How to Become an English Teacher in Japan

One of the supreme economic powers in the world, Japan, is the sole Asian country that belongs to the Group of Eight (G8). As Japan continues to progress by teaming up with developed nations like Canada and the United States, they require more English language instructors to help them understand the universal language. Japan is certainly in dire need of English teachers and as a matter of fact they are offering an average of 250,000 to 275,000 yen per month to fill the vacancies. If you are interested in obtaining an English teaching job in Japan, here are some tips:

Candidates for the teaching position have several requirements such as a bachelor's degree, passport and a minimum teaching experience of 400 hours. Some school employers look for EFL or ESL certificates, while most of them just choose those with fluency in English and a professional attitude. The competition in terms of job-hunting seems demanding, that is why job finders should understand fully where to check out job listing sites. The outset of hiring is around the months of January to February since the spring term starts in March to July while the fall term begins in September.

The first thing to do is to create an impressive resume and effective cover letter - do not forget to include references if required. Next is to submit these resumes to the web sites of Japanese schools specializing in English language teaching; particularly GEOS (Global Education Opportunities and Services), NOVA, AEON and ECC (Education through Communication for the Community) or to the government-sponsored JET (the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme). If you are not satisfied with the listings in the abovementioned English conversation schools or eikaiwa, you may buy the Japan Times' Monday edition or just open the Japan Times Online site for the directory of job vacancies since there are lots of openings for expatriates. In addition to that, there are still other popular websites to check out like Jobsinjapan.com and Ohayosensei.com. These two web sites contain numerous teaching jobs for foreigners.

After a job offer with the employer, they will obtain all of your credentials and an authorized representative will apply for your certificate of Eligibility in Japan, you will just have to wait for its arrival. Then next is to book for a low-priced airfare. There are certain employers who will not sponsor your flight ticket; however housing is usually part of the job benefits. Just put your best foot forward since Japanese employers are usually allowing contracts to be renewed yearly.

Article Resource: Anna Olalia