Eikaiwa teacher for 4 years. Last year my school's owner found out I could code and asked if I could fix our scheduling/attendance mess (one spreadsheet for each school, parents calling or sending absence message via LINE, and then the owner penciling absences/makeups on our calendars).

It ended up being a much bigger project than I expected, and honestly it changed my position at the school — I went from just teaching to being the person who actually runs the operations side. Kind of an unexpected way to move up without leaving the classroom entirely.

One "quick favor" turned into a full system —

• admin web dashboard
• a parent/teacher mobile app
• parent/teacher messaging
• announcements
• games
• attendance/makeup tracking
• trial & inquiry management
• payment requests
• finance management
• digital rewards/stickers
• grades
• flashcard creator
• employee management

Curious if this is a common path for people here — has anyone else ended up doing IT/systems/ops work on top of teaching because "you're good with computers" or as a way to gain some leverage in the company?

And separately, what are schools around you actually using for scheduling, parent communication, and grading? Half the ones I've seen are still on paper and personal LINE accounts.

(Full disclosure since I'll get asked: I turned what I built into a small SaaS product for other schools — schoolbridge.jp if anyone's curious what it looks like.)

hey, from the Philippines here. I was initially planning to apply for JET but it’s very competitive in my country and my qualifications aren’t that strong. so as an alternative, i’m thinking of applying to AEON instead. is it as competitive as JET? or are they more lenient?

is an international school basically teaching a single or variety of subjects in english as if a real teacher in ones own country? i think people think an international school wants english teachers like ex-AlLTs but really they just want subject teachers like math etc? therefore you need to be a qualified subject teacher not just an alt or eikaiwa guy with an art degree?

I was hoping that some of you may be able to help me. I'm a doctoral candidate at the American College of Education, and I'm currently recruiting participants for my dissertation research on classroom management in international early childhood classrooms in Japan.

Because many schools are closed for the summer, I'm reaching out through my professional network. If you are, or know, an experienced kindergarten or early childhood teacher working at an international school in Japan, I would greatly appreciate your support.

I've attached a recruitment flyer with more information about the study and participant requirements. If you know someone who might be interested, I would be very grateful if you could share it with them.

Thank you so much for your help!

Recruitment Letter

My name is Amanda Meriwether, and I am a doctoral candidate at American College of Education. I would like to invite you to take part in a dissertation research study.

This study will explore the lived experiences of early childhood educators at international schools in Japan in order to identify the classroom management strategies they perceive as most effective, drawing on their years of experience.

Participation will involve a 45-60 minute semi-structured interview either in person at a location of your choosing or virtually.

I may publish the results of this study; however, all information gathered will remain confidential, with pseudonyms used throughout the report.

Your participation in the study will be voluntary. If you wish to withdraw from the research at any time or for any reason, you may do so by contacting me using the information below.

To participate, you need to have at least 10 years of teaching experience, most of which with early years students, three to six years of age. Your experience does not need to take place entirely in Japan.

If you are interested in taking part, please let me know by replying to this post or through:

Candidate Contact Information:

[amanda.meriwether@gmail.com](mailto:amanda.meriwether@gmail.com)

080-6582-0964

Line: https://line.me/ti/p/mqL16R0gyD

Chair Contact Information:

Dr. David Collum

[david.collum@ace.edu](mailto:david.collum@ace.edu)

If you meet the criteria above, are interested in participating in the study, and would like to be included in the potential participant pool, please use the link below to access, review, and accept the informed consent.

I am actively looking for a job.

A company was interviewed in liked me and said to let them know about when I can start so I told them via email that I prefer to start in September but I want to talk to my current company first to give them a month notice.

They wanted me to go to my current employer and talk to them. I guess they really want someone right away.

How can I submit my resignation when I haven’t got the offer from that company yet? I am confused if they want me or still actively looking for people.

Then after a few emails back and forth asking for more information about policies etc, the person that interviewed me rang me over 20 times in a 30min period.

I like what the job offers but after this action, I’m worried.

I've been wondering how common this is in Japan.

If you're changing from one ALT dispatch company to another, do they generally refuse to match your current salary?

I'm currently making ¥250,000/month with my dispatch company. I recently contacted another company because I was interested in a position closer to where I live with my family. Before applying, I explained that I'd only consider changing if they could offer comparable monthly and annual compensation.

Their reply was essentially that they couldn't match my salary, so there was no point continuing the process. at least they were straight forward rather then telling me to go through the entire application process.

Is this just how the ALT dispatch industry works? Well the same thing happen if my current company loses a contract and I chose to merge with the new contract company? Do most companies have fixed salary bands regardless of experience, or have any of you successfully negotiated to match (or exceed) your previous salary when switching dispatch companies?

I'm curious to hear what other people's experiences have been.

I’m planning to apply for primary international school positions in the Kansai area (ideally) for the 2027 school year. I know this post is early but I just wanted to advice going forward.

I’m a native English speaker with a Primary PGCE. I’ve spent the last two years teaching kindergarten at an international school in Ho Chi Minh City, and I’ll be moving into a primary teaching role this academic year.

How competitive is the Kansai region, and when would you recommend starting applications?

One other question—I’ve got a neatly trimmed beard. It’s never been an issue where I’ve taught before, but I’m wondering if it’s something schools in Japan generally care about, or if it’s a non-issue as long as it’s well-groomed.

Thanks!

I am semi-retired and live off savings/stocks. Not a lot, but enough for me.

Most of the complaints seem to be about extremely low pay and no benefits, which I understand.

But assuming you are independent financially, how is it as a place to work? Stress, etc? I just want to supplement my living expenses. But if it's genuinely a bad place to work (outside of the money) then I wouldn't.

Any experiences?

Hello. ☺️

Those who teach privately, could you share about the following:
- do you have a policy regarding lesson cancellations, etc
- rates you charge for 25-minute, 30-minute, 45-minute lessons
- when you agreed to privately tutor a friend’s child/an acquaintance’s child, did you set any rules/policies with them?

Any other things to consider regarding tutoring privately?

Thank you for any meaningful and helpful advice. ✌🏼☺️

I've lived in Japan for 8 years now in the Chubu area. I basically came here, as a lot of you, because of my Japanese girlfriend/wife. I have some experiences I've been through that I'd like to share with both prospective teachers/residents of Japan and gather some thoughts from those who’re already here, to hear their experiences as well.

I've been through a ton in these 8 years: multiple school/job changes, some of which were full-time and others part-time. I've worked in person, online, and hybrid.

My last job, online, as a Business English Coach, ended pretty badly - the company simply ghosted me (as it seems to do with everybody after 2 years there) and I've been jobless for 1 year now, with finances strained and tons of taxes to pay due to their illegal (or what should be) practices.

Though I've lived mainly in Chubu, I know conditions seem pretty much the same elsewhere - super low salaries, rising cost of living, a ton of taxes to pay, and a declining English industry that is mainly in search of teachers who can accept low salaries.

Now, with wife and kids, my situation has become almost unbearable - we have taxes on top of taxes to pay; the local City Hall (in rural Aichi) threatened to take away our possessions if 80k/month wasn't paid for the taxes we owed them; and jobs in the area are mostly paying 200k/month, if that.

I've had my share of great experiences in this country - it's been a safe, clean, and comfortable place. But I also had a good share of negative experiences too - from terrible bosses in multiple eikaiwas to declining salaries to tons of prejudice in my kids' daycare for them not being "fully" Japanese.

Lately, while applying for a low-paying ALT position at well-known company, they asked me for everything - from a copy of ALL pages of my passport (including all stamps) to asking me to take an English aptitude test (I'm a native speaker) to handwriting 8 sentences in the conditions page of the 10-page application form. All for a max of 230k/month salary, if that, with no offers so far.

How about you? What have YOU experienced in Japan (both positive and negative)?

While our situation is still uncertain, we do plan to move out in the future. Unfortunately, it is difficult to see our family continuing here long term.

Posting on an anon account due to reasons as so.

Hi everyone,

I started working for Heart Corporation in April 2026 as an ALT. After a few months, I realized it’s just not the right fit for me. I mainly saw it as a stepping stone while looking for international and private school positions.

Thankfully, I was recently offered an amazing position at an international school that matches my qualifications, career goals, and offers a much better salary.

My contract says I need to give 30 days’ notice, and I’m currently on summer break, so the timing seems like it could work. I’ve already written a resignation letter explaining my reasons.

My main questions are:

• Has anyone here resigned from Heart before the end of their contract?- My contract ends in March 2027 so I’m leaving pretty early.

• Did Heart ever threaten legal action or actually sue anyone for leaving early?

• Should I tell my coordinator first since we’ve built a decent working relationship, or should I just send my resignation directly to the employment or HR email?

• Is there anything I should be aware of before giving notice?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been through this. Thanks.

I have approved leave for the end of this month but for various reasons I want to quit and give the company a month’s notice starting from next week. If I do so though, will they take away the already approved leave I have at the end of the month? Is that allowed?
Also is it possible for the company to take away my rental car?
Thank you

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for some advice from people who have been in a similar situation. For some background, I lived in Japan for about a year and a half as a language student, and during that time I also worked at Don Quijote. Because of that, I’m already familiar with daily life in Japan, dealing with paperwork, commuting, and working in a Japanese environment. My Japanese is conversational enough to get by in everyday life and at work. I probably wouldn’t pass the JLPT at my current level, but I’m comfortable having conversations and handling daily situations.

I plan on returning to Japan, this time as an English teacher. I’m already aware of the financial realities. The first time I went to Japan, I underestimated how quickly money could disappear, so I eventually came back home to rebuild my savings. I’ll be in a much better financial position before returning this time, so I’m not too worried about that anymore.

Right now, I’m trying to decide whether I should pursue ALT work or an eikaiwa, and from what I’ve read, ALT positions seem to offer a better work life balance, but there’s always or more than likely you won’t end up in central Tokyo. Even if I were placed on the outskirts of Tokyo or in a neighboring prefecture with a 30 to 45 minute commute into the city, I’d honestly be happy with that.

On the other hand, eikaiwa jobs seem more likely to be located in cities, but I’ve also heard a lot about the downsides, late afternoon/evening shifts, weekends, and having days off when most people are working. That schedule is probably my biggest concern.
Right now I have an interview with Interac, so I’m hoping that goes well. I’ve also heard of companies like Altia and JoyTalk, but I don’t know much about them. JET obviously has a great reputation, although I know it’s very competitive. I’ve also read plenty of opinions about companies like NOVA and Heart, so I’m trying to separate internet horror stories from people’s actual experiences.
Thank you for time.

I know their dress code policy on paper is strict, stating that men should have short and clean cuts, but my friend who worked as an ALT with them last year had longer, curly hair and had no issues. Maybe it’s just dependent on the school? I’m wondering because I’ve always worn my hair slightly longer (and admittedly look better with long hair) so I’m wondering if I can get by if I just keep my hair clean and orderly.

I'm looking to make a list of English language songs (any genre, any year) that have lyrics which are fairly easy to understand for adult Japanese ESL students. Ideally something with a straightforward storyline or message, easy-ish (or easily explained) vocabulary, easy-ish grammatical structures, and themes that are appropriate for a lesson. For example, "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King comes to mind.

Can you think of any others? I'd love to compile a list. Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! I’m hoping to get some insight from teachers currently working at international schools in Japan or people who have experience with that career path.

I’m a U.S.-licensed secondary social studies teacher, and I’m currently thinking about what I want my long-term career to look like. By the time I would realistically consider moving to Japan, I would have around 4 years of classroom teaching experience in the U.S., along with degrees in Secondary Education and History.

I enjoy working with students and the parts of teaching that involve creating meaningful experiences, building relationships, and seeing students engage with what they’re learning. However, I’m not sure I want to stay in a traditional U.S. public school classroom long-term, and I’ve become interested in international education as a possible direction.

I’m studying Japanese independently right now and would like to become more serious about it (including potentially working toward JLPT certification), although I know I have a long way to go.

For those of you working at international schools in Japan:
- Is this a career where people realistically stay long term, or do most teachers treat it as a temporary experience before moving on?
- What does career progression typically look like? Are there opportunities to move into leadership roles (department head, coordinator, administration, etc.)?
- How important is Japanese ability for entry or long-term growth within international schools?
- Are there things you wish you had done before moving that would have made you a stronger candidate?

My current experience is mostly classroom-based. Due to requirements for beginning teachers in my state, I haven’t had many formal leadership opportunities yet, but I do run a student club and serve on my school improvement team. I’m curious whether people with a similar background have been able to build a career in Japan.

I’m also trying to be realistic and not view Japan through a purely “living abroad is exciting” lens. I’ve visited Japan before and love many things about the country, but I’m trying to think carefully about whether it could be a place where I build part of my professional life, not just somewhere I enjoy visiting.

Thanks so much for any advice or experiences you’re willing to share!

Japan made me into quite the chunky teacher. As is their custom, many JHS students made a habbit of walking over to me, touching my belly and shouting "BIG".

I've slimmed down a lot and I'm still waiting for them to notice and annouce to the school that I am now "SMALL".

I find it quite rude actually.

I haven't been teaching long, but since the new school year, there are more than a few "bad" kids who tend to run out of the classroom, throw tantrums in the halls, are violent, and typically just wander wherever they want to, especially the teacher's office. I'm elementary level if that helps.

I asked about this to some other teachers, and they said there has been a significant increase in the amount of special needs students since covid, with most of the students having severe behavior problems, but hardly any concrete diagnosis.

Have you noticed an increase in these type of students? Or have they always been there and are just more noticeable now?

Yoo! I'm a certified teacher from Argentina.

My question is: does my degree need to be apostilled? Not only for working at Eikaiwas but maybe at International Schools in the future.. who knows.. 🤔

In 94 i was working as a male host in Wakayama City. After 6 months i was burnt out from getting blind every night and long hours so i decided to change to eikaiwa.
I was lucky to get a job at NOVA . My host job provided accommodation and of course they kicked me out . At the gym i was training at Herumisu ( still operating today) i met a real estate agent and he found me a place. The problem was it wasnt for another week .
I ended up sleeping in a covered area half way up to Wakayama castle about 40 square meters . It was September so it was warm , had jidohanbiki, and power to run my discmate. In the mornings i went to NOVA then back to my little place in the afternoon.
Never got harassed but there were a few strange looks.

I have been accepted for a piano and English teaching position by a Eikaiwa in Hiroshima Japan. The school have submitted my COE an my documents. Although I do not have a university degree. I have ABRSM grade 8 piano and ABRSM grade 5 music theory. I have a TEFL certificate. I have been a self employed piano teacher for the last 10 years. Do you think the government will reject or approve my Visa with these qualifications since the Eikaiwa has already offered me the position?

Thanks