Top English teaching jobs in Japan

  • Koroveshi_TA Inc logo

    Online Test Job

    institution Koroveshi_TA Inc location Online Teaching Jobs certification Teaching Credential/License,TESL/TEFL Certificate over 100 hours,TESL/TEFL Diploma Level
    Ongoing
  • Koroveshi_TA Inc logo

    Test US Job 2

    institution Koroveshi_TA Inc location Online Teaching Jobs certification Teaching Credential/License,TESL/TEFL Certificate over 100 hours,TESL/TEFL Certificate
    Ongoing
  • Kidtopi logo

    Online English Teacher

    institution Kidtopi location Online Teaching Jobs certification Teaching Credential/License,TESL/TEFL Certificate
    Start in May, 2020

Types of English teaching jobs in Japan

If you’re interested in teaching English in Japan, you’re in luck because English teachers are in high demand! Whether you’re a new grad or a certified teacher, there are plenty of opportunities to land a teaching job in Japan with English teaching contracts typically lasting from six months to a year.There are four different types of teaching jobs available to foreigners for all grade levels:

  1. ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) teaching jobs within the Japanese public school system
  2. Teaching jobs at private language institutes (also known as English conversation schools or Eikaiwas)
  3. Teach English in Japan Summer Program
  4. Teaching English to Japanese students online from anywhere in the world
Pagoda in Japan for teachers teaching English in Japan to visit and explore

Public school English teaching jobs in Japan

English teaching jobs at Japanese public schools are in high demand since Japanese students are keen to learn English. The most popular option for teaching in public schools is the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET) program managed by the Japanese government. The JET Programme is an exchange teaching program that brings recent college graduates from over 40 countries to Japan to work as Assistant Language Teachers.

ALT teaching jobs are available in public elementary and junior high schools throughout Japan. While your role will vary from school to school, ALTs typically work alongside a Japanese teacher of English (JTE). Classroom size ranges from 35 – 40 students. You will be expected to work around eight hours and teach four lessons a day. Contracts for English teaching jobs in Japan in the public school system usually start in April and September and run until late March of the following year.

Find out what it’s like to live and teach English in Japan:

Japan mountain scenery for teachers teaching English in Japan to visit and explore

Private school English teaching jobs in Japan

English teaching jobs in Japan are also widely available in private language institutes throughout the country. Students range from kindergarten to adults and working shifts range from day to evening shifts. In-depth teacher training and support is offered before and during your contract. Performance incentives make teaching English at private schools in Japan exciting, motivating and fun. English teaching positions are available throughout the year, but the application process can be lengthy, so plan in advance.
Temple in Japan for private school teachers with teaching jobs in Japan to visit and explore

Teach English in Japan Summer Program

Normally teaching contracts in Japan last anywhere from six months to a year. But, if you’re not ready to commit to living there that long, you can always start out small with a short-term summer job in Japan to get a real feel for living and teaching overseas.
 
For more details about summer jobs in Japan, we’ve put together a short guide to teaching English in Japan for the summer.
Temple in Japan for private school teachers with teaching jobs in Japan to visit and explore

Teach English online to Japanese students

Are you looking for a convenient, part-time teaching job you can do from home? Demand for online English education is exploding among students based in Japan. As a result, several English teaching companies catering specifically to Japanese English language learners are seeking fluent English speaking applicants to fill a large number of online English teaching vacancies.
 
If you have the necessary skills and experience (such as a bachelor’s degree and a TEFL certificate), now’s the perfect time to apply to teach English online! While you can’t teach English in Japanese schools without a degree, you can teach English online to Japanese students.
 
teaching English online to Japanese student - teach English in Japan

What you need to know about teaching English in Japan

Wondering how you can start your teaching journey in Japan? The great news is that it’s easy to become a teacher in Japan! You just need to meet a few minimum requirements and then you’re all set for your teaching abroad adventure.

What are the job requirements to teach English in Japan?

A bachelor’s degree in any subject, a TEFL certification, and fluency in English.

Can you teach ESL in Japan without a degree?

The short answer is no. You can teach in Japan without a degree in Education, but you’ll still need a bachelor’s degree (in any subject) to qualify for ESL teaching jobs.

Can you teach in Japan without speaking Japanese?

Yes! You don’t need to know Japanese to teach English as a second language. You’ll be speaking English in the classroom to fully immerse your students.

Do you need TEFL to teach English in Japan?

Yes. It is a minimum requirement for ESL teachers to be TEFL certified. You can become a leading candidate with one of our university-backed online TEFL courses.

How do you become a teacher in Japan?

If you already have a bachelor’s degree and a TEFL certification handy, then the best place to start is by signing up with Teach Away and applying for jobs through our exclusive job board.

How much money can you make teaching English in Japan?

It depends! As an English teacher in Japan you can expect to make around $2,400 USD in public schools or from $2,400-2,625 USD at a private school. More info on salary and benefits below!

Salary and benefits when teaching English in Japan

Want to know how much money you can make teaching in Japan? Working in Japan can be super lucrative and comfortable for teachers. Take a look below to learn more about salary and benefits as an English teacher:

Basic Benefits Public School ALT Jobs in Japan Private School Jobs in Japan
Monthly Salary ¥260,000 (approx. $2,200 USD) ¥260,000 – ¥300,000 (approx. $2,400 – $2,625 USD) for full-time English teaching positions
¥125,000 (approx. $1,500 USD) for part-time English teaching positions
Working Hours 08:00 – 17:00 Monday – Friday 5 days/week Monday – Saturday
Hours vary and are agreed upon by the teacher and the school.
**Must be flexible
Teaching Hours 29.5 hrs/week 26.6 hrs/week full-time
13.3 hrs/week part-time
Vacation 3 – 4 weeks in August (60% paid)
2 weeks in December/January (75% paid)
All National Holidays and Bonus Personal Days
All National Holidays
10 working days (full-time)
Number of holidays varies for part-time contracts
Foreign Teachers 1 (only 1 foreign teacher/school) 2-15 teachers/school
Class Size 35 – 40 students/class 1-15 students/class
Accommodation
Cost
Varies depending on location: ¥15,000 – ¥80,000/month
Average: ¥50,000/month for a shared apartment
Teacher pays for key money
¥40,000 – 90,000/month (approx.)
School can act as guarantor
Assistance in finding accommodations provided
Airfare Teacher pays for flight and is reimbursed by school on arrival
Japanese immigration requires proof of return flight booking
Teach Away can assist teachers with finding an affordable flight
Teacher pays for flight and is reimbursed by school on arrival
Japanese immigration requires proof of return flight booking
Teach Away can assist teachers with finding an affordable flight
Bonuses Free Japanese online lessons
Location preferences honored whenever possible
Health insurance provided
Contract completion bonus
Locations Towns & rural areas
(easier to find a job teaching English in rural areas)
Tokyo (90%)
Towns and rural areas (10%)

Apply to Teach in Japan

Teaching jobs in Japan open regularly, with start dates throughout the year. Apply through Teach Away to teach in Japan.

Japan at a glance

Country information

Capital: Tokyo

Language: Japanese

Population: 127,799,000 (10th)

Currency: Yen (¥) / En (円 or 圓) (JPY)

Government: Unitary parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy

Major religion: Buddhism, Shinto

Climate: Temperate

Quick facts

More than 70% of Japan consists of mountains, including more than 200 volcanoes.

Mt. Fuji, the tallest mountain in Japan, is an active volcano.

A nice musk melon, similar to a cantaloupe, may sell for over $300US.

There are four different writing systems in Japan, romaji, katakana, hiragana, and kanji.

Japan’s literacy rate is almost 100%.

There are around 1,500 earthquakes every year in Japan.

The first novel, The Tale of Genji, was written in 1007 by a Japanese noble woman, Murasaki Shikibu.