How to "level up" as an English teacher in Japan

Do you need professional certification to teach English in Japan?

The short answer is no. There is no regulating body for English language teaching in Japan. What determines your eligibility for assistant language teacher (ALT) or eikaiwa employee positions is meeting The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ requirements of an undergraduate degree, a passport, a photo or two, and a handful of supporting documents to secure a visa that allows you to work.

For foreign residents already in Japan, there is no rigorous hoop-jumping. Got a visa that allows you to work? If the hiring organization will accept you, you get the ALT or eikaiwa job.

That’s it.

An apple for teacher (pexels)

Why pursue English teacher training?

No matter if you are simply putting in a few years working in the academic environment in schools or in the customer-oriented eikaiwa industry, there are three reasons to consider.

First, you may get more satisfaction from your teaching when you walk into a classroom with knowledge and technique. When you know what you’re doing, you are more at ease and can draw on resources that make your work more interesting to your students and less stressful. English teaching isn’t rocket science, but it does demand a lot of your mental faculties to keep students engaged and progressing.

Another reason is that it may make your CV more attractive to boards of education and private high schools in Japan. These positions often boost you into a higher salary range with the chance of greater job security.

Finally, accredited teacher training is portable. Returning to Australia, Canada or the UK? In these countries, teaching qualifications are highly regulated. Australia has standards for instructors in English Language Intensive Courses for Overeas Students (ELICOS) that requires a recognized credential.

TESL Canada regulates and endorses a variety of levels of qualifications, and the UK has a government schedule that describes entry-level to graduate-level English teacher qualifications.

These standards travel well - you could use any of these qualifications as tickets to work in other countries around the world that recognize them if you choose to move on from Japan.

How to get training in Japan

There are options in Japan, too. Temple University, Japan Campus offers a Certificate in Teaching English to Japanese Learners through its continuing education program. It’s a non-degree course that provides a foundation in English language education. 

Some widely-recognized entry-level programs are offered in some major cities, too. The Cambridge CELTA is offered in Kobe City And Trinity CertTESOL is available in Tokyo.

How to learn for free (or almost free)

Maybe you’re well into your career in English teaching and don’t want to spend a lot of time or money on formal coursework. That’s fair, too. There are some free options that allow you to enrich your knowledge of teaching practices. Temple University Japan periodically has seminars that allow the public to attend a section for free. 

Another resource for finding public lectures in your region is ELT Calendar, a listing for language teachers in Japan. You’ll find local and national organizations, institutions, and community groups hosting online and face-to-face seminars.

There’s always room to grow, learn about the profession of English language teaching at your own pace, and share knowledge with other people working in all aspects of English language teaching in Japan.