Teach English in Japan: Neil Mullens

How long have you been teaching English in Japan?

I came to Japan in late 1996, initially with the intention of working my way around Asia. However, within three years, I’d gotten married, started my own school and the rest, as they say, is history. Apart from a 12 month stint in Osaka, I’ve spent the entire time in Shizuoka, famous for its mountains, rivers and beaches.

How did you find your first teaching job?

Obviously, back in 1996, there wasn’t access to jobs online. If I remember correctly, I used to subscribe to a monthly overseas jobs publication that had a small section for TEFL/TESL jobs. I think I landed my very first teaching gig in Denmark by responding to one of those ads, and may well have found my first job in Japan that way, too.

I’m not entirely sure whether I would have made the same choices if I’d had access to the wealth of online information available today. It’s certainly easier these days to make a more informed choice and avoid some of the pitfalls lying in wait for prospective teachers.

How easy is it to find teaching jobs?

Once you’re established in Japan, it’s very easy to find teaching jobs, even in the present economic climate. That’s why it’s often beneficial to secure an initial contract with one of the big chain schools, or perhaps try to enter the JET Program. Once you’ve got your foot in the door, numerous other opportunities will become available.

However, there is a caveat. The quality of jobs offered, in terms of salary, working hours and conditions varies greatly from school to school. If you limit yourself to a narrow location when job searching you may find yourself having to take whatever you can get. If, however, you’re prepared to be flexible and move anywhere in the country, far greater opportunities will arise.

Is it necessary to have teaching certificates or training to find employment?

In recent times, a few companies have been requesting TEFL certificates, but it is not the norm. Most schools provide some kind of in-house training, which is usually paid, and generally only takes 3-7 days to complete. However, for university positions, an M.A. or PhD is a prerequisite, and many good universities also expect a number of publications.

Is it necessary to be able to speak Japanese to find employment?

Language schools generally insist that only English is used in the classroom, and they invariably have staff that can communicate well enough to be able to assist the teachers. English-only classrooms would also be encountered by those working within the JET Program. However, as you would be working in State schools, often in remote places, some ability in Japanese would certainly make your life easier.

In recent times, many school boards have taken to using third-party dispatch agencies for the purposes of hiring teachers. Although you would be teaching the same kind of classes as those working within the JET Program, you are essentially employed by the dispatch agency. On the whole, these agencies provide a very limited support network for their teachers and, indeed, requesting help is often frowned upon and may result in your contract not being renewed. Not only do many of these agencies request basic Japanese proficiency in their job advertisements, but you should also consider it essential for survival in the workplace. You should also be aware, that while these agencies often require Japanese ability and previous experience, the salaries and working conditions they offer are among the worst in Japan.

How did you get your first work visa?

My first visa was arranged by my employer before I landed in Japan. This certainly saved me a lot of stress and heartache down the line. In Japan, once the visa has been issued, it belongs to you, not your employer, as is the case in some other countries. This means that there are no problems switching employer within the duration of the visa. Of course, that’s not to say there won’t be other contractual complications!

Is it possible for teachers to arrive without a work visa and look for a job?

Yes, it is possible, but be aware that it can be costly and time consuming to get a visa later, as you will have to leave and reenter the country in order for a visa to be issued. Also, because of the large number of teachers already in Japan, with a legitimate visa on hand, it’s unlikely that most reputable employers would even consider hiring you. In the case of renewing visas, however, most companies are quite happy to handle the paperwork and assist you with the submission of those documents.

What is the cost of living in Japan?

The cost of living in Japan varies greatly depending upon where you are based. New arrivals generally get assistance in finding accommodation from their employers, and it may be subsidized. Still, expect to pay anything from ¥50-65,000 (US$549-714) per month for an apartment that will be small, by western standards. It’s usually much cheaper to find your own apartment, however, most Japanese landlords would prefer to have empty apartments than rent to a foreigner. Those who are more open-minded may still require a Japanese guarantor. Also bear in mind that renting by yourself will incur quite high deposits. This can be equal to two months rent in the Kanto region or as much as seven months rent in Kansai.

Although food is expensive by American standards, Brits won’t see such a huge difference. If you cook and prepare most of your own meals, you can get by on ¥40,000 (US$ 440) per month, and eat pretty well. Utilities and other costs such as a broadband internet connection are likely to set you back another ¥20,000 (US$220) per month. Public transportation is cheap and efficient, and work travel is generally paid for.

Your lifestyle will have a huge bearing on your total monthly costs. Entertainment is very expensive in Japan. Drinking, clubbing, eating out, going to the movies, visiting museums and staying in hotels, will quickly dispose of your ‘disposable’ income!

How much money can the average teacher expect to save?

A lot of recent (and some not so recent) college graduates come here and want to continue the full-on lifestyle they enjoyed as a student. Invariably, they save almost nothing, and more likely find themselves borrowing money from their frugal friends the week before payday. Having said that, I have known some people who were able to save ¥100,000 (US$1,100) per month on an average salary.

What is the typical number of teaching hours per week?

For anything other than university positions expect to work a minimum of 40 hours per week, however 50 hours per week is becoming increasingly common. Actual contact teaching hours varies greatly from school to school, and can be anything from 20-40 hours per week. You should also be aware that working for dispatch agencies may incur a considerable amount of (unpaid) commuting time.

How many weeks of holidays per year can teachers expect?

Again this varies greatly from school to school. On average, you can expect 5-10 days paid leave per annum. Foreign-run languages schools may give up to three weeks paid leave per year. JET program teachers can expect most of the regular school holidays. However, teachers doing essentially the same job as their JET program equivalents, are either not paid during school vacations or receive a greatly reduced income.

Did your employer provide you with medical Insurance?

Some employers do provide State healthcare and pension contributions, as they are required to do by law. However, it is increasingly becoming the norm that employers find ways to circumvent these contributions. This is usually done by registering teachers as part-time workers, counting only their contact teaching hours. The government is perfectly aware of these illegal practices but seems unwilling to take any action. Therefore, you may well need to take out private healthcare insurance which can be quite expensive.

Do you recommend Japan for other English teachers?

I probably sound very negative about teaching in Japan, but I think people should be aware of the possible pitfalls. Despite everything, Japan is wonderful country in which to live. The cuisine is first-class; the cities cater for almost every imaginable interest; and the countryside is simply breathtaking. There are still some good jobs available in Japan, but you may not find them immediately upon arrival. If you can suck it up at a lousy job for a while and be flexible in your approach to finding something better, you perseverance will be worthwhile.

What advice would you offer for others thinking of teaching English Abroad?

At the end of the day almost anyone can teach abroad but there are three words which will make the difference between a rewarding experience and utter misery: research, research and RESEARCH!

Links
Follow Neil Mullens on Twitter

Japan Information (More information on teaching English in Japan)
Jobs in Japan (English teaching jobs available in Japan)

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Teach English in Japan

Long time Japan expat, English teacher, school owner and entrepreneur, John Bardos shares some of his experiences teaching English in Japan.

How long have you been teaching English in Japan?

I have been teaching here for over 12 years now. The first 2.5 were working for other companies and the last 10 years have been in my own English school.

How did you find your first teaching job?

I came to Japan without a visa or a job. When I arrived I started looking in the English language publications and found a couple of jobs within the first few weeks. I didn’t have a work visa to start so I worked illegally in a bar and at a small English school. At the same time I also was hired in another English school but I had to wait approximately two months for my visa application to be processed to start working legally.

How easy is it to find teaching jobs?

I found it very easy to find jobs, teaching and otherwise. There are always dozens of positions advertised online and in print publications so I don’t think there is ever a shortage of opportunities. However, to legally teach in Japan, you must have a university degree, be here on a work-holiday visa or be married to a Japanese national. Illegal jobs are available but they are not as plentiful as legitimate work and the quality of positions and employers tend to be much lower. One caveat to this, is that Asian looking teachers tend to have a more difficult time finding employment because of stereotypes of what an English teacher should look like. I would also say that blue-eyed, blonde, female teachers are also at an advantage.

Is it necessary to have teaching certificates or training to find employment?

As I said, a university degree is required unless you have a work-holiday visa, but other English training is not necessary. I think it helps. Anything that makes you stand out from other candidates is beneficial, but it is not required. In hindsight, I would recommend a reputable training program because you will gain a much better understanding of how to teach, but you don’t really need it to find a job.

How did you get your first work visa?

When I came to Japan, I looked for an English school to hire me and sponsor my work visa. It took about two months to process the visa and I had to leave the country, I went to Korea, to get it validated. When I returned I was legally allowed to teach English.

Is it possible for teachers to arrive without a work visa and look for a job?

As I mentioned earlier, I first arrived in Japan without a visa and found employment so it is definitely possible. I don’t know if I would advise it though. It would have been nice to have a company take care of my accommodations and help me get settled. It would have also saved me the trip outside of the country to validate my passport.

What is the cost of living in Japan?

Prices vary a lot depending on where you live. Tokyo, of course, is the most expensive. Smaller cities like Nagasaki will be much cheaper.

Here is a price range to expect.

Rent (1 room apartment) US$500 to US$1300. Cheaper prices will require a larger up front payment to the landlord, usually equivalent to about 3 to 6 months rent.
Shared room in an apartment US$400 to US$800.
Food (Groceries) US$200 to US$400 per month depending on your tastes.
Transportation US$100 to US$200. Companies typically pay for commuting costs, but personal travel can definitely add up.
Party Money US$100 to US$600. This really depends on how you like to spend your money. It is not hard to spend US$100 per night out, but you can save a lot if you stay at home or visit friends.

How much money can the average teacher expect to earn and save?

You can expect your base salary to be around US$2500 for most jobs. There has been some downward wage pressure in recent years, but it still is difficult to find good English teachers so US$2500 is a good figure to base your calculations. How much you save really depends on how much you like to spend. I have known many teachers that can only save $200 to $300 per month, than quickly blow it on a vacation or new electronics. Other teachers, who have private lessons outside of their regular job and don’t drink excessively can easily save more than $1000 per month. I have known some teachers saving close to $2000 per month without too much difficulty.

What is the typical number of teaching hours per week?

Some teachers in public schools and universities only teach 2 or 3 classes per day. However, most teachers can expect 25 to 30 classes per week. Each class is typically 50 to 60 minutes. Some schools have shorter classes and expect teachers to teach more classes per day.

How many weeks of holidays per year can teachers expect?

There are about 10 national holidays per year that most schools honor, plus an extra two weeks is normal. Better schools have longer vacation times, but it will typically be less than 6 weeks of vacations a year.

Did your employer provide you with medical Insurance? If not, was it expensive?

English schools typically do not provide medical insurance. Japanese health care can be pricey and limited anyway. Most new teachers in Japan go for international health care plans that can cost less than Japanese health care and offer better coverage. You can probably expect to pay between $60 and $100.

Do you recommend Japan for other English teachers?

Japan is a fantastic country to teach English. Salaries are great. The food is amazing and healthy. There is a rich culture and it is an incredible safe and clean country.

What advice would you offer for others thinking of teaching English Abroad?

Do it! Teaching abroad opens up a whole new world and set of opportunities. It is a great way to see that world and save money at the same time. Once you decide to come, the best advice I can offer is to thoroughly research potential employers. There is a big difference in quality of schools so make sure you choose a good school. After a year or so of teaching Experience, consider opening your own English school. You can double or triple your income, take many more holidays and have fewer teaching hours. Many teachers are afraid to commit to starting a school because they think they will be leaving soon. More often than not, those teachers become long-term expats just because the quality of life is so good here.

Links
JetSetCitizen.com (John’s personal blog on lifestyle design, travel and the rise of the global citizen.)
Follow John Bardos on Twitter

Japan Information (More information on teaching English in Japan)
Jobs in Japan (English teaching jobs available in Japan)

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