Can You Speak Japan

ITTT Alumni Interview with Patrick @thepaperpat   Patrick is best known as @thepaperpat on social media, where he has become a TikTok star with nearly 1 million followers. On his channel, he shares what it's like teaching English in Japan among many other interesting topics. He completed his TEFL course with ITTT and has been teaching English in Japan for the past 6 years. In this fun live session, we speak with Patrick about his career in Japan and on TikTok! #TEFL#BestTEFL #TeachinginJapan Are you ready to teach English abroad or online? Click here and get started today: https://bit.ly/37gs5vO What is TEFL Certification? Where is it valid: https://bit.ly/36ma2Fg Check out our wide range of TEFL Courses: https://bit.ly/3ltqt73 Teach English online from anywhere you want:...  [Read more]

Sat, 03 Nov 2018 Linda Dunsmore Destinations Teaching Ideas The Most Common Problems Students in Japan Face When Learning English Japan is a country facing rapid change. Due to an aging population and a scarcity of workers, Japan is opening its borders to foreigners, many of whom speak English. This, along with the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, has led to an increase in demand for English teachers. I currently work in Japan, and have had the experience of teaching English to high school Japanese students for the past year. Over the course of this year, I've learned of many problems that students in Japan face when learning English. Of those, the top three problems for students in Japan are pronunciation, shyness, and large class sizes. Table of Contents Listen to this blog post:...  [Read more]

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Problems Japan Faces in Developing English as a Second Language There are several challenges Japan faces when it comes to learning English as a second language. Japanese culture is a bubble. Everything, including their ad signs, TV, games, government, studies, work and even the internet is filled with one language; Japanese. In a world of globalization, where your goods and services can come from literally any part of the globe. Japan is one of the few remaining homogenous cultures where English is still seen as an optional language. As the global economy becomes more global, the English language will likely become less optional, but essential. In addition to the cultural issues, Japan's English curriculum in the school is...  [Read more]

Wed, 05 Sep 2018 Linda Dunsmore Budget and Salary Destinations Teaching English in Japan - The Salary and Budget Guide The following guide will help you answer the question: How much can I earn (and save) while teaching English in Japan? You will also find information on the local cost of living in order to figure out how much to budget for when moving to Japan. Table of Contents Listen to this blog post: The Typical Salary for English Teachers in Japan Other Benefits to Expect When Teaching English in Japan How to Earn Extra Cash While Teaching English in Japan The Cost of Living in Japan Cost of Living in Japan: Food Cost of Living in Japan: Leisure Activities Cost of Living in Japan: Transportation Cost of Living in Japan: Travel in Japan and Beyond Sample Monthly Teacher Budget...  [Read more]

Mon, 13 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Common Challenges in English for Japanese Native Speakers If you ever find yourself driving in French Canada, you will be stopped by stop signs that say 'arrêt', which is stopped in French. Almost all drivers in North America would know that this means stop because it's the same octagon red stop sign. In Japan it's very different, stop signs are triangular with Japanese script on them but, beneath the Japanese, you can find English subtitles which read 'stop'. In fact, if you travel anywhere in Japan, the majority of signs and announcements related to travel are offered in Japanese and English. English has been taught in Japanese schools since the American occupation after World War Two. However, according to an EF English...  [Read more]

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Main Problems of ESL Learners From Japan Regardless of the Japanese government's efforts to increase the number of foreign tourists to be a tourism-oriented country and to have been retaining compulsory English education for decades, Japanese people still have a reputation of being bad at English. The average TOEIC and TOEFL scores for Japanese are one of the worst among advanced nations. South Korea was also one of the worst in the past, but they are getting better and better these days. However, there are still some obstacles for many Japanese English learners to get over. Table of Contents 1. First, there are very few teachers in Japan who can teach students how to speak and write English with confidence. 2. Secondly, the...  [Read more]

Fri, 19 Jul 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The 2 Pronunciation Problems ESL Students Suffer From in Japan There are several pronunciation problems that students of English will face in Japan; however, I will focus on two. Table of Contents 1. Differences in the phonetic systems of two languages 2. Lack of exposure to authentic English resources Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Brandie K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. 1. Differences in the phonetic systems of two languages The first of these problems they face is the fact that Japanese doesn't have some of the same sounds in its' alphabet as English...  [Read more]

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 Linda Dunsmore Destinations TEFL Information Step-By-Step Guide to Legally Teaching English in Japan Japan has been a popular destination for English teachers from all over the world for decades. Year after year, thousands of teachers come to Japan attracted by the country's fascinating culture and the lucrative salaries, as well as the government-funded JET program that places qualified teachers into public schools across the country. Teaching English in Japan is an exciting adventure and offers you the opportunity to experience a unique culture like a local. However, it is important to be aware of the local job market and regulations before heading off on your adventure of teaching English in Japan. Table of Contents Listen to this blog post: Step 1: Understanding...  [Read more]

Thu, 07 May 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How do Japanese Students Respond to Some Common Challenges in English? Japan is a country continuously changing at a rapid pace largely due to globalization and marketing. With its growing popularity and necessity, difficulties are sure to arise for people learning English and specifically, in Japan. To fully understand all the problems learners face in Japan, it is important to realize why English is so widely being studied in the first place. Firstly, students must study English for 6 years throughout primary and high school. As well as being part of the Japanese schooling system, the advantages of being able to speak English are endless. The benefits of finding a job or being able to communicate whilst abroad are common motives....  [Read more]

Thu, 30 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Many Sides of The Teaching Job in Japan What do you think of when I say the word "teacher"? When I think of this word, I think of the "teacher when I was a child. The person who talked and I listened. The person who gave me instructions and I followed. I think in today's environment this word has changed. What does the word "teacher" mean today? We'll look at what the roles of a teacher are in today's ESL world in Japan, where I've taught for over 14 years. Table of Contents Types of Teachers in Japan Responsibilities Are you ready to teach English all over the world? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post We use many synonyms for the term "teacher". In elementary schools, junior high schools, and high schools in Japan...  [Read more]

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 Linda Dunsmore Budget and Salary Destinations The 10 Best Cities in Japan for Teaching English Japan has been a popular destination for teaching English abroad for many years. This is mainly due to the country's vibrant culture, the great food and friendly locals. Japan has a lot to offer and it can be overwhelming to find the ideal city to move to. This post looks at the 10 best cities in Japan for teaching English abroad. All cities are listed in no particular order. Table of Contents 1. Tokyo 2. Yokohama 3. Kyoto 4. Osaka 5. Nagoya 6. Hiroshima 7. Fukuoka 8. Kobe 9. Sapporo 10. Takayama Are you ready for your teaching adventure in Japan? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! Also check out our other related Japan...  [Read more]

Thu, 03 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Systematic Problems for Learners of English in Japan Next year, Japan will host the thirty-second Olympiad in the capital city of Tokyo. To correspond with the timing of the 2020 Olympics, Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (hereafter MEXT) has laid out a plan for the reform of English education to meet the future needs of Japanese students in a globalized world. However, this plan presents several challenges for current and future learners of English in the Japanese educational system. Table of Contents Education System Modernization Demand in English-Speaking Professional Teachers JET Program Peculiarities International Examination for Japanese English Learners Do you want to teach English...  [Read more]

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 Laura Payne Destinations 5 Weekend Trips You Have to Take While Teaching Abroad in Tokyo Tokyo is a dream city for many people who aspire to live abroad. It is modern yet traditional, and a vibrant culture of food, fashion, and popular media among other things ensures that it has something for everyone. For all its excitement, however, Tokyo is only one part of Japan as a whole. Each area of the island nation holds a distinct culture of its own, offering a myriad of experiences for travelers. Luckily, those who teach English in Japan have easy access to the country's major airports and extensive bullet train lines, meaning they can access almost anywhere else in Japan within a few hours. While living in Tokyo make the most of your experience abroad, and try checking...  [Read more]

Mon, 25 May 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas What are The Challenges for English Learners in Japan? I have taught in a Japanese high school for the past four years as an assistant language teacher, which gives me a particular insight into the problems and advantages of EFL in that area. This will naturally require some generalizations. Individuals have very different problems from one another, but broader shared issues do crop up. Table of Contents My experience Japanese average Gap between two languages Japanese culture can also make teaching difficult Another aspect of the culture that can make things difficult is the island mentality of Japan Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification...  [Read more]

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Challenges of EFL Teaching in Barbados and Japan This essay will be a comparison of my personal experience teaching English in Barbados, a country whose main language is English versus teaching English in a rural area in Japan, a country whose main language is Japanese (not English). Firstly, I will briefly discuss the definitions of teaching. Secondly, I will summarize English education for young learners in each country. Finally, I will compare and contrasts my personal experience in both countries and the valuable lessons I have learned. To protect the anonymity of the schools, the specific areas and any other identifying information will be excluded from this essay. Table of Contents What is Teaching? My International...  [Read more]

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Why Japanese Students Struggle with Communicating in English During my stay in Japan, Japanese people often told me how they can't communicate in English despite studying the language for six or more years in school. In Japan, students in junior and senior high learn English grammar and vocabulary in compulsory formal English classes. English is also taught in elementary school as foreign language activities. Yet despite spending several hours in English classes, many Japanese people graduate high school with poor English communication skills. Table of Contents Education system Class culture Learning goals Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification...  [Read more]

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 Laura Payne Destinations 5 Reasons Why You Should Teach English in Rural Japan Japan is full of vibrant, world-famous cities that many people dream of living and working in. However, when I first decided to become an English teacher in Japan, I never held such a dream. I am an introvert who prefers quiet spaces, and being close to nature is especially important for me. This is why when my goal of teaching English in Japan came true, I was ecstatic that I could find a place to work in the inaka (countryside). Table of Contents Listen to this blog post: 1. Smaller towns have cheaper rent 2. Fewer people, fewer crowds 3. The market for English is everywhere 4. Your presence can have a big impact 5. You may discover a hidden gem When are you heading to Japan? Related...  [Read more]

Tue, 03 Sep 2019 Lydia Pincott Destinations Alumni Experiences How to Travel Japan on a Teacher’s Budget For being a fairly small country, Japan sure packs a punch for the endless amount of things to see, do, and eat! As teachers though, we aren't living that high roller, bullet train life, yet we usually have enough days off for a decent holiday. So how do you get out and see Japan, while still having a few yennies left over for fried chicken at Family Mart? Table of Contents Use the Seishun 18 Kippu Transport Pass (and region-specific passes) Make Use of Tourist Information Centers Stay at hostels with kitchens - but be sure to check the facilities! Be loyal - to bus service, booking website, etc. Choose the lowest cost option on Google Maps for getting around. Are you ready to...  [Read more]

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 Maddy Payne Destinations TEFL Information Alumni Experiences 5 Benefits of Sharing a 17sq-meter Apartment in Tokyo on the JET Program In 2019, my sister and I received the exciting news that we had been accepted into the JET Program to live and teach English in Japan! If you have ever looked at teaching in Japan, or even Asia in general, you have probably come across the JET Program before. JET allows you to live and work in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) while earning one of the highest wages you can get as an ALT. Table of Contents 1. The freedom of choice 2. Everything becomes cheaper 3. What household chores? 4. A tiny apartment makes you leave said tiny apartment 5. A minimalist dream Are you ready to teach English in Japan? Related Articles:...  [Read more]

Tue, 03 Sep 2019 Lydia Pincott Destinations Alumni Experiences 3 Amazing Hidden-Gem Travel Destinations in Japan "But...why are you here?" It's a phrase often uttered by Japanese, confused about what your reason could be for straying from the usual temples of Kyoto, shops of Shinjuku, and street-food of Osaka. Table of Contents Itoshima Peninsula, Fukuoka Sado Island, Niigata Kurashiki, Okayama Are you ready to explore Japan? Related Articles: The beaten path in Japan is pretty great and worth exploring thoroughly, but if you've done it, or feel like you've done it from seeing other people's pictures, these 3 destinations are for you. Take a 4-week in-class TEFL/TESOL course in Japan and get a headstart in your teaching career! Itoshima Peninsula, Fukuoka Picture this: Sandy...  [Read more]

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Classroom Management for Young Learners in Japan With the end goal of working in a Japanese kindergarten or pre-school, I decided to take the Teaching English to Young Learners certification course to accompany the TEFL course I recently completed through ITTT. Even though I knew the skills necessary for teaching young learners would differ from teaching learners of other ages, I found a lot of useful information in this course specifically regarding the topic of classroom management. Table of Contents How to become an English teacher in Japan Disciplining the students while still maintaining a fun learning environment Switching seating around to avoid the creation of 'cliques' in the classroom Are you ready to take your Teaching...  [Read more]

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Most Problematic Challenges for English Learning in Japan Japan is a Pacific Island nation whose history is marked by periods of nationalism and seclusion, as the Japanese government closed the borders to international trade. The lack of foreign influence in Japan has enabled a unique culture to flourish and the population to remain nearly 98% homogenous, meaning nearly everyone that lives in Japan is Japanese. Table of Contents English in Japan Speaking Difficulties Classroom Atmosphere International Programs Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Andrew C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs...  [Read more]

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 Georgia Payne Destinations Alumni Experiences Accommodation Options in Tokyo for English Teachers in Japan Moving to one of the largest cities in the world is quite a daunting task, particularly when you have to find your own accommodation using another language. Table of Contents What are Tokyo apartments like? Where to get an apartment A few things to note Accommodation Options Option #1: Apartment - using a rental company Option #2: Sharehouse Option #3: Airbnb/business hotel Final Piece of Advice The Gist Are you ready to teach English in Japan? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! On the JET Programme, ALTs (assistant language teachers) are, in every prefecture except Tokyo, provided with accommodation by the...  [Read more]

TEFL Vacancy in Japan (2) Date posted:2015-02-09 | Writer: Prime Teachers International | Email: [email protected] Prime Teachers is now recruiting EFL teachers to work in Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama! Japan is a country like no other with a multifaceted culture, influenced by both the western world and old Japanese traditions dating back thousands of years. Experience the celebrated cuisine and the world famous culture for yourself by making Japan the next destination on your world tour! Successful candidates will be teaching children between the ages of 4 and 10; our client’s mission is to nurture children in a comfortable English-speaking environment where they speak and listen to the English language in a natural way. Teachers receive comprehensive initial training on...  [Read more]

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 Laura Payne Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Differences in Teaching Monolingual and Multilingual EFL Groups I am currently working as an Assistant Language Teacher in Japan. Before I began this job I assumed that because Japan has a largely homogeneous population, all of my classes would be monolingual. However, I was wrong in this assumption. In addition to my Japanese students, I have many students who are Brazilian or Filipino. These students largely do not use Japanese as their mother tongue and have to learn both English and Japanese as a second language. This diverse student population, in addition to my work experiences and studies, has taught me a lot about working with both monolingual and multilingual classes. Table of Contents Listen to this blog post:...  [Read more]

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 Mark Crocker Destinations The Top 5 Places to Teach English in Japan The utterly unique character of Japan has fascinated people from all over the world throughout history and this is still very true today. Nowhere else quite captures the imagination like Japan, with its individual blend of East Asian culture and high-tech modernity. Its popularity among foreign teachers is also enhanced by the strong demand for TEFL qualified professionals in all of its major cities, as well as many smaller towns across the country. Although competition for the top jobs can sometimes be tough, the promise of living and working in one of the world's most fascinating countries continues to draw many thousands of teachers every year. If you would like to join them, take a look at our...  [Read more]

TEFL in Japan - Kumano Date posted:2003-11-25 | Writer: KICC English School | Email: [email protected] Positions: Rural Japan ENTHUSIASTIC AND ENERGETIC TEACHERS WANTED KICC English School, located in the spectacular rural region of Kumano, is seeking to fill two full time positions. Starting date will be February 23, 2004 with a contract length of one year, renewable with the agreement of both parties. Though not a requirement, special consideration will be given to teachers who have an education background, especially those with experience teaching in Japan. Basic computer skills are required. We have furnished houses and provide sponsorship so that you can obtain a working visa or extend your existing working visa. Numerous teaching resources and materials are available....  [Read more]

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Cultural Sensitivity In Japan So, you've just finished a delicious meal of sushi at your favorite sushi restaurant in Tokyo. The waitress comes by and leaves the check at your table, you place your money inside, hand it back, and she shortly returns with the receipt. You proceed to place a generous tip on the table to thank her for her wonderful service, and you show yourself out of the restraint, back to the busy streets of Tokyo. Can you spot something that you shouldn't have done in this scenario? Table of Contents Foreign point of view Behavior Other Cultural Symbols Presents Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Zachary B. Please note...  [Read more]

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Teaching in Japan: Problems of Local Learners In this essay I will be discussing the problems for young Japanese learners of English, and what problems Japanese learners often encounter as well as explaining some of the reasons why teachers can run into problems while teaching in Japan. I will be referring to the book "The Smart Guide to Teaching English in Japan' by Charlie Moritz and Martin Bragalone, as well as drawing from my knowledge and experiences of studying and volunteering in Japan. Japan can be a challenging but rewarding country to work in, despite stereotypes of Japanese people being polite and studious so it is important to consider that reality can be different when teaching in Japan. Table of Contents Eikaiwa...  [Read more]

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How Can English Influence a Student’s Future Career? There are many advantages for any person to learn a second language. More important learning English can influence a student's future career. English is the most widely spoken language in the world. This means that there is a high probability of using this language in the future or encountering someone who speaks English. This will allow you to be able to communicate with other people when traveling outside of your country. An example of this is when I travel to Asia in the tourist area I have noticed that English is the common language that is used to communicate between people from different countries. I observed that there were many tourists from Russia, China, and Japan....  [Read more]