Middle In Japanese

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]

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences How Japanese as a Native Language Causes Problems for Students Learning English in Japan This essay seeks to explain how the Japanese 'Katakana' and 'Romaji' alphabets cause barriers to the introduction of English education in Japanese elementary schools. It will look at how these alphabets affect the pronunciation, writing, and reading abilities of Japanese students. Table of Contents The Japanese language arguably has four different alphabets. Chart 1: Examples of Katakana and Romaji English word(s)/ English pronunciation/ Katakana/ Katakana pronunciation/ Romaji Engage: Study: Activate: Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ethan M....  [Read more]

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences There Is No L (And Other Differences Between Japanese and English) Throughout high school and college, I mainly focused on learning how to speak Japanese as my second language. Unlike English, Japanese is a fairly phonetic language. Two of its three writing systems, hiragana and katakana, are phonetic. This makes it easy for foreigners to learn because each syllable, also known as sound clusters in some circles, is almost always said exactly how it is spelled. The third writing system, kanji, is not and, as such, is much more difficult for foreigners to learn because kanji are essentially pictures that describe their meaning. They are much more difficult to learn and use in everyday speech. Table of Contents Differences in...  [Read more]

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences What is Challenging in English Pronunciation for Japanese Native Speakers? What's the most difficult part of learning a new language? Is it writing? Perhaps it's the reading or memorizing new vocabulary? Well for some it's speaking the new language, specifically when it comes to pronunciation. Every language has its unique ways or pronouncing their vowels and constants as well as how they form their sentence structure. Especially this write up will focus on Japanese English as a Second Language (ESL) students and the difficulties they face while learning English and its pronunciation. Table of Contents Japanese Writing Teaching Approach Pronunciation Differences Further Steps Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL...  [Read more]

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences How Can English Influence a Student's Career English is my first language, however, I studied Spanish throughout high school growing up in the Midwest and eventually received a Master's degree in Spanish Literature. I learned to speak Spanish very well after becoming a high school Spanish teacher for eight years and then a principal for elementary and secondary schools for 26 more years speaking Spanish to new immigrant students and parents the whole time. Table of Contents Bilingualism Confidence Advantages and Perspectives Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Rex P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the...  [Read more]

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Several Problems Japanese Students Face When Learning English and Ways to Solve Them Japan is a developed country, with well above 126 million inhabitants, that during the past decade has been gaining more and more popularity as a destination for travelers and as a residence for people from all kinds of countries. Yet its inhabitants often seem to struggle with gaining English language proficiency. In this essay, I'll try to resolve the question, which problems students in Japan typically encounter when attempting to learn English. Table of Contents Grammar Phonology Culture Methodology Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Philipp S....  [Read more]

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences A Lifetime Love for Language Learning As a young child, I was, for some reason, obsessed with the idea of learning French. I tried a couple of languages, including Finnish at some point, but kept going back to French. I have no idea why because I was never exposed to the culture or the language itself at that age. I doubt I even knew anything about the country itself. I think I assumed learning French would make me sound smarter but, the joke's on younger me, I have no skill in French and never have. I tend to struggle with romance languages in general. Table of Contents My Personal Second Language Experience My Choice Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL...  [Read more]

Centre Internet TEFL Check out tefl tesol about Centre Internet TEFL and apply today to be certified to teach English abroad. You could also be interested in: This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned: Check out ITTT's Blog Posts A.J. - Japan said: Problems for Learners in JapanEnglish is a compulsory subject in all japanese schools and is studied for a minimum of seven years if not longer. Very few of these students, however, will become proficient enough to be considered at an advanced and in many cases not even an intermediate level. Those few that do excel at English are students that are motivated from outside of the classroom and/or have spent time abroad in a country where English is commonly...  [Read more]

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Personal Teaching Experience: Navigating a Changing Curriculum as a Co-teacher in Japanese Elementary Schools In Japan, elementary schools typically employ an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) to provide support to homeroom teachers during English classes. I have been working in such a capacity for the past two and a half years, first through an international program and currently as a direct-hire via my local city hall. Until recently, mandatory English classes at the elementary school level have been limited to the fifth and sixth grades, but new national requirements are being rolled out that will require mandatory English classes as early as third grade while doubling English classroom hours for the fifth and sixth grades....  [Read more]

TEFL in Tanabe City, Japan Date posted:2005-02-01 | Writer: English Village International | Email: [email protected] English Village International (EVI) is a privately owned, friendly yet professional English language school run by an American. Our staff includes teachers from several countries. Our school has four facilities, located all within an hour of our main school in Tanabe City. Tanabe is a friendly, highly livable city of 86, 000 people located in the middle of Wakayama Prefecture along the coast, two hours south of Osaka. Although it is the second largest city in the prefecture, the great out of doors is at our doorstep with white sandy resort beaches within minutes of downtown and beautiful high mountains behind the city. Our area was designated as a world heritage site in...  [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]

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]

EFL Teaching Position in Japan Date posted:2012-12-05 | Writer: I/You Eikaiwa | Email: [email protected] Full-time EFL instructor needed from the middle of March in 2013, to teach English communication skills to all ages at a private language school, I/You Eikaiwa, in Sendai, a city of nearly one million people in northeastern Honshu. Small classes in a local area, but bigger kindergarten classes, too. Must enjoy working with small children. University graduate with TEFL/TESL experience preferred. One-year contract (minimum, renewable for second year if both parties are in agreement.). JOB DUTIES: Up to 95 hours of teaching per month. Fifty to sixty hours per month of curriculum and materials development, meetings, and workshops. SALARY: ¥235,000/month for first year. Overtime pay...  [Read more]

Where do schools provide free housing for English teachers abroad? English teachers seeking opportunities abroad should note that certain regions and individual countries stand out for offering housing benefits. In Middle Eastern destinations, such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE (including Dubai & Abu Dhabi), educators frequently receive free accommodation or a housing subsidy. Also, many employers across Asia commonly include housing in their teaching contracts. If you land a job in China, Japan, South Korea, or Taiwan, you could well find your accommodation is covered. Table of Contents Where am I most likely to get free housing as an English teacher abroad? Who else provides free housing for English teachers abroad? Where am I most likely to get free housing as an English...  [Read more]

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Problems That Japanese Elementary Schoolers Face Studying English In the wake of the upcoming 2020 Olympics in Japan, there has been an increase in elementary school level English classes. As an assistant language teacher half into my fourth year, I have had the rare chance to work the entirety of my time in one elementary school where I have had many great memories. However, being present every day I began to notice that some students were struggling or in some cases, not even trying when it came to English class. Talking with my peers and colleagues from other elementary schools as well as my own, there are some common problems that many students seem to experience in an English class. These problems include learning in a...  [Read more]

Two TEFL Positions South of Nagoya, Japan Date posted:2019-01-22 | Writer: Global English School | Email: [email protected] Global English School is currently accepting applications for two full-time 1-year TEFL positions that start in April 2019. The contract starts on April 1st, however, we need the successful applicant to begin from the middle of March for initial training and orientation. We are looking for someone who is energetic, reliable, pleasant, a team player, passionate about teaching, eager to learn new ways of teaching, self-motivated, open-minded, and really loves teaching children as well as adults. We teach English conversation to people of all ages, with the majority between the ages of 2 to 12 years old. We teach children using a special program called “PLS...  [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]

TEFL jobs in Japan The TEFL jobs market in Japan is possibly the largest in the world. With tens of thousands of TEFL teachers required year after year. Teaching in Japan is often a pleasant experience. Expect to work hard and earn well. There are many online resources for finding TEFL jobs in Japan. If you run a quick search on Google, you’ll find hundreds of TEFL jobs in Japan at any one time. TEFL jobs are plentiful in every city and town. Choose your preferred location before hand and the chances are you will find a TEFL job there. Should you need to, seek direct school contacts from online language school directories. For further particulars, visit Teaching English in Japan. View job offers on the following pages to gain an insight into TEFL jobs in Japan.  IB DP English...  [Read more]

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]

Where do schools provide free housing for English teachers abroad? With a huge number of countries to choose from worldwide, English language teachers will inevitably come across a range of pay and benefits that vary from one region to the next. Over 250,000 native English speakers teach English abroad every year, of which a large percentage will receive an hourly pay rate with little in the way of other benefits. Although most will still have a great deal of fun and be able to live a comfortable lifestyle, teachers who find themselves in certain countries might also find that they receive free accommodation during their stay. Where am I most likely to get free housing as an English teacher abroad? Two of the world's biggest markets for teaching English abroad are China and South...  [Read more]

TEFL Position in Busan, Korea Date posted:2010-01-17 | Writer: World Foreign Language Insititute | Email: [email protected] Teach English in Busan, Korea, the most beautiful and exciting port city with the largest beach in Korea!! World Foreign Language Institute, a well organized adult teaching English institute in Busan with a long history of more than 15 years, is seeking a qualified native English TEFL teacher available on March 1st, 2010!! The school currently has about 25 teachers including three native English, one Japanese and one Chinese teacher. We are looking for someone who is able to commit to a one year contract with an attractive benefits package which includes round trip airfare, paid vacations, local accommodation and end of contract bonus. Following are general...  [Read more]

TEFL Position in Busan, Korea Date posted:2010-01-17 | Writer: World Foreign Language Insititute | Email: [email protected] Teach English in Busan, Korea, the most beautiful and exciting port city with the largest beach in Korea!! World Foreign Language Institute, a well organized adult teaching English institute in Busan with a long history of more than 15 years, is seeking a qualified native English TEFL teacher available on March 1st, 2010!! The school currently has about 25 teachers including three native English, one Japanese and one Chinese teacher. We are looking for someone who is able to commit to a one year contract with an attractive benefits package which includes round trip airfare, paid vacations, local accommodation and end of contract bonus. Following are general...  [Read more]

Can I learn a foreign language while teaching English abroad? Certainly! Teaching English abroad uniquely positions you for rapid foreign language acquisition. Immersion in a new culture, surrounded by native speakers daily, is one of the most effective methods to grasp a language. As an English teacher abroad, every interaction - from daily errands to classroom engagements - becomes an invaluable opportunity to hone your linguistic abilities. Table of Contents What are the benefits of learning a foreign language when teaching English abroad? Can I learn Chinese while teaching English abroad? Can I learn Arabic while teaching English abroad? Can I learn Spanish while teaching English abroad? Can I learn French while teaching English abroad? What other languages can I learn while...  [Read more]

Can I learn a foreign language while teaching English abroad? Yes. One of the many benefits of teaching English abroad is that it can provide a great environment for learning a foreign language. It is no secret that being fully immersed in a different culture, where you are constantly surrounded by a new language, is the most effective way to quickly develop your understanding. Throughout your time living and working as an English teacher abroad, you will inevitably have endless opportunities to practice your language skills. What are the benefits of learning a foreign language when teaching English abroad? As well as using the language as you go about your daily life, there is also a good chance that you will have access to local language courses that are far cheaper than those...  [Read more]

What do TEFL teachers wear? Attire expectations vary widely based on the school's policies: Pro Tip: To avoid confusion, inquire about the dress code during the job interview. As a rule of thumb, it is wise to err on the side of professionalism on your first day, adjusting as you gauge the school's culture. Table of Contents What should I wear for a TEFL job interview? What about tattoos and piercings? What about facial hair? Which countries have specific expectations when it comes to appearance? What should I wear for a TEFL job interview? When preparing for a TEFL job interview, attire plays a pivotal role in making a strong first impression: In essence, prioritize a professional appearance throughout the TEFL job application and interview process to boost your prospects. Also read:...  [Read more]

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The Use of Games in the Classroom I have been teaching English as an assistant language teacher in Japan for the past 4 years. I have taught all grades from kindergarten through 9th grade, and have worked with many teachers with a variety of teaching styles. In this essay I will look at the use of games in the foreign language classroom, drawing from my experiences to look at several specific games and discuss how they help students learn and use English. Table of Contents 1. Games are a good way to make class fun, increasing student motivation while using English. 2. Creating activities with existing resources 3. A possibility to communicate 4. Examples of games Do you want to teach English abroad or online? Take a TEFL course!...  [Read more]

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 Linda Dunsmore Destinations 10 Amazing Music Festivals Around The World Teaching English abroad isn't all about working - it's mostly about fun and exploring the world! Here are 10 amazing music festivals around the world you must check out when teaching English abroad. Table of Contents COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL (USA) MEADOWS IN THE MOUNTAINS (BULGARIA) MAWAZINE (MOROCCO) BAHIDORÁ (MEXICO) SUNBURN FESTIVAL (INDIA) FIB BENICASSIM (SPAIN) FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL (JAPAN) SUMMERFEST DONAUINSELFEST SZIGET Are you ready to teach English around the world? Related Articles: COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL (USA) Coachella is one of the best music festivals in the world and has been a true celeb hotspot in recent years. Everyone who is someone (and...  [Read more]

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]

What do TEFL teachers wear? When it comes to dress there is no correct answer as many schools have their own dress policy. In some schools men will be required to wear a suit and tie and women a pantsuit or skirt and dress shirt/jacket. Others will allow casual clothes such as a t-shirt and jeans, although most will fall somewhere in between these two extremes. The best advice is to ask the appropriate questions during the interview process to ensure you know what is expected. Otherwise you should lean towards the professional side of things for your first day and then you can adjust your dress accordingly. What should I wear for a TEFL job interview? As a general rule you should approach a TEFL interview in the same way as any other job interview you might have in your home country,...  [Read more]

Can you make good money teaching English abroad? Many TEFL qualified teachers head overseas to look for excitement, adventure, new experiences, and to simply get away from the daily grind, but not all are aware of the potential to earn a very good living whilst doing so. In some parts of the world teachers can earn more than enough to live a high quality of life and also afford to put aside a considerable sum each month to pay off student debts or to save for future travel etc. As demand for qualified teachers continues to grow in many areas, so do the potential salaries on offer. Table of Contents Important points to consider when evaluating potential TEFL salaries. How much can I earn teaching English in Asia? How much can I earn teaching English in the Middle East? How much can I...  [Read more]