Teaching english in Japan

By Nicole Møller on September 29th, 2009

Are you thinking of coming to Japan, but unsure where to begin in terms of getting a job? Teaching English is a relatively easy way to start, and usually only requires a University degree. Here is a firsthand account of a year taught teaching in Japan, illustrating some of its good points, as well as the new obstacles faced during a time of economic uncertainty.

As one of the largest, most cosmopolitan cities in the world, Tokyo has something for everybody. From those who love the fashion, the anime, or simply desire a taste of a different culture, it is a place that easily attracts people from all over the world who want to live and breathe in its bustling, metropolitan air. Probably the easiest and quickest way for anyone wanting to live and work in Japan is to take a position teaching English. There are several big Eikaiwa (English Conversation) schools located throughout the country, and many require minimal to no Japanese language skills to work for them. Although the trend of teaching English still remains a generally popular choice (especially with young just barely out of college kids from all over the English-speaking globe) many recent factors have altered the experience just slightly, making what to expect when coming to Japan a little different than what it was one year ago.

When I arrived in Tokyo last summer to teach English at a major English conversation school, it was soon after the collapse of Nova – probably the biggest Eikaiwa industry in Japan up until shortly before that point. With Nova out of the picture, the remaining Eikaiwa giants felt a need to procure the top position within this market by opening schools and hiring teachers at a rapid pace. I arrived in July 2008 with seven other people in my training group. One month later, there was another group of ten other prospective English teachers. This trend continued for about six months following, with my company dropping off fresh batches of teachers in groups of at least seven or eight consistently every month. For awhile, it seemed as though my company had secured their spot overtaking Nova in terms, if not prestige, then definitely ubiquity. They had not only roped in ex-Nova students and teachers, but were also building new schools at a speed intended to throw out any rivals out of the water.

However, I believe that the overcompensation of hiring extra teachers and creating new schools really took a negative turn. As the economic recession began to really kick in late 2008, many teachers who had previously considered leaving Japan, or at least moving on from the English teacher realm to a different field, were now staying in fear of not being able to find another job. Although oftentimes monotonous and mentally under-stimulating, at least sticking with the Eikaiwas—up until that point—meant guaranteed security. Unfortunately, while more teachers were staying longer, many students were leaving due to economic hardships. The abundance of schools also meant that there weren’t more students, but rather that the same students were more spread out as they were suddenly switching to other locations more convenient to their home or work place. This combination of more teachers and less students created quite a stressful situation, with many recently hired teachers being placed on hiatus overseas and current teachers feeling the threat of being let go in the possibility of a real financial disaster.

Slowly, things have adjusted back to normal since earlier in the year, but I feel as though the collapse of Nova and economic shake-up has really created a feeling of fear within the English Conversation community in general. In my experience, the chance to live and work in Japan is still definitely worth it, but my advice for people wanting to work in Japan, and especially considering the Eikaiwa industry, is to do a lot of research first. Also, set a guideline for how long you want to stay and what you want to accomplish while you are living in Japan. As with any job, it is easy to get stuck in a rut or a routine, but it is important to not push aside ambitions because of this. If you decide to come to Japan to teach English, use this time as a stepping stone to help learn the culture, the language, develop amazing experiences, and eventually you will find you have opened yourself to much more opportunities.

Nicole Møller

Born and raised in the California Bay Area, Nicole arrived in Japan in July 2008, shortly after graduating from university. With a degree in English literature and family in Japan, teaching in Tokyo seemed like the ideal experience and perfect way to begin shaping her professional life.

Nicole lived and worked in Tokyo primarily as an English teacher, but also as a model and freelance writer. She recently moved to Vancouver, where she will continue working in fields ranging from writing, teaching, art, and fashion. Her dream is to one day write and illustrate her own children’s books.