Apologies in advance if this has been asked before, but I’ve scoured the internet for an answer to my question and came back empty-handed. Apparently my situation is kind-of a doozy.
I understand the requirements for becoming an English teacher in Japan. Citizenship of English-speaking country, and if not, proof of 12+ years of English education (in summary). My question is regarding whether or not having lived in an English-speaking country is important for being eligible as an English teacher.
My dad is English, my mom is Filipina. Born in the Philippines, moved to France, then moved to Spain where I’ve spent most of my life in. Raised in an English-speaking household so my native tongue is indeed English (all media consumed has been of American and English nature), and I also feel English above anything else.
However I’m worried that recruiters will not even consider me since I have never lived in England, let alone an English-speaking country. I have an English passport and citizenship, but I’m still worried about the fact I’ve only lived in non-English-speaking places and never had 12+ years of education in English.
EDIT: My English level is perfect, however I don’t have an English accent. I don’t think it’s a Spanish accent however, more like an… international accent? Not sure if this is relevant info or not but I decided to add this detail. I am also graduating from the University of Barcelona in two years from now with a Bachelor’s degree in Business.
9 comments
Only issue I see is that you mention the requirement to teach as “being a citizen of an English-speaking country”. This alone won’t work for 90+% of jobs. To obtain a visa you will need a university degree. But, if you have a university degree and a British passport you could probably get something.
Yes, you can. When I was working at an Eikaiwa A few years ago, people there were from everywhere. We had a Russian woman, an Englishman, an Arabic man, a half Japanese woman, a Chinese woman, and others! Some of them did not know enough English to teach the adult and teen classes, but they got the job. perhaps not all English schools will be open your situation, but there are a few schools that will take you in.
I am not familiar with the laws of your home countries in regards to work visa for japan, but usually getting a job in Japan requires a bachelors degree or several years of experience and a patient company. Is your bachelors degree from an English speaking school? That might help you out.
I’m not going to lie to you – everything would have been fine if you’d had the minimum of 12 years education in English. It’s a necessary part of an instructor’s visa
I’m British, was born in Germany and grew up
In France. Still got accepted into a teaching job in Japan, so you should be fine (:
Do you have a masters degree or a PhD, a teaching license in a western nation and published papers? If not, you are not qualified to be a teacher.
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Without the qualifications above you can only get a job as a babysitter, diaper changer or English themed entertainer. “English conversation schools” are not schools, they are businesses that sell an experience. They do not allow their staff to educate customers because they want to keep the customers coming back year after year.
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EDIT- expect the 40 year old babysitters to downvote this after singing the same songs for their toddler customers that they have been singing every day since they arrived in Japan.
I’ve never been an English teacher or wanted to be but I can say that my student, a Japanese girl (18 y.o.) whom I will teach my native language to, is half british, half japanese, and she teaches English at an English language school to Japanese kids. She has no japanese accent and speaks like a native brit.
I think it also depends what kind of an English teacher you want to be. I’m sure that teachers at actual high schools will have different requirements than teachers at weekend language schools (just my guess).
Depends on who you apply to and what they are hiring you for.
Grade-school places want good spoken language without a ströngg åkzènt. Business communication places often want “lived and worked in a target country” for some years, as part of those programs includes business culture, idioms, current affairs, lifestyle etc.
You may also be expected to do things like review presentations and identify common-usage problems. The example that comes to mind there is an engineer who was numbering their experiments. First solution, second solution ….. Final Solution. No, can’t say that.
I have met a guy who was born in Germany of American parents and raised in Spain. He had a US passport but had never set foot in America. He was trilingual (Spanish, English, and workable German) and like you, had a kind of “international” English accent.
When he moved to Japan (on a spouse visa) and started working in eikaiwa he was an immense hit with the students because he’d had such an interesting life!
I would apply and see what happens. If you think you are qualified, then apply and find out. I know some people from non-native English speaking countries with teaching jobs here. They are from Germany, Czech Republic, and Russia. Also, there are many English teachers from the Philippines as well. You won’t know the answer to your question until you have applied.