I live in the US and I have a university degree in art education. I am also licensed to be a Prek-12th grade teacher in my home state. Should I still go for a TESOL/TEFL certification if I want to teach English in Japan? Thank you.
If you want something more than the bottom of the barrel get a TEFL. There’s so many people trying to come over you need something more. You have experience in the states but Sod’s law it’s “not as good as Japan”. If you have any JLPT levels that would help out more for better jobs.
I will give a different opinion than others.
It won’t hurt you. If you don’t know much about language education, it will give your some ideas of how to approach English teaching.
Is it necessary in Japan…. No. But I think it is a beneficial thing to have. Mostly, it shows you care at least a little.
The only thing you ‘need’ is the bachelors degree. TEFL is usually a cherry on top for an ALT/eikaiwa gig. On the contrary, the teachers license won’t really help you get a job; as you already pointed out, it’s for your home state, *in* the States. If you have some teaching experience, you may be able to work at an international school (which is a lot better than ALT/eikaiwa), but otherwise, it’s not a massive help.
Try looking at accredited international schools and see what qualifications they list.
Bro, I was able to teach in Japan despite only having a BA in Asian Studies and no work experience except KFC in university
I wish people would stop calling it “a TEFL.” Do some research and learn about the different qualifications and what they mean.
A TEFL/TESOL certificate means that you took a cheap online course without doing any teaching practice. It barely scratches the surface and doesn’t qualify you to do anything other than follow a set lesson plan, like the ones they make you follow in eikaiwa. So in that sense, sure, you’re “qualified,” but so are people who didn’t do the course, because they will do the same onboard training that you will do, and teach the exact same set lesson plans that you will be teaching.
If you want a qualification that actually means something, look to in-person courses that have a teaching practicum. CELTA is the most common beginner certification. In the EU it qualifies you for entry-level jobs. In Japan it means nothing, because again, you’ll be doing the same onboard training as everyone else. As an aside, I think it would be more useful for ALTs. They make their own lesson plans and unlike eikaiwa, schools don’t have set lesson structures or a book that you MUST follow to the letter. You can be a bit more creative, or that is my understanding, so you’ll actually be able to put your training to use.
After Celta is the diploma level, e.g., DipTESOL, Delta; then after that the MA level. You definitely don’t need that unless you are planning to make a career out of it, which means not working in eikaiwa.
I’m partially deaf and stutter all the time and I’m banging out lessons as an alt no problem . Teachers and schools love me.
*not sure why I’m getting downvoted, sabetsu’d for being partially deaf
Depends. To be an ALT “teaching English”, nope. To be an official teacher or college professor in charge of an English classroom, maybe but I’m not entirely sure.
No you’re already very qualified! Unless you want the certification for yourself/to improve upon your skills there’s no need!
I have been teaching English for about 15 years. Language instruction is a different animal from teaching other subjects. A certificate course will help you in your work, your students in their learning, and your potential employers in their choice.
As a former JET, I felt a world of difference in my capability and knowledge after getting an MA in TESOL. I realized that as much as I had tried my best, there was a lot I did not know. So I recommend anyone who enjoys teaching and wants to make a career out of it to seek knowledge and education. In the end, though, I’ve also found practical experience to be of much more use.
All you NEED is Japanese language training, because you may well end up somewhere with staff that can’t converse in English.
For the rest, since you won’t actually be teaching language in schools, I don’t think specialised credentials are essential. With that said, anything that could help you with your presentation or lesson planning skills would be good.
14 comments
You’re already over qualified. TEFL not needed.
No.
If you want something more than the bottom of the barrel get a TEFL. There’s so many people trying to come over you need something more. You have experience in the states but Sod’s law it’s “not as good as Japan”. If you have any JLPT levels that would help out more for better jobs.
I will give a different opinion than others.
It won’t hurt you. If you don’t know much about language education, it will give your some ideas of how to approach English teaching.
Is it necessary in Japan…. No. But I think it is a beneficial thing to have. Mostly, it shows you care at least a little.
The only thing you ‘need’ is the bachelors degree. TEFL is usually a cherry on top for an ALT/eikaiwa gig. On the contrary, the teachers license won’t really help you get a job; as you already pointed out, it’s for your home state, *in* the States. If you have some teaching experience, you may be able to work at an international school (which is a lot better than ALT/eikaiwa), but otherwise, it’s not a massive help.
Try looking at accredited international schools and see what qualifications they list.
Bro, I was able to teach in Japan despite only having a BA in Asian Studies and no work experience except KFC in university
I wish people would stop calling it “a TEFL.” Do some research and learn about the different qualifications and what they mean.
A TEFL/TESOL certificate means that you took a cheap online course without doing any teaching practice. It barely scratches the surface and doesn’t qualify you to do anything other than follow a set lesson plan, like the ones they make you follow in eikaiwa. So in that sense, sure, you’re “qualified,” but so are people who didn’t do the course, because they will do the same onboard training that you will do, and teach the exact same set lesson plans that you will be teaching.
If you want a qualification that actually means something, look to in-person courses that have a teaching practicum. CELTA is the most common beginner certification. In the EU it qualifies you for entry-level jobs. In Japan it means nothing, because again, you’ll be doing the same onboard training as everyone else. As an aside, I think it would be more useful for ALTs. They make their own lesson plans and unlike eikaiwa, schools don’t have set lesson structures or a book that you MUST follow to the letter. You can be a bit more creative, or that is my understanding, so you’ll actually be able to put your training to use.
After Celta is the diploma level, e.g., DipTESOL, Delta; then after that the MA level. You definitely don’t need that unless you are planning to make a career out of it, which means not working in eikaiwa.
I’m partially deaf and stutter all the time and I’m banging out lessons as an alt no problem . Teachers and schools love me.
*not sure why I’m getting downvoted, sabetsu’d for being partially deaf
Depends. To be an ALT “teaching English”, nope. To be an official teacher or college professor in charge of an English classroom, maybe but I’m not entirely sure.
No you’re already very qualified! Unless you want the certification for yourself/to improve upon your skills there’s no need!
I have been teaching English for about 15 years. Language instruction is a different animal from teaching other subjects. A certificate course will help you in your work, your students in their learning, and your potential employers in their choice.
As a former JET, I felt a world of difference in my capability and knowledge after getting an MA in TESOL. I realized that as much as I had tried my best, there was a lot I did not know. So I recommend anyone who enjoys teaching and wants to make a career out of it to seek knowledge and education. In the end, though, I’ve also found practical experience to be of much more use.
All you NEED is Japanese language training, because you may well end up somewhere with staff that can’t converse in English.
For the rest, since you won’t actually be teaching language in schools, I don’t think specialised credentials are essential. With that said, anything that could help you with your presentation or lesson planning skills would be good.