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My Experience as an Assistant Language Teacher in Japanese Elementary and Junior High Schools - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
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.
Japanese Education System
ALT Training
My Unexpected Discovery
Language Course Peculiarities
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Personal Teaching Experience: Navigating a Changing Curriculum as a Co-teacher in Japanese Elementary Schools - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
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.
English Language Tests
Designing Activities
Team Building
Group Lesson Planning
Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL... [Read more]
How Can Teachers Develop the Productive Skills of Japanese Junior High School Students - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Change is coming to the way that English is taught in Japanese public schools. The changes to the curriculum by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) increase the teaching of English at all levels of schooling. The goal of this change is, in the words of Ikuko Tsuboya-Newel, founder and chair of Tokyo International School, "The government has decided that beginning in 2020 all high school graduates must achieve a level of English equivalent to B1" ("Why do Japanese have trouble learning English?", The Japan Times, October 29, 2017). To achieve that goal, high school entrance exams are expected to include more testing of productive skills in English. Therefore, junior high school students are expected to have these... [Read more]
Motivation in the Classroom: Japanese Experience - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
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.
Culture
Societal perception
Peer pressure
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Why Japanese Students Struggle with Communicating in English - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
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.
Education system
Class culture
Learning goals
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Rachel M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or... [Read more]
Typical Challenges for Japanese Native Speakers in ESL - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Daisy C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Grammar
Pronunciation
Japanese schools
Japanese culture
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One problem facing many Japanese students learning English is differentiating between countable and uncountable nouns. In the Japanese language, the same word is often used for 'much' and 'many'. In English, 'much' is used to describe countable nouns, and 'many' is used to describe uncountable nouns.
A problem facing many EFL learners, especially Japanese learners, is idioms. The English language has thousands of idioms, which are used in everyday life. These are... [Read more]
Common Challenges in English for Japanese Native Speakers - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
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 Proficiency Index in 2017, Japanese English proficiency is 35th out of 72... [Read more]
TEFL Japan - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ Teach English In The Japanese Alps 1
Date posted:2022-12-04 | Writer: Active English School | Email: [email protected]
Active English School in Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan is looking for an energetic, versatile and professional native English teacher to begin working in the beginning of February or April, 2023. Position available:- Conversation Teachers at the private English schoolOur school is small, friendly and family-owned.Students range from 2 to 70 years of age. Working with us is a great opportunity to get to know students on a personal level and participate in cultural exchange.Nagano prefecture is centrally located with great access to hiking, skiing or snowboarding, and hot springs. Shiojiri is a small, quiet city about 20 minutes from Matsumoto and 2.5 hours from Tokyo... [Read more]
How Discipline Affects Motivation In and Out of Japanese Classrooms - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
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 plus students in a crowded classroom is difficult. And unlike many stereotypes of... [Read more]
What is Challenging in English Pronunciation for Japanese Native Speakers? - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
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.
Japanese Writing
Teaching Approach
Pronunciation Differences
Further Steps
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Zachary B. Please note that this... [Read more]
Japanese Holidays - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ Teach English Abroad
SOURCE: www . houseofgenjisanjose . net/blog/2014/december/highlighting-japanese-holidays-infographic- . aspx?redirect_referrer=https%3a%2f%2fit . pinterest . com%2f
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Japanese Customs - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ Teach English Abroad
SOURCE: www . businessinsider . com/japanese-customs-that-are-shocking-to-foreigners-2015-7?utm_content=buffer4f24d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook . com&utm_campaign=buffer
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How do Japanese Students Respond to Some Common Challenges in English? - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
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. However in Japan specifically, more so than western countries, the education and pressure put... [Read more]
The Struggles for Japanese Students When Learning English - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
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.
Interest
Popular Culture Influence
Pronunciation Difficulties
Language Systems
Confidence
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Best practices for teaching English in a Japanese classroom - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT TEFL & TESOL
1. Understanding the Japanese Classroom Environment
2. Effective Teaching Strategies for English Language Learners
3. Cultural Sensitivity and Adaptability in Teaching
4. Building Strong Relationships with Students and Colleagues
Teaching English in a Japanese classroom can be a rewarding and enriching experience for educators looking to make a positive impact on students' lives. By understanding the unique cultural context and educational practices in Japan, teachers can create a supportive and engaging learning environment for English language learners. In this guide, we will explore the best practices for teaching English in a Japanese classroom, including effective teaching strategies, cultural sensitivity, and tips for building strong relationships with students and colleagues.
Before... [Read more]
What You Need to Know About Japanese Students' Challenges Before Teaching in Japan - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Japan is a country with a long history, deep tradition, and vibrant culture. Within this culture sits the Japanese language. At first, being a spoken language and then adopting the Chinese Writing System, Japanese has grown and changed into what it is today. If you look at all languages, most Western languages originate from a set family, such as Romance Languages (which became today's Spanish, French, Italian, etc). But Japanese (as most Asian languages) was formed from entirely different roots. These fundamental differences mean that the method of learning these languages has a lot to do with memorization and repetitive practice of the Chinese symbols and the words they represent. Which means it is difficult to find any common ground between it and... [Read more]
The Problems That Japanese Elementary Schoolers Face Studying English - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
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 counter-productive environment, inconsistent exposure to the language, and a lack of... [Read more]
4 Reasons Why Japanese Students Are Often Lacking Motivation - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Japanese learners of English face challenges which are based on background and cultural aspects, racial barriers, perception of the English language, as well the lack of freedom of expression. This becomes the basis on which their motivation, or lack thereof, to study English is built. Coming from a motivational background, I was self-assured that my plans to get my low-level High School students motivated about learning English would be less challenging to implement. Reality proved otherwise as this process has required the breaking of certain barriers in order for me to be successful in my endeavors. Following is a further explanation on each of the different challenges which I have observed to be the cause of the lack of motivation amongst many... [Read more]
Several Pronunciations Troubles Faced by The Japanese Native Speakers - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
The differences between many Asiatic languages' pronunciation and that of English form the basis for a multitude of miscommunications between international interlocutors. My experience living in Japan provides plentiful evidence to support this assertion. When my Japanese associates and I communicate in English, I notice three significant pronunciation struggles for my conversation partners. For the Japanese who are learning English, the clear enunciation of the /th/ sound, the fricative quality of the /v/ consonant, and the distinction of /l/ versus /r/ formation of the tongue.
Language Structure
Difficult sounds
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The Most Common Obstacles for Japanese Learners of English - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Formal English education first took root in Japan with the creation of the first English schools in 1865 and has since steamrolled into an aggressive effort by the government to produce an English-proficient population. The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) was established to introduce native speakers into English classrooms, and English instruction continues to become mandatory for increasingly younger students in primary schools. Despite these efforts, an English Proficiency Index conducted by the organization English First gave Japan a "low proficiency" score, with the island country lagging not just the multicultural countries of Singapore and Malaysia but also its East Asian neighbors China and South Korea. To explain this disparity... [Read more]
TEFL Japan - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ Come And Teach English In Japan
Date posted:2022-12-18 | Writer: Heart Corporation, Chiba office | Email: [email protected]
We are teaching in over 600 public schools: elementary, junior high, and high schools in 12 prefectures in Japan, such as Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Fukushima, Miyagi, Niigata, Yamanashi, and Shizuoka.We provide ways to get you prepared for public schools and regular training to further develop your skills. Our dedicated bi-lingual staff will support you from the application process to your daily life at school.Job Description• Workweek: Monday through Friday (Saturdays, Sundays & Japanese Holidays are off)• Working Hours: 8:00 – 16:30 (The times vary from schools)• Teaching 4 – 5 classes per... [Read more]
How long do TEFL contracts last? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
Upon securing your TEFL certification and preparing for the next leg of your journey, understanding contract durations becomes crucial. Typically, TEFL contracts align with the academic calendar, often lasting for one academic year, which usually spans 10-12 months. While many institutions prefer this duration, some, especially summer camps or short-term programs, might offer shorter contracts. Thus, when signing a job contract, it is important to be aware of the commitment period.
How long are TEFL contracts in Europe?
How long are TEFL contracts in Asia?
How long are TEFL contracts in Latin America?
How long are TEFL contracts in the Middle East
In Europe, TEFL contracts predominantly span an academic year, typically from September to June. This setup allows teachers a summer... [Read more]
Building vocabulary with Japanese students learning English - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT TEFL & TESOL
Enhancing vocabulary skills is essential for Japanese students who are learning English as a second language. By expanding their vocabulary, students can improve their communication skills, comprehension, and overall language proficiency. In this article, we will explore effective strategies and techniques to help Japanese learners build their English vocabulary. We will discuss the importance of vocabulary acquisition, provide practical tips for expanding vocabulary, and recommend resources to support vocabulary development. Additionally, we will highlight the role of teachers in facilitating vocabulary growth and offer suggestions for creating a conducive learning environment for students.
1. Importance of Vocabulary Acquisition
2. Practical Tips for Expanding Vocabulary
3. Resources... [Read more]
Best Japanese cities for English teaching jobs - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT TEFL & TESOL
Are you considering teaching English in Japan? With its unique culture, advanced technology, and high demand for English teachers, Japan is a popular destination for those looking to teach English as a foreign language. In this article, we will explore the best Japanese cities for English teaching jobs, providing valuable insights into the top locations for ESL teachers in Japan.
As the bustling capital city of Japan, Tokyo offers a wide range of opportunities for English teachers. With a vibrant expat community, numerous language schools, and international companies, Tokyo is a hub for English language education. From prestigious universities to private language institutes, there are plenty of options for ESL teachers in Tokyo. Additionally, the city's efficient public transportation... [Read more]
A guide to choosing the best ESL school in England - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT TEFL & TESOL
1. Why Choose England for ESL Studies
2. Factors to Consider When Choosing an ESL School
3. Top ESL Schools in England
4. Conclusion
When it comes to studying English as a second language (ESL), England is a top destination for international students. With its rich history, diverse culture, and reputation for academic excellence, England offers a unique and immersive learning experience for ESL learners. Whether you are looking to improve your language skills for academic, professional, or personal reasons, choosing the right ESL school in England is crucial to your success.
England is home to some of the world's most prestigious universities and language schools, making it an ideal destination for ESL studies. The country's long history of teaching English as a foreign language, combined... [Read more]
Best ESL schools in Cebu Philippines - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT TEFL & TESOL
Cebu, a vibrant city in the Philippines, is known for its stunning beaches, rich culture, and warm hospitality. It is also a popular destination for those looking to learn English as a second language (ESL). With a wide range of ESL schools to choose from, finding the best one can be a daunting task. To help you make an informed decision, we have compiled a list of the top ESL schools in Cebu, Philippines.
ABC English School is one of the most reputable ESL schools in Cebu. With a team of experienced and dedicated teachers, state-of-the-art facilities, and a comprehensive curriculum, ABC English School offers high-quality English language education to students of all levels. The school provides a supportive learning environment where students can improve their English proficiency through... [Read more]
Contributing to the Classroom as an ALT in Japan - TEFL Blog
Asia Ridley
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences
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.
Japanese Elementary School
Collaborating with your Homeroom Teacher
Outside of the classroom
Conclusion
Are you... [Read more]
What is the JET Program for teaching English in Japan? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) is a prestigious initiative, established by the Japanese government more than 30 years ago, aimed at enhancing English language proficiency among Japanese students. Annually, the program recruits approximately 5,000 international participants, placing them in schools across Japan.
Beyond its educational goals, JET uniquely prioritizes fostering cultural ties between participants and the Japanese community. Given the competitive salary and array of additional benefits, securing a spot in the JET Program is highly sought-after, making the application process quite competitive.
What are the requirements for the JET Program?
What teaching positions are available through the JET Program?
What are the benefits of the JET Program?
The Japan... [Read more]
Best ESL schools in South Korea - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT TEFL & TESOL
1. Introduction
2. Factors to Consider When Choosing an ESL School in South Korea
3. Top ESL Schools in South Korea
4. Conclusion
When looking for the best ESL schools in South Korea, there are several factors to consider to ensure you make the right choice. The first factor to consider is accreditation. It is essential to choose a school that is accredited by a recognized body to ensure that you will receive a quality education. Additionally, consider the location of the school. South Korea offers a variety of locations, from bustling cities to more rural areas, so choose a location that suits your preferences. Another important factor is the school's reputation. Research online reviews and speak to current or former students to get an idea of the school's reputation and teaching quality.... [Read more]
Best ESL schools in Australia - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT TEFL & TESOL
1. Introduction to ESL Schools in Australia
2. Top ESL Schools in Australia
3. Factors to Consider When Choosing an ESL School
4. Conclusion
Australia is home to numerous excellent ESL schools that cater to students from all around the world. Some of the top ESL schools in Australia include:
1. Embassy English: With multiple campuses across Australia, Embassy English offers a range of courses for students of all levels. They focus on providing a supportive learning environment and personalized attention to help students achieve their language learning goals.
2. Navitas English: Navitas English has a strong reputation for its high-quality English language programs. They offer a variety of courses, including general English, exam preparation, and English for academic purposes, to help... [Read more]
