd and Cameron Diaz are among some of the current stars to have worked in Japan.

Dancing/hostessing.

Japan was long considered one of the best places for working Dancer/hostess types in the world. Whilst it still can be very lucrative, the rules have changed regarding visas. Whereas once a 90 tourist visa was adequate, immigration crackdowns have led to the introduction of entertainment visas for all women employed in the industry. The Japanese culture remains one of meetings and drinking, and corporate types still prefer to do both in the company of attractive, polite, western women. In the past, women simply had to be attractive and turn up, now they need to be just as adept at being charming in order to make the big money.

Wedding minister.

The white wedding business is huge in Japan. It is the most popular type of ceremony from Sapporo to Okinawa and all those weddings create a demand for clean cut pastors to conduct the 20 minute ceremonies. In some cases, 20,000 yen for the 20 minute ceremony and performing 20-30 per month on the weekends is normal, making this one of the best ways to make yen. There are some properly ordained ministers out there, but for the most part, basic Japanese and rudimentary training is all it takes to move one man from the classroom to the pulpit.

Headhunting.

The Headhunting industry in Tokyo continues to flourish unabated. New companies emerge quarterly and are still able to bill fees of 30 - even 35% in some cases. Most of the “recruiters” start out teaching English and usually have very little in the way of professional experience. As English speakers though, they are considered to be experts in dealing with foreign companies, which is more than enough to qualify them for the job. Here you will find recruiters - both male and female making 6 figures when many would struggle to hold down simple jobs back home. This truly is an extraordinary opportunity open to anyone with some professionalism and knowledge of Japan.

Japanese language skills.

For teaching English and Headhunting, Japanese is almost not required at all. Speaking with the students in Japanese is strongly discouraged - they are there to learn English after all, and in Headhunting, 95% of the candidates need to be effective communicators in English. That leaves Wedding Ministers - the ceremony is read in Japanese, dancing/hostessing - where some basic Japanese will be looked upon favorably and Acting/modeling/voice overs, where in most cases there will already be a translator and the pronunciation of 10 words in Japanese is more important that speaking ability.

An active interest in Japanese culture and the language will assist in daily life, but for the people simply interested in Japan as a way to make as much money as possible, it is simply not required.

Copyright 2006 Matt Canham

About the author:
Matt Canham has lived on and off in Tokyo for the last 7 years.
He has a resource site at: http://jobs-in-japan.marinerblue.com

And don’t forget to take grab a copy of Craig Desorcy’s excellent guide, The Super Teaching in Japan Handbook before you go!

If you are considering teaching English in Japan, I thoroughly recommend you to check out Craig Desorcy’s guide,
The Super Teaching in Japan Handbook

Craig’s handbook is full of valuable tips and information that will help you find and prepare for this life-changing experience as well as how to succeed as an English teacher and lots of insider info about the teaching business in Japan.

Many young people (and old too!) embark every year on a great adventure to Japan, enticed by the myriad of English teaching jobs on offer. Teaching English in Japan has a great appeal, and you never quite know where you will end up being posted and who you will teach.

For example, you may get a job at one of the large English schools in Japan such as Nova, where you will be teaching a variety of students ranging from bored housewives, to salarymen who feel forced into learning English in order to further their career. One area that you may not realise you could be teaching, is teaching children.

If you thought that a bunch of adults may be difficult to teach, how about a class of kids all go to the toilet at the same time… right in the middle of class! Obviously their command of English is going to be limited, so you will need a great deal of patience and the ability to manage your anger as the frustration levels rise. You have to be firm with them, and you might get a little mad, but the lessons made in anger management are an unexpected beneficial side effect. The children know that they have done something wrong, but have no idea what the foreigner at the head of the class is blabbering to them!

That’s just one of the strange twists you may take when teaching English in Japan. It’s definitely interesting and if you are thinking about doing it we recommend you take the plunge and see where your big Japanese adventure takes you!

And don’t forget to take grab a copy of Craig Desorcy’s excellent guide, The Super Teaching in Japan Handbook before you go!

If you are considering teaching English in Japan, I thoroughly recommend you to check out Craig Desorcy’s guide,
The Super Teaching in Japan Handbook

Craig’s handbook is full of valuable tips and information that will help you find and prepare for this life-changing experience as well as how to succeed as an English teacher and lots of insider info about the teaching business in Japan.

You may not have considered it, but many people both young and old are heading off to teach English in Japan every day. It can be a life changing and very rewarding experience. Making the big move to Japan whether it be for a short working holiday, or if you plan to live in Japan for a longer duration, can sound daunting but you will get plenty of assistance from your school and employer-to-be.

There are a large number of conversational English schools in Japan and among the bigger and best known ones are Geos, ECC, Berlitz and Nova. Most people that go to teach in Japan start off by attending a local information session. After going through with the interview process your suitability for the role will be assessed. A sense of adventure and an enthusiastic spirit is as must. Actually, you don’t even need any teaching experience and being too good at the Japanese language could also be to your detriment!

Those that teach English in Japan will soon pick up the Japanese language as they go along. If you are really keen to learn Japanese first you could try checking out the Pimsleur series of audio lessons which I thoroughly recommend. Learning to speak Japanese can seem an intimidating experience in the beginning, but if you study gradually you’ll soon figure out the essentials needed to get by in daily life. By actually being in Japan, the Japanese immersion experience ensures that you are going to learn a great deal faster, rather than pounding away at the books trying to learn the kanji symbols and theory before you have anyone to practice speaking with.

Your school will arrange your airfare to Japan and when you arrive at the other end you will usually be greeted at the airport by an experienced staff member. After you go through a few weeks of training and staying in a hotel or share house, you will then be assigned to your school. But that could be anywhere from the middle of Tokyo to way out in the countryside. It’s important not to get too fond of the idea of living in a big city because it’s very likely you could be posted to a distant and small country town. But that’s all part of the adventure!

As part of your posting you will most likely receive your own desk in a shared office. Japan is well known for maximising it usage of small spaces and you will find that your teachers’ office is no exception! Here you will be required to prepare for your ESL (English as a Second Language) lessons and do any other paperwork that may be required such as evaluating students and marking tests. At the end of a hard day’s teaching, it’s traditional to go out eating and drinking with your new found Japan friends. Typically this is to a Japanese tavern called an izakaya and you may even get your own private room complete with those delightful wooden and paper shoji screens.

Your school’s staff and other experienced teachers will explain all the necessary information to survive, including helping you get your own Japanese cell phone (keitai), arranging your accommodation, sorting out your bills and showing you the best places to eat and go grocery shopping in Japan. If you have any problems you can always call on them to help you out.

Should your country have good diplomatic relations with Japan, working holiday visas are easier to get and let you live in Japan for up to 18 months depending upon the arrangement. For a full work visa you will need a proper diploma or degree, however it can be in any discipline and does not have to be related to teaching. For more advice regarding visas I recommend you contact your nearest Japanese embassy or consulate. Also the school you decide to go with will be able to help you with more specific information.

The experience of going to teach English in Japan is an absolutely amazing one that you will never forget. If you have been putting it off I recommend you just jump right into it and see where life takes you!

And don’t forget to take grab a copy of Craig Desorcy’s excellent guide, The Super Teaching in Japan Handbook before you go!