Teach English In Japan

Teach English In Japan And Save Money... Can It Be Done??

You've probably heard all the stories about how you can teach English Japan and make so much money. But, have you heard all the stories about those who end up crawling home broke? Living expenses are so high in Japan that it's tougher than it used to be to make money teaching. But, the pay is still high, and there are ways to make money teaching in Japan.

Japan - An Expensive Paradise

Japan is a wonderful place to live, but it is horribly expensive. It is one of the most expensive countries in the world. Among countries in Asia where the demand for teaching is high, Japan is definitely the most expensive. It's head and shoulders above Taiwan, South Korea, China or Thailand.

Where it hits you hardest are your everyday expenses. You can find cheap meals, inexpensive goods and reasonably priced entertainment. But, when it comes to rent, utilities and transportation, the things you need to pay for constantly, Japan is outrageously expensive. This is why so many people end up living in shoeboxes and riding their bikes across the country to work.

Traveling and sightseeing are also expensive. Japan offers some wonderful nightlife, but it costs an arm and a leg. And, if you're thinking about owning a car or raising a family in Japan, let's not even talk about it.

Let's Talk Numbers

Here's the good news. An entry level position at a major English school will get you about 250,000 yen a month, which is something like $2,000 USD. Those who stay longer than their year contract often find themselves eligible for generous raises and managers generally make something like 350,000 ($3,000) a month. That's not too bad, especially when you consider that the yen is a strong world currency.

If you get into teaching business English, you can make much more than that. Some business classes pay pretty well, but you have to work a little harder to get them. With a university position, you could be looking at quite a bit more pay, but the competition is fierce for these.

How To Save Money In Japan

I've known quite a few people who have made lots of money in Japan. Some have taken a bundle of cash home, and others have paid off their student loans by teaching. Here's how they did it.

1. They lived frugally. They cooked at home most of the time and didn't have fancy tastes. Of course this doesn't mean you can't go on a raging sushi binge once in a while. Life wouldn't be much fun if not. But, you really have to watch those yen.

2. They didn't party much. As a word of warning, it's very easy to get sucked into partying a lot in Japan. In any sizable city there's a thriving nightlife scene, and it's all too easy to get drawn into it. There is no cheap way to go out drinking or clubbing in Japan!

3. They didn't travel much. This one is truly a shame. However, it costs more to go sightseeing and traveling inside Japan than it does a neighboring country like Korea, China, Taiwan or Thailand. Still, it's a shame to live in a country and never get a chance to get out. If you're a smart, frugal traveler, you can take advantage of travel deals, but it still costs a bit.

If you really want to make money teaching English in Asia, South Korea or Taiwan might be a better deal. But, Japan is a nice, friendly and relatively safe country. Even if they don't get as much put away as they would have liked to, most people who teach in Japan come away from the experience with good feelings.

Sounds interesting? Check out http://www.teaching-in-japan.com for the definitive guide to teaching in Japan.

Being A Good Teacher - Even When The Bar Is Set So Low!

Let's admit something here... there are lots of English teachers in Japan who couldn't pass a 6th grade reading test. There are people here in Japan who consider "teaching" blabbing with a student at Starbucks for an hour. I've come across lots and lots of people who couldn't hold a job at McDonalds back home, and have been successful English teachers in Japan for 10 years. What's going on!?!

Well, there are several reasons. One is simply economic. In Japan, there is high demand for English and low supply. That means that there just aren't many of us westerners over here, and that means that lots of companies and students will take just anybody.

But that's not all. Another reason involves the misconceptions that Japanese people generally have about language learning. Have you noticed how everybody jumps on each new trend that comes along, like English lessons for toddlers, or telephone English lessons? Just like many of us westerners, Japanese people don't have a lot of experience with language. This, as well as the influence of big "eikaiwa" companies, has led many Japanese people to think that just by being in the same room with a westerner, they will pick up English by osmosis. For too long, English education in Japan has been lazy, and as a result, it's what people have come to expect. This is why people will pay you good money to just hang out with their kids, or go drinking with them.

One more thing that we can't forget is that your students often won't tell you if they don't like the lesson. You may be teaching them stuff they already know, or your lesson may be way over their heads, and you may never realize it because of the passive nature of Japanese students. They may not say anything, but just quit or not renew their contract. Think of all those students who "got really busy" all of the sudden... that might be their way of telling you something!

So, what should you do? If somebody will pay you money to play card games with their kids for an hour, does that mean that you scored and got a great job? If you can get away with chatting with a housewife over coffee and cake, and get paid for it, is that the way to make a living?

My advice is, No. Just because the bar is set so low doesn't mean you should stoop to it. As a teacher you really have to learn to follow your intuition. Ask yourself constantly, "Are they learning anything?" If you think they are, you're on the right track.

But anyway, why should you worry about it? For one thing, doing a good job is satisfying all by itself. When you see your students start to improve, you're hooked. It's a great feeling. But even better, they recognize it too. That means that they appreciate your lessons, and it's also good for your business.

At the end of the day, being a good teacher makes you competitive in the job market, and we can't forget about that. When it comes down to a choice between the coffee shop chat king and a real teacher, we'll see who gets the job.