If you hold a recognised TEFL qualification and University Degree Japan is one of the most attractive places in the World to teach. There are very few other places that promise such a rich cultural and social experience, a well-established, stable and rewarding teaching environment and the chance to earn an attractive salary with the opportunity to save during your time there.
Teachers who find a job in Japan with us work at Shane English School which is a major provider of educational services in Japan, offering “after-school” classes, educational publishing, study abroad excursions and English language tuition through a large chain of schools. Shane is known as the school in Japan offering British English – as opposed to American English which is very much the norm. This is why UIC Teachers help by recruiting teachers in the UK.
So what do we offer you? We can give you a route to a job with a professional, reputable group of schools. In Japan you will receive good pay and conditions, academic and pastoral support and a supportive working environment. Before you depart we’ll help you through the process of getting a visa and making the big step of moving halfway round the world. It’s our role to guide you along the way and to be straight with you about the pros and the cons of living and working somewhere so different. We try hard to ensure that everyone who gets a job through UIC Teachers is fully informed and as prepared as they can be to get the most from the commitment they are making.
We expect you to approach this process in an honest, professional way. Before you say “yes” to our job offer you must be prepared to start in Japan on the agreed date, to take the job and your position seriously and to give of your best in all aspects of your work. If you do this you’ll have a great time, make lifelong friends and earn a decent wage too.
A Look at the Job
If there was one word to sum up the teacher’s working life it would be variety and hard work (erm, that’s four). You normally teach in a different location each day and your students will range from the very young to the not so young. One moment you’ll be singing “Heads, shoulders, knees and toes” with a group of five year olds and the next you could be doing one-to one lessons with a business person in school, at their office or their home. You really do get to teach right across the spectrum, although most students tend to be intermediate and below. All students use a course book.
Your day typically starts around 12.00 midday and finishes at 9 or 10 at night, usually with around 29.5 hours in a standard week. At the weekends it’s usually 9-5 or 10-6. Most weeks consist of five working days with two days off but there is a level of contingency within your schedule to work 6 days from time to time or to be available for cover. You need to be prepared to be flexible. In addition to your work hours you also have to bear in mind travel time, which is generally around 45 minutes each way but can be more or less on different days, depending on the schedule. Travel costs are reimbursed.
Teachers are based in one of the School’s regions (there are three across the Greater Tokyo area) and each region has a Head Office, where you’ll find a large bank of resources, copying facilities and notice board etc. The individual schools have sufficient material for your day-to-day needs. Each region’s teaching staff includes Directors of Studies (DoS), Assistant Directors of Studies (ADoS) and Senior Teachers so advice and support is always available. Induction training is given during your first few days and is ongoing, and there are workshops and observations.
There are three main holiday periods in Japan; in spring, summer and New Year when teachers would not ordinarily work. Teachers work to a schedule which takes into account holidays and regular days of which adds up to a total of 225 working days per year.
Finally, it should be stressed that the TEFL environment in Japan is rather more formal than in some other countries. Students take their studies seriously and invest their teachers with a level of seniority. You will be expected to dress formally for work, that’s shirt, tie and smart trousers for men and for the ladies formal blouse and skirt or formal dresses.
The main summary of the posts on offer are:
Location: Greater Tokyo. Other cities available occasionally.
Contract: 1 year renewable
Salary: ¥252,800 per month, plus quarterly ex-gratia bonus and overtime opportunities
Work schedule: Total of 225 working days per year, average 25 hours per standard week over a 5 day week. Teachers have all national holidays off and accrue paid leave (total of around 5 weeks' paid holiday).
Accommodation: Provided by the School, deducted from teachers’ monthly salary
Training: Initial induction and training period at start of contract followed by regular workshops and observations
Links to other Japan pages:
Japan - an Introduction
The Thoughts of a Teacher
The Application Process
Images of Japan
