Teaching English in Nagoya, Japan
Report submitted on 08 April, 2015 by Linda.
Teaching English in Nagoya, Japan:
How can teachers find teaching jobs in Nagoya, Japan?
Websites, notice boards, agencies, word-of-mouth.
The main English teaching jobs available are:
Full time English language school positions, part time English language school positions, agencies (send teachers to different locations), teaching at kindergartens / pre-schools, teaching at state schools, teaching at private international schools, teaching at colleges / universities, teaching at companies, private teaching (not through a school, agency, etc.).
What are the minimum teaching requirements?
University degree.
What teaching requirements would you recommend?
University degree.
What are the levels of payment?
250,000 yen (US$2,080) per month for full time work. 3,000 yen (US$25) per hour for part-time or private work. 3,500-4,000 yen (US$29-33) per hour for Business English classes.
How many teaching days a week is normal?
5 days per week.
How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
30 hours per week.
What is the normal arrangement for holidays?
4 weeks a year usually – 2 at Xmas, 1 for Golden Week in May and 1 for Ubon in August.
What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Nagoya, Japan to teach English?
The hours can be quite long but the work itself is not difficult and there is plenty of private work available so if you want to save and are prepared to work hard then it’s a good place to live. The lifestyle itself is not something I love as it’s too work focused but I came here to save money so for me it has been worth it in that sense.
What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Nagoya, Japan?
Plenty of jobs, all of my Japanese co-workers have been super friendly and helpful.
What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Nagoya, Japan?
Long hours and extra tired students due to all the extra-curricular activities they do.
What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
It’s sometimes hard to get them to talk or express ideas or opinions due to their culture.
Living in Nagoya, Japan:
Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in Japan?
Yes you need a valid working visa but most companies will organise this.
What is the cost of living like in Japan?
It’s high enough but you can still save – rent is about 50,000-60,000 yen (US$415-500) per month including utilities. A meal out costs about 1,500 to 2,000 yen (US$12-17).
What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
It’s difficult for foreigners to find accommodation so your school usually organises it or there are some apartment complexes which cater to foreigners.
Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Nagoya, Japan?
Easy, comfortable living. Clean and safe country.
Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in Nagoya, Japan?
Culture can be difficult to cope with and the rules and conservatism can be hard to deal with.
What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Nagoya, Japan?
Forget all your ideas or expectations of Japan – just be prepared to accept what it is.
What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
Decent bread and good music.
What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave Japan?
Good money, people I work with.
What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country?
You can get most things here – there isn’t anything I couldn’t live without. Maybe stock up on skincare as a lot of the products have whitening in them here.
About Me and My Work:
My Name: Linda
Nationality: Irish
Students I’ve taught in Japan: Babies (0-2 years), 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: World Family in Nagoya. Teaching here for 1.5 years.
My school facilities: Excellent – Resources, classroom, assistance from company and colleagues.
Do you teach English in Japan?
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