What’s it like being an English Teaching Assistant in Japan?

14 comments

1. Job is pretty easy, but boring. Not what a lot of people would call “real teaching”. Salary is usually pretty dismal outside of JET (the government run program). You can survive on the salary, but you would probably be best off picking up some part-time work elsewhere to subsidise any hobbies/travelling/shopping/socialising. If you have savings and become an ALT for an extended holiday, then it could be pretty comfortable. Very little responsibility, free weekends, and long holidays.

2. I love it, I love working in elementary schools, I don’t think I’d like working in middle or high school. I have a mix of leading the class and giving input and just standing there but I’m more the lead in my classes at this point after being in my schools for a year.

   At the end of the day it’s still a job working in schools and while your not the home room teacher you still have a teacher student relationship with the kids, and it’s not a job for everyone, if you don’t like the work you will be unhappy.

3. JET is the only good one. Besides them, the pay is garbage. It’s enough to scrape by, but that’s it. If you’re placed somewhere like Tokyo, it can be borderline unliveable. Wages have been falling with each passing year. These same companies were actually paying MORE 20+ years ago, despite taxes and prices having only gone up since then.

   The job itself is fine IMO, just pays peanuts. It’s fine to do for a year or two and then move on. As the other commenters have said, come over with as much savings as possible and/or be prepared to get a second job if you want to enjoy yourself when you get here.

4. This should be a good read. 🍿 🤓

5. Used to love it, now hate it. Every second week (due to my schedule) gives me a lot of free time so I decided to go back to uni online and get a new degree. I’m basically being paid to study as 90% of my course work is done in school hours.

6. Did it for seven years in three prefectures: JET, dispatch, and private hire. Now that I have a well-paying job in a different field, setting my own hours and complete freedom to travel when and how I please, I would sooner go back to my country than ever return to the gulags of English teaching.

7. 5th year JET

   Salary is good. JET pays the most and has the most benefits. I’m not a big spender so I’ve got a nice cushy savings that’s worth like $3 in USD now cuz the Yen is…yeah.

   Before my 4th year I had a ton of free time cuz my schools didn’t really use me. I went back to Uni and am almost done a Masters. I transferred to a new position my 4th year and my coteachers really piled on the work (nice people though). I’m only an Assistant on paper. I’m pretty tired cuz of the workload most days but it is what it is. I’ve got less than a year left and one semester left for my Graduate program so there’s a light at the end of the tunnel at least.

   The experience of being an ALT in Japan is what you make it out to be. I can’t make any blanket statements about the work environment cuz EvErY sItUaTiOn Is DiFfErEnT, but your mindset and what you focus on really makes or breaks the experience.

8. Like most of the people who benefit most from their time as an ALT, it’s a good way to pay offs debts and do a masters degree while at “work”. JET is your best option but you’re probably going to be in the middle of nowhere because that’s where you’re needed most. In most cases the Japanese English teachers are nice but busy so they don’t really know what to do with an ALT, except pronunciation practice.

9. Just an FYI for people planning on teaching abroad here. If you plan on breaking into other jobs here, just be aware that recruiters will treat that time as a gap year.

10. Job is relatively easy but can go much more rewarding and enjoyable if you are willing to go the distance. Many people help out or coach something that they are familiar with.

    Is it a career maker? Not necessarily , but there are some places that do have good salary and positions if you have the qualifications for both teaching ESL and Japanese ability. These are typically direct-hire positions or with a private school.

    I’m a rural direct-hire so I get the similar salary to those in bigger cities but benefit from the low cost of living in the countryside. I’m putting away close to 10万円 away per month while doing many expensive activities like golf and skiing.

11. It’s like being some weird mini celebrity. I live really close to the school I work at, so I often see the kids around. That’s actually how I got the job, one of the teachers just saw me and scooped me up. The last guy was that bad.

    So anyway it’s super easy whether all you have to do is read some words or play some games it feels like getting paid to do nothing. The kids are funny and adorable. Had some boy confess to me in like the first month 🤣 it wasn’t a real confession, I think the boys were just egging each other on. I was just like Lord help me that’s so inappropriate..oh well….yeah that shit is kinda weird the teachers seem to enjoy watching the boys have a crush on me. I just awkwardly smile and take it. 😅

    I think I got really lucky with the school I work at. It is so super laid back and everyone is really fun. The teachers are easy to get along with.

12. There are soooooo many threads about this already. Pick one.

    Ah. Another new account. Figures.

13. Like others have posted, being an ALT varies quite a bit. They are correct that JET pays well, I would also add direct-hire ALT’s as well, dispatch companies pay varies, usually from not enough to terrible. What did you mean by “…good programmes or schools for a TEFL teacher”?

14. best job ever!