Published: 14 October, 2014  |  Last updated: 14 October, 2014

Teaching English in Yokohama, Japan

 

Yokohama, Japan

Report submitted on 14 October, 2014 by Justin Schornack.

Teaching English in Yokohama, Japan:

How can teachers find teaching jobs in Yokohama, Japan?
There are numerous schools looking for native teachers.
Online listings are usually posted in English and are easy to find using a Google search.

The main English teaching jobs available are:
Full time English language school positions, part time English language school positions, teaching at kindergartens / pre-schools, teaching at state schools, teaching at private international schools, teaching at colleges / universities, teaching at companies, teaching at community centers, etc., private teaching (not through a school, agency, etc.).

What are the minimum teaching requirements?
If you have a 2 year degree it’s not difficult to find work in either public (elementary – high school) or private conversation schools.
The degree is not even required to be related to English.
Even those without a degree can have opportunities if they find another way to enter the country legally (marriage or other visa).

What teaching requirements would you recommend?
The most important requirement is personality, if you meet the above requirements or more, it’s more than enough.
But many schools will bend over backwards for teachers that have outgoing personalities and are friendly and kind.

What are the levels of payment?
Ranges for a native teacher are usually around 2,000 yen per hour (US$20) for a regular full time job and up to 5,000 yen per hour (US$50) for specialized private lessons (group lessons or business lessons etc.).

How many teaching days a week is normal?
5 days per week.

How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
20-30 hours per week.

What is the normal arrangement for holidays?
Holidays are normally flexible for English teachers, with public holidays, and even Summer vacations being off for elementary – high school teachers. Ten days to two weeks personal holidays are also the norm (though often not necessary).

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Yokohama, Japan to teach English?
Language teaching is one of the easiest ways for a native English speaker to find work in Japan. The pay is good for the amount of work, and the conditions are usually very good.

What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Yokohama, Japan?
For those who are looking to find a career in Japan, it is a very easy way to go. Many people start it, planning to continue for only a short while, but continue for years.

What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Yokohama, Japan?
If you have the personality for being a teacher (i.e. infinite patience and an ability to get along with others), it can be very good/easy. If not, then even for a short time, you will find it hard.

What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
Learning patience and care for others feelings.

 

Living in Yokohama, Japan:

Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in Japan?
A work or perhaps marriage visa is required to teach continuously. A tourist visa of up to 3 months though is usually enough to find work.

What is the cost of living like in Japan?
Comparable to many first world countries, housing is usually small but not unbearably so.

What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
Rental apartments and the like are available, people almost always go through real estate agencies as brokers. So contacting several is almost the only method.

Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Yokohama, Japan?
Japan is a wonderful, safe and dynamic country with kind people.

Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in Yokohama, Japan?
A feeling of being put apart, or sometimes on a pedestal can make people feel uncomfortable in rural areas.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Yokohama, Japan to live?
Take a chance, you will enjoy.

What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
Some foods.

What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country (e.g. things that are difficult to get in your location)?
Whatever culturally unique things they feel they may not find in another country. Everything else is available.

What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave Yokohama, Japan?
The food and people.

 

About Me and My Work:

My Name: Justin Schornack

Nationality: USA

Students I’ve taught in Japan: Toddlers (2-4 years), pre-school / kindergarten (4-6 years), elementary (6-12 years), junior high school (12-15 years), high school (15-18 years), university, adults, business.

Where I teach: Working in Yokohama for 11 years.

How I found my current jobs: Online.

My school facilities: Very good – Environment is good.

Teacher support at my school: None.

 

Do you teach English in Japan?

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2 comments on “Teaching English in Japan – Yokohama”

  1. Wow that seems very amazing. To be honest my goal is to become a teacher to teach the English language as well to young children in Yokohama too.I would really like to know more about how to become a teacher and which college i should go to in Yokohama to get started to become a English teacher.

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