Background
My interest in Japan comes from a ten day homestay on a cultural exchange program during my junior year of high school. I majored in Japanese at UVM, but never had a chance to study abroad. As graduation approached I wanted to continue studying the language and culture of Japan. Judging my speaking and communication ability realistically, I decided to work as an English teacher.
Applying and Interview
I applied for jobs at private English conversation and cram school companies and Interac, a dispatch company for ALTs similar to the JET program. Some companies have more stringent requirements than others. Many of the private teaching companies require some experience or a teaching certificate. Japanese ability is a big plus, but not a requirement for most companies.
As for the application and interview process, most companies seem to follow the same procedure, an online submission of your resume, followed by a phone interview to confirm interest, and then an in person or Skype interview. The final interview is the most important, but having a good resume gets your foot in the door.
The in person interview is usually conducted in groups. Be prepared to travel. I flew to New Jersey for mine. It was a small group of 15 people. The interviewer started with an introduction of the company, what it means to work with them, Japanese office etiquette and expectations, and life in Japan. They are blunt. They don’t want their teachers fumbling into unexpected situations. This was followed by demo lessons. They gave everyone a set of lessons to choose from prior to the interview to demonstrate their teaching abilities. Lessons included kindergarten, elementary, and junior high school level. These were performed in front of the group. The last part is a one-on-one interview no different than any other. Confidence and prep work are key.
I recommend creating a professional email that includes your name to use when communicating with the company. University addresses expire a year after graduation, and it’s easier to create one before you start rather than switching later. Email addresses from childhood can create a bad image. The company will communicate frequently by email leading up to the interviews and your arrival in Japan. It is important information, be sure to read everything thoroughly and to respond promptly when asked.
Life in Japan
The difficulty of living in Japan as a foreigner depends on four things: your expectations of Japan, your Japanese ability, your ability to communicate, and your comfort with trying new and difficult things. Many foreigners live in Japan with little to no Japanese without too much difficulty, but are limited to things that are accessible to them. Tempering your expectations will help deal with culture shock. Take off your rose colored glasses and really look at Japan, it has its good and bad points. Your experience will be more fulfilling if you aren’t made cynical when you first see what you were previously ignoring. If you know nothing, come with an open mind and don’t compare everything to “Back home”. It’s Japan, it’s filled with people; sometimes those people do the same things Americans do in a different way. Either way, don’t be shy. Don’t be afraid of trying new things or making new friends.
If you are having problems don’t get frustrated, calm down, think about them, and ask for help. Most people are more than willing to help. Simple things can become frustrating until you learn the proper way. For example, Japanese garbage sorting and collecting is much more intensive than in most of America. Garbage is collected every day of the week but each day is different type. Most towns and cities separate trash into eight types: burnable, non-burnable, plastic (PET) bottles, other plastic, aluminum and steel cans, clear glass, brown glass, and other glass. You will have a small backlog of trash as you learn how to do your garbage.
Foods available in the grocery store may be familiar, but cooking with them an unfamiliar experience. The explanation of types of restaurants, restaurant menus, how to order, and how to pay is a small book in of itself. However most people will see that you are a foreigner and be more accommodating. In Japan a lot of people speak a few words of English, few people speak a lot of English. So meet them half way and maybe you will make a new friend
The one mistake that I see many foreigners make is not making friends with Japanese people. They limit themselves to being acquaintances with Japanese people and their core friend group is made of only foreigners. To really experience Japan put a little effort into meeting your neighbors, the regulars at the local bar, the group of housewives at the coffee shop, or the old men who run the neighborhood. If you are lucky they will take you in and show you modern Japanese life and be there to help you if you need it.
In the work place always be polite. Show that you are willing to do a little more than only what is required, but not too much, you are only paid to do your job which is very limited in scope. Teachers that aren’t confident in their English level may not talk to at first, but speaking in Japanese with them shows a willingness to connect on their level that they will appreciate. It is also a great way to practice your Japanese. As you become friendlier with the teachers work will be become more enjoyable. At some point you will be asked to join a drinking party. These occur several times a year, usually after especially busy periods and at the start of winter break. Teachers use these as a chance to commiserate and grow closer in a more relaxed atmosphere than is available at work. Joining a drinking party is a great way to grow closer and have a shared experience with your coworkers.
Day-to-day I wear a suit or at least khakis and a blazer. In the hotter months we can wear “Cool Biz” which means no jacket and tie. Women wear their equivalent. I come into work at 8 and leave at 3:30, if I stay later it’s on my own time and I don’t get paid for it. It’s a good way to impress the other teachers and get to know them and the students. But I work in a public middle school. Private conversation or cram schools hold hours in the evenings and weekends and teach people from toddlers to senior citizens.
The last bit is money. Most places require you to arrive on your own, but will help set you up when you arrive. I had some assistance with initial setup such as my gas hookup, electricity, cell phone, my car, and registering with my town hall. Some companies give assistance for housing costs and driving if you have a car. I get paid gas money for transportation to and from schools and a small allowance to offset the monthly rental, but I pay the rent for both my car and apartment myself.
Sam kindly offered to share his e-mail address in case you have questions to ask him. samjohnporter@gmail.com
July 2016 Update: I had an opportunity to see Sam in Sendai! It was nice to see this giant America-jin showing up at Sendai station, and I didn’t have to guess who from far. Sam is enjoying his life in a small town near Sendai so much so that he is extending his stay for……..5 years? He is now leading/teaching other new English teachers coming to the area. I always love hearing his fun stories! His charm brings people towards him, and I bet it will be really hard to leave the town…. Sam is very good with people. People love him, and children love to play with him!