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What are The Challenges for English Learners in Japan? - TEFL Blog
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
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This post was written by our TEFL certification... [Read more]
The 2 Pronunciation Problems ESL Students Suffer From in Japan - TEFL Blog
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
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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]
Anticipated Problems: Japanese Speakers and Their Issues in ESL - TEFL Blog
Mon, 22 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Anticipated Problems: Japanese Speakers and Their Issues in ESL
I have been living in Japan for the past one and a half years. Needless to say, the experience has been enthralling. This country would have never been my first choice for a country to relocate to, from my home country, India. But if my stay has taught me anything, it is that never judge a book by its cover. When we think of Japan, the first thing that pops up is that it is a country of workaholics; it has zero English presence, and the people are highly prejudiced against foreigners and foreign culture. I was proven wrong. Japan is a beautiful country. It is culturally so rich, it makes me want to live here forever. The people, though tend to be a little distant... [Read more]
Contributing to the Classroom as an ALT in Japan - TEFL Blog
Thu, 17 Mar 2022 Asia Ridley
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences
Contributing to the Classroom as an ALT in Japan
English education in Japan has been prominent for decades and starts in elementary schools. It is in high demand as the relationship between the U.S. and Japan as well as the abundant amount of tourism. Last year straight after graduating from university in the United States, I moved to Japan and began teaching English. I was fortunate to pass the interviews and become part of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme {JET}. Being an assistant language teacher {ALT} in the Japanese education system versus a conversation school has its differences. Therefore I will be diving into how one can contribute to the classroom as an ALT.
Table of Contents
Japanese Elementary... [Read more]
Problems for the English Language Learner in Japan - TEFL Blog
Tue, 18 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Problems for the English Language Learner in Japan
Japan is well known for its unique culture, and history. As an island nation, it was isolated from the rest of the world until the mid-19th century when the country had to open itself to trade with western powers of the time. It was then when the English language made its way into the Japanese educational system. English spread quite rapidly, as the government saw the new language a way to catch up with the west. And, in 1873 English became the language of instruction in universities. However, due to various political reasons including the establishment of a standardized Japanese language system the urge to learn English had declined. Today in modern Japan, English is widely... [Read more]
How do Japanese Students Respond to Some Common Challenges in English? - TEFL Blog
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]
Common Problems Japanese Learners of English Experience - TEFL Blog
Wed, 09 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Common Problems Japanese Learners of English Experience
Japan is an island nation and is a recognized homogenous society with a very small percentage of foreign permanent residence and more than half of the adult population lacks the necessary skills to speak English proficiently. Because of this, English as a Second Language is in high demand with young learners being a focus group in Japan. English is taught in the school environment during nearly all of a child's primary education years, but this, unfortunately, doesn't translate to a proficient English-speaking Japanese population.
Table of Contents
Global Opportunities
Differences in Language Structure
Cultural Challenges
Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course!... [Read more]
The Struggles for Japanese Students When Learning English - TEFL Blog
Thu, 24 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
The Struggles for Japanese Students When Learning English
I have been teaching in Japan for over 12 years in three different locations ranging from the southernmost part of Hokkaido to the southern island of Kyushu, where I presently reside. The youngest students I have had were children not even two years of age, whereas my older students were in their seventies. This is a very common situation for those who teach here in Japan; a country where the English boom occurred not too long after they rebuilt their nation following the Second World War.
Table of Contents
Interest
Popular Culture Influence
Pronunciation Difficulties
Language Systems
Confidence
Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course!
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This... [Read more]
The Struggle of Teaching English in Rural Japan - TEFL Blog
Wed, 05 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
The Struggle of Teaching English in Rural Japan
Perhaps one of the most commonly used justifications for widespread English language education is "English is the global lingua franca." This statement seems to encapsulate the general sentiment towards the importance of English. With the recent advancements in technology, geographical and temporal barriers have greatly lessened and international relations are no longer restricted to certain fields such as politics and media. The average citizen can now commence personal and economic relationships with the world via the internet. And this, of course, highlights the need for a common language that will facilitate effective intercultural communication. In highly urbanized and... [Read more]
How Discipline Affects Motivation In and Out of Japanese Classrooms - TEFL Blog
Wed, 13 Nov 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
How Discipline Affects Motivation In and Out of Japanese Classrooms
I work in two schools. I am an assistant language teacher at one commercial (low-level English) high school, and an integrated (high-level English) academic junior high and high school. I have had experiences with different kinds of students, Japanese-English teachers, and classroom atmospheres. In Japan, students take an entrance exam to get into high school. If they scored low on the entrance exam, then they are placed in the lowest ranking class. Each school has a certain number of classrooms for each grade. Both of my high schools have six classes total for each grade. There are usually around forty to forty-two students in each class as well. Teaching forty... [Read more]
Motivation in the Classroom: Japanese Experience - TEFL Blog
Fri, 13 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Motivation in the Classroom: Japanese Experience
Having been an English teacher of high school students in Japan for the past 2 years, I have noticed that motivation in the classroom is as much dependent on the students as it is on me as the teacher. There are three aspects that I have identified and used in my environment to get the student motivated and engaged. The Japanese culture is largely conservative and group orientated and those are crucial to take into account if one is to succeed in their teaching career in Japan. The following plays a big role in setting a tone whereby students are motivated and engaged. Those aspects are culture, societal pressure, and peer pressure.
Table of Contents
Culture
Societal perception... [Read more]
Alumni TEFL Chat with Maddy & Georgia - Two Aussie Sisters Teaching English in Japan - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
Alumni TEFL Chat with Maddy & Georgia - Two Aussie Sisters Teaching English in Japan
07/08/2021
all right hi hey everyone hi as you can see it's not only me this
week welcome to our live stream we have guests today i'm super happy about it hi maddie hi
georgia hello hey so yeah back here another for another week and
i'm live on a different day i usually go live on fridays so today is very special
and also because we have guests so i'm super happy about that
and yeah if you are watching if you can see us if you can hear us please just leave a high in the comments that would
be really cool and where you're watching from i'm always really curious about where people are watching from
and um yeah i'm in south korea my name is linda from itt if you don't know me and i'm yeah
about an hour... [Read more]
From Student to Teacher - My Language Journey - TEFL Blog
Tue, 30 Apr 2019 Mark Crocker
Alumni Experiences
From Student to Teacher - My Language Journey
It was the last day of Japanese class and my teacher's last day of teaching at our school. We were all standing up getting ready to bow him one last time. It was dead quiet but I could still hear sniffles around me and felt the sadness of the moment. I never thought I would care so much about a teacher leaving. To this day, the words and wisdom my Japanese teacher taught me still ring in my head. Flash forward to a few years ago, I went to Japan for the first time, after a hiatus of not studying Japanese, but amazingly I still had all the skills my teacher had taught me in high school. How did this person have such an impact on me? The answer I have come to realize is that because he truly... [Read more]
Teaching English in Japan - The Salary and Budget Guide - TEFL Blog
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]
The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program: All You Need to Know and How to Apply - TEFL Blog
Mon, 15 Oct 2018 Laura Payne
Destinations TEFL Information
The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program: All You Need to Know and How to Apply
The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program is not the only means to teach English in Japan, but it is one of the most popular programs out there both for aspiring teachers and those who wish to pursue other fields. I first joined this program a little over a year ago. In the short time since then, I've gained incredibly valuable experiences through my work as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT).
Table of Contents
The History of JET
Duties of an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT)
How to Apply for the JET Program
Remuneration and Living
Rewards of JET
Common Challenges for ALTs
The JET Community
Listen to this blog post
What are you waiting... [Read more]
Accommodation Options in Tokyo for English Teachers in Japan - TEFL Blog
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?
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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]
How Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers are Valuable in English Class - TEFL Blog
Thu, 04 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
How Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers are Valuable in English Class
Teaching English as a foreign language can be an intimidating task, especially for non-native English speaking teachers. This is true for many of my coworkers who are homeroom teachers at elementary schools in Japan. English has recently become a formal subject in elementary schools here and many homeroom teachers are intimidated by the sudden responsibility to teach a language they are not fluent in. Many feel that native speakers are better English teachers since native speakers have natural pronunciation and excellent command of the language. Co-teaching with a native speaker can put added pressure on homeroom teachers to speak perfect English in front of their... [Read more]
My Experience as an Assistant Language Teacher in Japanese Elementary and Junior High Schools - TEFL Blog
Thu, 13 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
My Experience as an Assistant Language Teacher in Japanese Elementary and Junior High Schools
I am in my 3rd year of working in the countryside of Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in public elementary and junior high schools. An ALT's official job description is to be the assistant to a Japanese Teacher of Language (JTL). In my experience, especially in elementary schools, the ALT is not seen as an assistant but as "the English teacher" since the regular homeroom teacher has no training or experience with ESL. In most cases, the ALT has a degree in a field unrelated to teaching and has no qualifications.
Table of Contents
Japanese Education System
ALT Training
My Unexpected Discovery
Language Course Peculiarities
Do... [Read more]
The Three Main Types of High Schools in Japan - TEFL Blog
Fri, 25 Feb 2022 Etienne Van Rooyen
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences
The Three Main Types of High Schools in Japan
There are three types of senior high schools in Japan. Each senior high school (grades 10, 11, and 12) has a different purpose and students attend it. Understanding this helps us learn how English language learning in Japan is differently yet similars each school. With this knowledge, as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) you can adapt your lessons plans, materials and style to fit your school/s.
Table of Contents
Overview of School Types
Academic Schools
Vocational Schools
Correspondence Schools
Academic High Schools
Elite Academic High Schools
General Acadmic High Schools
How do elite and general academic schools approach English learning?
Vocational Schools... [Read more]
How to Travel Japan on a Teacher’s Budget - TEFL Blog
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]
Class For TEFL - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
Class For TEFL
Check out tefl tesol about Class For TEFL and apply today to be certified to teach English abroad.
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W.L. - Australia said:
English as a global languageEnglish is currently the global language. It is the official language of United Nations and many International organizations such as The International Olympic Committee and FIFA.
The main reason for this is the emergence of the British Empire. It was said the sun never set on the British empire. They owned colonies on every continent on earth. Thus they were able to spread the English language far and wide. The second reason why English... [Read more]
Why I Decided To Take A TEFL Course - TEFL Blog
Sun, 05 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Why I Decided To Take A TEFL Course
Over the last month and a half, I have been completing a TEFL course. I am currently working as an assistant language teacher at a Japanese high school. Overall, I have found the experience to be very useful. The following reasons are why a TEFL course should be completed. Firstly, you gain a better understanding of how English grammar works. Secondly, from my perspective, it has reinforced and improved my current teaching strategies and practices. Thirdly, it gives teachers a structural theoretical framework to create lessons. Finally, completing a TEFL course gives you lesson ideas and activities. For these reasons, it is important to complete a TEFL course.
Table of Contents
English Grammar... [Read more]
Reading as a Central Part of Language Acquisition - TEFL Blog
Tue, 28 Jan 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Reading as a Central Part of Language Acquisition
Language acquisition often involves four skills. These skills are further divided into two groups receptive skills (reading and listening) and productive skills (writing and speaking). Not all languages have a corresponding writing system however, learners of English will have to learn all these skills to be proficient in their use of English. Reading is more than just calling words on paper, In this essay, the importance of reading in language acquisition will be discussed on the basis that reading influences vocabulary expansion, facilitates the practice of word pronunciation and finally sparks and improves the imagination. These concepts will be discussed from the standpoint of... [Read more]
The Global Rise of the English Language - How Far Will it Go? - TEFL Blog
Fri, 11 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
The Global Rise of the English Language - How Far Will it Go?
Whether you like English or despise it, the English language is here to stay. There is no stronger contender right now as a global language, other than English. But how did this happen, why is English now the dominant language in Education, Business and the Media.
Table of Contents
Personal Experience
English in My Family
Influence on Other Countries
Modern Situation
Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course!
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Iain Hamilton-G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Personal Experience
Well in this essay I am not going to... [Read more]
How Important are Phonology and Pronunciation in the English Language Classroom? - TEFL Blog
Mon, 01 Apr 2019 Mark Crocker
Alumni Experiences
How Important are Phonology and Pronunciation in the English Language Classroom?
As a speaker of 5 languages (French being my native one), I've been exposed to different ways of teaching how one particular language sounds and why it sounds that way, what kind of meaning is conveyed using what sounds in what order, and so on. Quite often, I've noticed that in the school system, not enough emphasis is put on studying the sounds that pertain to the language itself.
Table of Contents
Learning English in a French Environment
The Importance of Intonation
Other Common Pronunciation Mistakes in English
One Innovative Way I Tried to Help My Students
In Conclusion
Are you ready to teach English abroad?
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Listen to this blog post... [Read more]
Team Teaching with Different Teaching Styles - TEFL Blog
Thu, 25 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Team Teaching with Different Teaching Styles
As an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) working at an elementary school in Japan, I have to mainly work with seven different teachers and teams to teach the English lessons together. The number of teachers I work with more than doubles if I include the grades that I only teach occasionally and also the classes at the other school that I go to only once a week. It is no surprise that 'flexibility' is often mentioned as one of the most important traits to have to be an effective ALT. In this summative task, I would like to share some of my experiences and how I have learned to work with multiple teachers with different teaching styles.
Table of Contents
Personal Experience
Do you want to... [Read more]
British English vs American English. Which is Better? - TEFL Blog
Thu, 25 Apr 2019 Jon ITTT
Alumni Experiences
British English vs American English. Which is Better?
As more and more countries place a growing importance on its people to learn English as a secondary language, for work purposes or for general use, there is a growing debate about which is the better English to learn - British English or American English.
Table of Contents
Both versions are essentially the same
Prioritise teaching "Good English"
Certain students may need specific versions of English
Points to consider when choosing a version to teach
Exploring the differences can be an interesting lesson
Don't get obsessed with minor differences
Are you excited to teach English abroad?
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Listen to this blog post:
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate... [Read more]
The Peak Hiring Seasons for Teaching English Abroad - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
The Peak Hiring Seasons for Teaching English Abroad
02/20/2023
hello welcome Linda here from ITT back
this week with another live session welcome welcome today we're going to talk about the top hiring seasons for
teaching English abroad so we're going to cover different regions Europe Asia
Latin America Central America um and different countries specifically
in these regions and the top hiring seasons for each of those countries so
you know exactly when to apply for the job for an English teaching job in the
country that you want to teach in so um a couple weeks ago we talked about
um tefl interviews and how to find jobs Etc so now this is kind of part of this
series and just to yeah give you an overview of the top hiring season so
that you know exactly when you should be applying for... [Read more]
The Best Countries for Teaching English in 2021 - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
The Best Countries for Teaching English in 2021
12/17/2020
hello hello hello and welcome to another live session my name is
linda from itt and you can find me on social media at linda ghost east um
yeah thanks for tuning in let me just see that everything's working if you can see
me and if you can hear me please um leave a comment as always you
know the drill and yeah this is actually our last
um live session or my last live session we have another one on tuesday from my
colleague lisa but me it's my last live session before christmas and so um i wanted to get a little
festive this is my attempt at being festive so um yeah that's what we're working with
today um yeah if you can see me and hear me please leave a comment that would be
really really awesome yay awesome it starts yeah
hi... [Read more]
These are the Best Government Programs for Teaching English Abroad - TEFL Blog
Mon, 08 Mar 2021 Federico Riva
TEFL Information Teaching Ideas
These are the Best Government Programs for Teaching English Abroad
Hi my name is Linda from ITTT, international TEFL and TESOL Training and I'm back again today for another live session. If you can hear me and see me please let me know as I'm trying out a new mic today so if that is working well it would be good to know. So please leave a quick comment to say hi and where you're watching from. I have been living in South Korea for five and a half years, so for me right now it's 10:00 a.m. Friday morning. Let me know where you are tuning in from and what time it is where you are.
Table of Contents
Watch the live session here
So back to today's topic. The best government programs for teaching English abroad. So what does... [Read more]