An ALT starts the day at about 8 am and can go home at about 4:30 to 5pm while an Eikaiwa teacher has a very flexible schedule. She thought she saw a ghost. A direct hire ALT is more than just an ALT… there are more responsibilities attached to this role. What’s an ALT? Work Abroad as an ALT - The basics on on being an ESL English teacher in the public sector. I do agree with you on letting a student express more but that is something Japan as a whole nation still working on. 171 branches that employs over 600 ESL teachers in Japan.Also does well in the ESL forums in terms of few complaints. An ALT is an Assistant Language Teacher who works together with a Japanese teacher on a daily basis. Working as an assistant language teacher (ALT) means that you’ll work in one or several Japanese schools (elementary, jr. high or high schools). By James Winovich Mar 24, 2015 3 min read The sheer volume of words written across the Internet to try to answer the question of getting hired as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in Japan is astounding. As learning English becomes a more important part of the Japanese school curriculum, … A Heavily Traveled Road to Teaching in Japan: ALT. In this role, you will work as an assistant English teacher in either a public elementary, middle or high school. In Japan, it’s perfectly acceptable/okay to show affection to students, so teaching young children, especially preschoolers, on a regular basis will eventually result in hugs, cuddles, and even kisses. Sharmeleon 92,492 views. Class sizes are huge (35-40 students are quite normal) and a lot of the students don’t care about learning English . ECC- One of the bigger schools. REAL TALK: Thoughts on Living and Working in Japan Long Term - Duration: 10:07. Pull up a chair… ALT in Japan asked to remove earrings by Board of Education; The Japanese you learn at school vs the Japanese used in Japan【Video】 Seven mistakes foreigners make when speaking Japanese—and how to fix them; Five Japanese misconceptions about foreign male/Japanese female couples He was not married. This is an excellent opportunity for you to learn about the Japanese education system, teaching methods, and to build your teaching portfolio. Aeon - A monster of a school. ALTs don’t actually do very much – Your company might talk the job up beforehand, but in practice, an ALT is rarely asked to actually teach. However, as you might expect, working in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher is not without its downside as well. A Day in the Life of an International Kindergarten Teacher in Japan Working as an ALT or at an eikaiwa (private language school) seem to be the most popular career options for foreigners in Japan. The Eikaiwa teacher can start working from 7:30 am as the earliest and may finish the day at about 10 to 11pm. A major benefit of working with Interac in a public school is the valuable international working experience you’ll take with you wherever you go. This is a response to the article entitled 10 reasons to become an ALT in Japan.While there are many people who come to Japan and work successfully as an ALT for a year or two, there are many complaints and even a few people who have more complaints than reasons to stay and have to leave before they initially planned to. Anybody working at a company with five or more full-time employees logging over 30 hours or more a week should be enrolled in shakai hoken, a … Reviews from Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program employees about working as an ALT at Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program in Japan. So here are some tips to help you succeed. ALTs are Assistant Language Teachers that work in public elementary, junior high, and senior high schools across Japan. I am currently working for the company, but I’m still going to give as honest a review as I possibly can. Starting teaching salaries in Japan for new grads or inexperienced teachers. Normal working days and classroom sizes, accommodation included and paid holiday. If you are planning on working for the JET Program this is the visa you will need. Working as an assistant language teacher (ALT) is a lot of fun and it's great when the students understand and take part in the lesson. ... Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in Japan - below the poverty line - … Read more about working as an ALT in Japan. Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) Grades Pre-K - 9 (Former Employee) - Ito-Shi, Shizuoka, Japan - March 9, 2015 Working for Altia was a very different experience. Aside from Eikaiwa teaching, ALT work is the most common TEFL job in Japan. Small world. “You should look into working as an ALT and experience it for at least a year, even just to fulfill your dream.” That was 4 years ago, and I have been in Japan as an ALT since. For many foreigners who admire this country, being able to work and live here is an incredible feat. ALTs come from a wide variety of backgrounds, some with teaching experience, and others just looking to make a difference in the lives of students. Japan is quite strict and has set a national minimum annual salary of 3.4 million Yen (or $31,000 USD) for full-time foreign English teachers working in the country. Mention that you don’t have any teaching experience, and focus on your qualities that they would want as an ALT in Japan. Working as a preschool or kindergarten teacher will usually require certain qualifications or specific experience teaching children. Ironically another ALT from Tanegashima relocated there and we bumped into one another grocery shopping. The Japan Guy explains his reasons for ending his career as an Assistant Language Teacher in Japan. The Japan Guy explains his reasons for ending his career as an Assistant Language Teacher in Japan. 320 branches all over Japan with around 100,000 students under their belt.They focus on adults. In Japan, it is also possible to teach more advanced or content specific courses at university than in a typical ALT position. Ask yourself what your plans are here in Japan, if you are someone who wants to work in Japan long-term and have good grasp of the language to work independently then the direct hire route could be your career choice. Teaching assignments are in elementary schools, junior high schools, and high schools throughout Japan. After a bit of research, I realised the same was true in Japan. The other main avenue to teach in Japan is as an ALT (assistant language teacher) or AET (assistant English teacher). Your work hours will be typically 8 to 9 hours a day, 5 days a week (which may include Saturday), and you can expect 4 weeks holiday a year. They are looking for someone who can adapt to living and working in Japan, will work hard, is willing to learn and work with other teachers, and of course, someone who brings a good energy. The Instructor Visa is one of the most common in Japan and allows you to work as an ALT in public institutions like elementary and high schools. They were incredibly supportive in bringing me from the U.S. to Japan, even furnished me with an apartment and a car at a reasonable rate. Just to clarify, this is particular to working as an ALT or working at an international school where a significant number of the employed staff are foreigners. She has a website (helloalissa) designed to help you find work teaching in Japan and shares some cool pictures on her Instagram and Facebook as well.Enjoy this “trip report” of her applying to be a direct hire ALT! An ALT may be present in the classroom for around 4 or 5 hours a day. The best part about working as an ALT is that you get to interact with the school children every day, and become a part of the school community. Specialist in Humanities Visa As a rule, asking for time off, even on national holidays, can be subject to workplace hostility. Thousands of teachers work abroad and start their teaching careers in Japan as ALTs—which stands for Assistant Language Teacher.ALTs are native speakers of English who assist the Japanese teacher in teaching English to elementary and junior high school students throughout Japan. Some larger schools have two … After looking into this, I found out my mother worked at the hospital I was born at during her affair, and the man she had an affair with was a Japanese doctor working abroad in that hospital. JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching Program) is a well-known government initiative and one of the best ways you can get a job teaching English in Japan. 7) What is your number one tip for backpackers who want to teach English in Japan… Also, keep in mind that you’ll of course need a valid visa for working in Japan. True story: I had been working as an ALT with the dispatch company Interac for about a year and a half when I decided to stop teaching. Tack a dose of enthusiasm to your college degree and you're halfway to working as an ALT job in Japan. Working as an ALT in Japan was an internationally desirable career 15-20 years ago, mainly because the salary was still an amount you could live on, which is no longer the case. Japan Guy Review: My First Year Teaching As An ALT In Japan (Part 1) “ Looking back on my first year, the best thing that happened to me was that I got placed at a great school, with great kids, and genuinely nice teachers ” The Japan Guy writes about all the ‘gooey goodness’ of being an Interac ALT in part one of his review. The following is a guest post from helloalissa, an American ALT that currently lives in the same town as me (Even has my old schools!) The gauze cloth also has a tag on it that says “made in Japan.” My American family went to great lengths to hide this from me. As you might know, Japan is famous for people literally dying from overwork. Reply. The most common way to enter into such a position is through Japan’s own Exchange and Teaching Program known as JET. However, a field in which there are increasing employment opportunities is at international kindergartens. I had had some experience working at university in Jamaica, and found that I had more autonomy as a teacher, and the pay was better than high school jobs. Part two of the review is all about the downsides. So I want to give you my honest to goodness review of what it was like to work with Interac as an ALT for the very first time. If you are an ALT, you should already have a company-sponsored visa, so you’re A-OK fine. A common phrase that quite aptly describes this type of work and one that should not be overlooked is that "the 'assistant' part of the acronym ALT should not go unnoticed. Learn about Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. If you don’t have this, it’s going to be a bit tougher since freelancing is a tough justification to acquire a visa. The first year I think was a chance to get my bearing and see what teaching/working for another company was like. 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