How to Move from ALT to Teaching at University

The ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) role is a great way to start your teaching career in Japan as a native-level English speaker. ALTs typically work across a wide range of schools from elementary to high school across Japan. There are usually plenty of ALT teaching jobs available every year during the recruiting season for the new school year which starts in April. 

For those who have been in Japan for a few years and are looking to further their career as a teacher, it makes sense to move from an ALT role to teaching at the university level. While this is quite a big step up, it is still possible for most with the right experience and qualifications. 

In this post, I will outline some of the key criteria that you will need to have in order to make the jump from being an ALT to a teacher at a university in Japan. 

1. Get your Master’s Degree 

One of the main criteria for working at the university level in Japan is a master’s degree (related to teaching). This could be in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or Linguistics. Getting a masters is not an easy thing and can take some time, especially if you are working full time and are doing your master’s online. Try and obtain your masters while working as an ALT as the shorter working hours and long vacation time is ideal for achieving this. 

"Tokyo University of Foreign Studies" by Kimtaro is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

2. Complete a Cambridge CELTA 

The Cambridge CELTA Certificate is a great initial step in gaining the necessary qualifications to work at the university level in Japan. It is the most widely recognised English teaching qualification in the world and is regarded in high esteem by employers. You can complete one in a few months and then start on the process of obtaining a masters. In fact, some universities might accept you with only a CELTA certificate if you are lucky. 

3. Give as many Presentations as you Can 

Presentations gain you points for your application to a university level teaching job. Try and give as many as you can to build your presentation portfolio on your CV. A great place to start is the JALT (Japan Association for Language Teaching) Organization which has chapters in most prefectures in Japan and have monthly meetings which are always looking for new and enthusiastic presenters. The content of the presentation can be on anything that is teaching related in any field from kindergarten to adults. 

Image by NASA Goddard Photo and Video is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

4. Get Yourself Published 

Another way to gain points is via publications in academic journals which you can do by publishing the material that you have created or share your knowledge in a particular field. JALT has a publication called “The Language Teacher Journal” which comes out every two months. It is a great way to get your material out there in the Japan teaching world. A great way to start is to find someone (hopefully a full-time lecturer) who is interested in your work, or who is already working on something similar and do a joint publication. This is the perfect way to get your name out there. Publications can be on a broad range of topics from literature and textbook reviews to teaching young learners. 

Image by oyajimbo is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. 

5. Network and Attend Conferences 

Sometimes all it takes is knowing the right person. You can network and build connections by attending teaching conferences in Japan. Teachers come and go in Japan, sometimes very suddenly, so if a university is in a pinch and is in desperate need of a teacher in short notice, they might just pass your application, especially if they have met or know you from a professional organization or conference.

You can also find university teaching jobs in Japan easily online. 

"Classroom M212" by barbourians is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. 

Teaching English in Japan

Teaching English is the most common form of employment among foreigners in Japan. The demand for English teachers is still strong, but the market is a lot more competitive than it used to be in the 1980s/90s. Today you need a lot more qualifications and experience to satisfy most recruiters and get your foot in the door of the better companies out there. We will go into more detail a little later on about what recruiters look for and prefer in potential candidates. There has also been a big push recently by Mombukagakusho (Ministry of Education) for English as a compulsory subject in Elementary School in Japan. This will only increase further as the demand for English increases with the lead up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Here is a little about the main types of teaching jobs here in Japan.

Types of Teaching Jobs in Japan 

English Conversation School 

English Conversation Schools or Eikaiwa (英会話) in Japanese are the most popular form of teaching English in Japan. These positions are usually paid by the hour with a mixed schedule involving a lot of evening and weekend work. The students usually range in age from about 2 years old in kids classes to 80 years old. Typical working hours will fall somewhere in between 10am to 9pm. Morning shifts might be from !0:00 am to 6:00 pm, and Evening shifts 1:00 pm to 9:00pm. Classes are usually around 45-50 minutes long, with class sizes typically varying from 1-10 students. Most English Conversation School positions on average will receive around 1-2 weeks holiday per year. Monthly wages on average are around ¥250,000 depending on the company. The most famous eikaiwa schools are ECC, Aeon, Nova, Gaba Corporation and Shane Corporation.

ALT Assistant Language Teacher 

Most ALTs work through a dispatch company in the public school system in Japan. Typically they are placed in Elementary or Junior High with a few working in Senior High. Typical working hours will fall between 8:30 am to 4:30 pm with an 8 hour work day. Class sizes will vary from usually 20-40 students, depending on the school and location. Most ALT positions on average will receive around 8 weeks holiday per year. Monthly wages usually range from ¥200,000 to ¥260,000 depending on experience and the company. One of the best ALT companies in Japan is ALTIA CENTRAL who are based in Nagoya with contracts in the Tokai area and beyond.

Preschool and Kindergarten 

Working with the students at a Japanese Preschool or International Kindergarten can be a lot of fun, but generally require specific qualifications and experience teaching children. These types of teachers typically work 8 or 9 hours a day, 5 days a week with around 4 weeks holiday per year. Monthly wages usually range from ¥250,000 to ¥300,000 depending on experience and the company. It is hard work with a busy schedule, but very rewarding with the chance to bond with your students and their parents.

Business English 

This type of teaching in Japan is aimed at corporations who look to teach their employees basic English for dealing with overseas clients and connections. They are generally paid by the hour and more lucrative than both eikaiwa and ALT work. Lessons can take place either during regular working hours, or in the evening after the employees have finished work.

Basic Requirements 

The basic requirements for most teaching positions in Japan include the following:

1. Native English Speaker 
2. BA / BS Degree (in any field) 

These are typically required in order to secure a work visa for the applicant.

Preferences by recruiters include:

1. A BA / BS in Education/Linguistics/English/Japanese/East Asian Studies 
2. At least a basic level of Japanese ability 
3. ESL or TEFL certification 
4. Teaching or tutoring experience 

Application Process 

You can submit your resume and apply for jobs any time as companies are always looking for potential applicants. The biggest recruiting periods for ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) in Japan is November/December for April starts (school year starts in April in Japan) and May/June for September starts. Most of the major companies now recruit overseas, so you can even set up an interview in your home country, which makes the whole process a lot easier.

The Best Resources for Looking for Work in Japan 

The biggest & best resource for finding a job in Japan is GaijinPot who have a large listing of jobs through-out Japan. I also recommend sites like Jobs in Japan and My Shigoto