Teaching in Japan

Teaching in Japan - Real Gap's 'Work and Travel Japan' offers the opportunity to find teaching work in Japan. 

Teaching English overseas is a fantastic way to earn money as you travel on a gap year or career break. It is possible to teach English all over the world, but teaching in Japan is a particularly good option for many reasons. It is usually relatively straight forward finding jobs teaching in Japan, as the Japanese are generally extremely enthusiastic scholars of the English language. Not only that but teaching in Japan usually pays a very decent wage as well. While it's possible to earn money teaching English in many other countries, teaching in Japan is much more likely to pay you a higher wage than anywhere else.

Aside from the money, teaching in Japan brings with it many other benefits in terms of your gap year or career break experience. Japan is a fascinating country, with a culture quite unlike any other on the planet - and teaching in Japan is a unique and challenging experience. Many travellers who make it to Japan often only spend a relatively short amount of time in one of the major cities, but there is a huge amount to see and do in Japan if you take the time to explore further a field. Teaching in Japan on your gap year or career break allows you the time to explore the country in-depth. Teaching in Japan is also a great way to get to know the locals on a far less superficial basis than other tourists or backpackers. Most people find when they are teaching in Japan that the students are extremely friendly and hospitable and usually only too happy to show you around the local sights and sounds away from the classroom.

If you are thinking about doing some teaching in Japan then Real Gap's ‘Paid Work in Japan' provides everything you need in order to get you started. The main focus of the programme is to take as much of the hassle as possible out of the Japanese visa application process and to help you settle in before your start teaching in Japan. If you prefer you can fly out to Japan on a set date with other travellers visiting Japan on the same programme. Many of these travellers will probably also be planning to do some teaching in Japan, so it's a great way to meet other like-minded people at the start of your trip. Real Gap's ‘Work and Travel Japan' programmes starts in Tokyo and travellers spend the first four nights in the same hotel there, which further helps the acclimatisation process.

Once you are in Tokyo there is plenty of help on hand to find that first job teaching in Japan. There is a dedicated job search office in Tokyo and there is also assistance provided to help you look for somewhere more permanent to stay once you start teaching in Japan. The prospect of teaching in Japan, whilst being extremely exciting, can also feel quite daunting. Therefore the programme is designed to do as much of the legwork for you as possible, as well as providing as providing plenty of support to help you settle in before you start teaching in Japan.

If you are planning on finding work teaching in Japan, contrary to popular belief, it isn't necessary to have a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). While it certainly doesn't do any harm to have one of these the main qualification you need for teaching in Japan is simply enthusiasm. It isn't necessary for you to be able to speak Japanese to find work teaching in Japan. To a certain extent it is actually considered an advantage not to be able to speak the language, as classes when you are teaching in Japan are much more effective if you conduct them entirely in English. Having said that, you will get much more out of your time teaching in Japan - and travelling around Japan generally - if you do take the time to learn some of the language. Participants on our ‘Work and Travel Japan' programme are strongly encouraged to take some Japanese lessons, and the Tokyo office can help find you a suitable language school to enrol with. Before you start teaching in Japan there will also be plenty of help, advice and training with regards to teaching methods so that you start work fully prepared.

One of the best things about teaching in Japan with Real Gap's ‘Work and Travel Japan' programmes is its flexibility. There are eleven regional offices throughout Japan, meaning you can apply for jobs teaching in Japan all over the country with the reassurance of knowing there is support available nearby should you need it. Teaching in Japan is generally extremely casual as well - meaning you can work for as little or as long as you like, with plenty of spare time available for exploring the country.



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