![What qualification do I need to teach English in Japan? [ALT and 10 major English conversation school companies’ qualifications lists]](https://hanko-seal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/photo-1503676260728-1c00da094a0b.jpeg)
ALT(Assistant Language Teacher)
ALT is based on the JET (The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program) program, which invites the foreign youths who graduated from a university or a college to Japan to have them experience working in Japan.
This is the program to enhance Japanese English education quality and promote international exchange.
JET program provides 3 types of working experience in Japan, which are ALT(Assistance Language teacher), CIR (Coordinator for international relations), SEA (Sports Exchange Advisor).
→JET PROGRAM
These participants are placed mainly in public schools or local boards of education. ALTs assist with classes taught by Japanese Teachers of English/Language (JTEs/JTLs) and are thus involved in the preparation of teaching materials and in extracurricular activities like English clubs or sports teams. More than 90% of JET participants are employed as ALTs.
Applicants who passed through examination are invited to Japan to work as an assistant of a Japanese English teacher in a public school for a couple of years.
ALT’s treatment for English teachers is left to the individual municipality’s discretion. Depending on the municipality, allowance for residence is guaranteed except for monthly salary.
Currently, there are 54 JET program affiliated countries in the world. The top 5 countries that the JET program accepts the most is English speaking countries which are the USA, England, Australia, NewZealand, Canada.
ALT has an aspect of enhancing Japanese English education quality. No language assistant other than English assistant can be acceptable.
Even if you are not from the country where people don’t speak English, you need to have high-level English ability as of application because municipalities that accept ALT teachers expect applicants to speak English as fluently as they come from English speaking countries.
Here is JET program affiliated countries list
Well, Let’s check the conditions of application.
a Bachelor’s degree is required qualification prior to application
Applicants for both the ALT and CIR position must hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher, or obtain such qualifications by the designated arrival date (applicants for the ALT position may alternatively hold a certification of completion of a 3-year course to teach at primary/elementary or secondary schools or obtain such qualification(s) by the designated arrival date).
In addition to this condition, an applicant satisfying the following additional conditions can be subject to a preferential consideration on selection process.
- Have language teaching experience or qualifications.
- Have general teaching experience or qualifications.
- English teacher of international school
- Have a high level of Japanese language ability.
No age requirement
As long as an applicant satisfies the requirements and the conditions for application, no age restriction is required. However, maturity and professionalism to language education and adaptability to the Japanese culture is examined on selection.
ALT is a very orthodox way for any foreigners who want to work in Japan to pave the way for a career path in Japan because working experience in a Japanese public school can be a cornerstone to be accepted by a private Japanese company for the next career. Considering no age requirements, entering university or college from now to apply for ALT is one of your solutions.
Selection process
Selection process takes you for from 7 to 8 months. Careful preparation is needed. Otherwise, your effort and time come into nothing. Especially, the most months of a year is spent by selection. If you are not chosen, your next challenge is carried over to the next year.
There are 5 processes until you pass the selection.
- Notification of start of application [October to December]
- First applicant screening (documentary selection) [January]
- Interview at Japanese diplomatic establishment [February]
- Notification of selected applicants [April]
- Notification of placement information to selected applicants [May to July]
JET program application process
English conversation teacher of private English school
This time, I chose English conversation schools in terms of working in Japan. So, I naturally omit a choice of online-teacher which you can do even in your country.
Firstly, the basic conditions of private English conversation schools you have to check are…
- If an applicant are English native speaker
- If an applicant hold a bachelor’s degree
- If an applicant have Japanese language ability
- If an applicant commit 1 year contract
These factors are generally mentioned in a private English school’s recruitment requirements. Some companies don’t describe its requirements on the webpage but in most cases, they require you to attend application guidance as one of the processes of a job application. They may reveal the requirements and qualifications you need in the guidance.
What I introduced in this section are 10 major English conversation schools that provide a full-time position, including visa sponsorship availability. These English schools are for those who think about a career path and settle in Japan.
Gaba and Nova have a branch or representative offices overseas and hold guidance on a regular basis in the country where a branch office is located. Even if you don’t live in Japan, if you live in the country corresponding to where they hold guidance, you can directly attend it and proceed with the recruitment process.
Regarding other English conversation school companies, they accept Skye interviewing for those who don’t live in Japan. You just proactively ask a company which you want to work for about the recruitment process.
ECC [FULL TIME]
ECC is stable long-established English conversation school in Japan. It was founded in 1962. Currently, it has 186 locations all over Japan. It provides classes for a wide range of generations from infant children to retired seniors.
- Native speaker of English (grade 1 through completion of high school conducted with English as the main language of instruction)
- Valid passport from an English speaking country or the ability to obtain one
- Able to attend a 1-day recruiting session
- Able to begin work in Japan sometime within the next 3-12 months
- Able to commit to at least one contract year of employment
- Sufficient funds available for relocating to Japan (ECC recommends having at least 200 000 yen available)
Shane English School [FULL TIME]
Shane English conversation school is one of the biggest English conversation schools in Japan, that has 200 locations all over Japan. It was founded in 1977 and run by Z-kai holdings which are a listed company.
It uniquely specializes in teaching British English. It targets mainly university and college students, businessmen and retired seniors but it also put effort into English education to little kids, elementary school children, junior high school children.
It has positions of both part-time and full-time. However, both positions need the qualification of TESOL or CELTA.
50% of English teaching tasks are for teaching children. You need to like taking care of children.
- Holder of a Bachelor’s Degree
- A CELTA/Trinity Cert TESOL or equivalent, or a minimum 60 hour online course + 3 month’s teaching experience
- Native English speakers
- Able to begin work in Japan sometime within the next 3-12 months
- Able to work weekends (regular 2 days off)
- Available to work weekday evenings
- Professional attitude
- Punctual, reliable and flexible
- Able to complete 12 month contract
Gaba [FULL TIME]
GABA English school was founded in 1995. It is run by nichii-GakkanCO., LTD.“ which is the listed medical enterprise. It has 42 locations in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Aichi, Tokyo, Hyogo, Fukuoka.
One to one English conversation” is the core service with great confidence. It targets mainly businessman who want to acquire high-level English conversation in a business scene. The lesson’s quality is very high and informative because the contents of the conversation are built with an actual business scene.
You need the qualification of TEFL/ TESOL or ESL experience but there is no description of a degree on the recruitment page.
However, it holds application guidance in Australia, Canada, and Japan. It may require you to satisfy the additional requirements you may be informed in guidance. Here is the guidance schedule page.
- Solid people skills
- Native-level English (all nationalities considered)
- Ability to work independently
- Desire to live and work in Japan
- TEFL/ TESOL certification or ESL experience preferred
Eaon [FULL TIME]
Aeon English conversation school was founded in 1973. Currently, it has 249 locations. The number of students is over 100,000. It has 2 administrative offices in Northern America to find professional English teachers.
In the recruitment process, documentary screening including grammar check and simulated lesson are examined. It sets the very high screening standard.
Moreover, it researches your working attitude through your previous workplace. As necessary, it contacts to applicant’s previous workplace and judges if an applicant has adaptability and cooperativeness prior to working in a Japanese company.
- A Bachelor’s degree in any major from an accredited institution in an English-speaking country and at least 10 years of education from schools where English is the primary mode of education.
- A Bachelor’s degree in a subject related to English or English Education.
- A Bachelor’s degree in any major and at least 3 years of verifiable experience teaching ESL.
NOVA [FULL TIME]
Nova is a very famous English conversation school with its catchphrase of “Ekimae Ryugaku”, which literally means learning English conversation in front of a station as if studying abroad to a foreign country.
This company has provided the service since the 1980s and expanded its business as rapidly as it was once listed in the stock market. However, after experiencing bankruptcy of the managing company and twists and turns, currently, Nova English conversation school is managed by NOVA Co., Ltd and has 273 locations.
The good point of Nova is its caring attitude towards candidates. After passing through interview screening, Nova takes care of Visa arrangement, housing support, and picking up and taking candidates to accommodation after arrival in Japan. This company is a way better life support system for foreign teachers in Japan than any other English conversation schools.
I couldn’t find the requirements or qualifications on applications, However, you might be explained what you need when you receive guidance. Anyway, even if you are not a bachelor’s holder, you should once ask if you are eligible for an application.
There is no requirement description on the page
Berlitz [FULL TIME]
Speaking of Berlitz, it is a language education corporate giant that has more than 500 educational institutions in over 70 countries in the world. Berlitz was found in 1878. Currently, it has 64 locations in Japan. The managing company of Berlitz Japan is Benesse corporation.
- Hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
- Be a native (or native-fluent) speaker of the language they are applying to teach
Cocojuku [FULL TIME]
Cocojuku is English conversation school managed by nichii-GakkanCO., LTD that hold Gaba English conversation school. Currently, it doesn’t have adult class but focuses on kids class.
- Bachelor’s (BA) degree or equivalent from an English speaking country
- Be a native (or native-fluent) speaker of the language they are applying to teach
- English teaching experience (desirable but not required)
English Village [FULL TIME]
English garden is one-to-one specialized English conversation school having 12 locations in Japan. It has a reputation for its bargain-basement lesson fee. For example, one-to-one conversation lesson for 40 minutes costs you 2,100 yen.
There is no description of the requirements and qualification for an application. You may have to make sure if you need a bachelor to be an English teacher beforehand.
It adopts a free reservation system that students can choose the date and time freely and students can appoint a favorite teacher on the reserved date and time.
Probably, a pay system including a commission that you have to earn a certain number of appointments from students to maintain the salary standard of other English conversation schools.
There is no requirement description on the page
English Village recruitment page
Rosetta Stone [FULL TIME]
Rosetta Stone is run by Dean Morgan CO., LTD providing language learning software and English conversation school. It is a language education start-up founded in 2004 by an American entrepreneur, Dean R. Rogers, who graduated from UCLA. Currently, it has 4 locations in Kansai area and Kanto area.
It has a catchphrase of “one-to-one English education that makes no one experience failure”. It provides unique online reviewing system for what student learned through a teacher.
Rosetta Stone seems to look for applicants of English teacher posts on a irregular basis on a website of GaijinPod.
- English: Native level
- Must currently reside in Japan
- Minimum two years teaching experience
- Fixed weekend and evening availability
- Visa sponsorship available
b My English conversation school [FULL TIME]
“B my English conversation school” was founded in 2006. Currently, it has 9 locations in the Metropolitan area of Tokyo and Kanagawa.
It provides pretty unique women-only English conversation school. It targets mainly working women aged 30 and older than 30.
It tends to be thought that there is gender restriction as one of the application requirements because of its unique women-only English conversation system but there was no description of gender restriction.
It seems to prioritize teaching experience rather than bachelor degree and applicants need to already live in Japan.
- English Level: Native level / Japanese Level: Basic
- Residence: Only accept resumes from people CURRENTLY living in Japan
- Minimum two years teaching experience
- Visa Sponsorship: Available