How to Choose a School in Japan to Teach English
Consider accommodations., Think about curricula., Consider the teaching atmosphere., Consider salary and other benefits.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Consider accommodations.
Large ESL schools usually have accommodations for you.
Generally they pay the key money and will handle communications with your landlord if anything breaks.
Often they will rent several units in one apartment house, so you’ll have friendly faces just two doors down.
Smaller schools sometimes don’t offer accommodations because they prefer to hire from within Japan.
Less risk and they simply don’t want to fork out the key money.
So you would have to find your own accommodations in Japan.
No easy feat! -
Step 2: Think about curricula.
Large ESL schools often won’t have any flexibility in their curriculum.
You will teach what you’re told to teach.
However,smaller ESL schools will often be more flexible with their curriculum (if they even have one).
This can give you the chance to experiment with new ESL games, activities and texts. , Large ESL schools tend to see their teachers as expendable.
With their massive recruiting budget and connections, they can replace teachers in the blink of an eye.
This results in a colder atmosphere and causes faster turnover in the staff, and long-term bonds never get made.
However smaller ESL schools tend to treat the teacher as a part of their team and may value your opinions and input on various school functions.
They also allow you to hangout with students after class – this helps build relationships and adds to the entire experience. , Large school salaries will all be in the 250,000 yen a month range.
Your large chain schools usually give some kind of bonus
-whether it is a free ticket back or a completion bonus.
Generally the raises will be very small.
Smaller ESL schools often give a bit more in the salary category simply because some of them are so far out in the country that it’s difficult to find teachers.
Often it’s easier to get raises (or bigger raises) and other perks from smaller ESL schools than the larger ones.
They don’t have such a well-oiled recruitment machine so it’s tough and a big pain for them to replace teachers. -
Step 3: Consider the teaching atmosphere.
-
Step 4: Consider salary and other benefits.
Detailed Guide
Large ESL schools usually have accommodations for you.
Generally they pay the key money and will handle communications with your landlord if anything breaks.
Often they will rent several units in one apartment house, so you’ll have friendly faces just two doors down.
Smaller schools sometimes don’t offer accommodations because they prefer to hire from within Japan.
Less risk and they simply don’t want to fork out the key money.
So you would have to find your own accommodations in Japan.
No easy feat!
Large ESL schools often won’t have any flexibility in their curriculum.
You will teach what you’re told to teach.
However,smaller ESL schools will often be more flexible with their curriculum (if they even have one).
This can give you the chance to experiment with new ESL games, activities and texts. , Large ESL schools tend to see their teachers as expendable.
With their massive recruiting budget and connections, they can replace teachers in the blink of an eye.
This results in a colder atmosphere and causes faster turnover in the staff, and long-term bonds never get made.
However smaller ESL schools tend to treat the teacher as a part of their team and may value your opinions and input on various school functions.
They also allow you to hangout with students after class – this helps build relationships and adds to the entire experience. , Large school salaries will all be in the 250,000 yen a month range.
Your large chain schools usually give some kind of bonus
-whether it is a free ticket back or a completion bonus.
Generally the raises will be very small.
Smaller ESL schools often give a bit more in the salary category simply because some of them are so far out in the country that it’s difficult to find teachers.
Often it’s easier to get raises (or bigger raises) and other perks from smaller ESL schools than the larger ones.
They don’t have such a well-oiled recruitment machine so it’s tough and a big pain for them to replace teachers.
About the Author
Brittany Anderson
Creates helpful guides on crafts to inspire and educate readers.
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