Working Conditions



Hours will vary quite a bit from school to school; you may work between 25 and 40 hours a week. Pay close attention as to how those hours are scattered. I once worked at a school that told me I'd work only 22 hours a week--but found out later that those hours were spread out over entire days, 6 days a week. I'd get several 2- or 3-hour "breaks" during which I couldn't do much except hang around the office. I wound up spending much more than 40 hours a week at the office. Another job I had advertised 35 hours a week, but they had me work five 7-hour days, so it really was 35 hours. Some jobs will advertise only the "contact" hours, that is, the hours you spend in class; they may de-emphasize office hours and preparation.

Overtime is usually available, but the pay does not work the same as in the U.S. Overtime hours usually cover only extra classes taught; pay for travel time, preparation or special events often has to be negotiated. Private schools may pay the same or less for overtime than for standard hours worked; there is usually no bonus for exceeding 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week.

Classes will range from 50 minutes to 3 hours in length, perhaps longer if you teach an intensive course or seminar. Most private schools and high schools run 50-minute classes with 10 to 20 minutes in between; universities often have 90-minute classes. Private schools often have smaller classes, from 1 to 8 students; high school classes can be up to 50 students in size.

Private schools and universities will have you teach solo, or tag-team with a Japanese teacher. Public high schools cannot hire non-citizens as teachers, so they will usually hire you as a teaching assistant.

Keep in mind that although your classes may be "Westernized" in nature, the workplace will likely follow Japanese practices more than western ones. This means more strict adherence to rules, some of which may strike you as unnecessary and bothersome. You will likely be low on the totem pole; don't expect office workers to do what you say unless it has been established as their job. Expect to attend school events like parties, ceremonies or meetings on your off time with little if any overtime to compensate for it. Not all schools have these down points; some have these and more.

This is not to say that there will be nothing but down points; quite the contrary. You will likely be making more money than the school manager will, as foreign staff get paid more; you will probably be making a lot more than the office staff. Also, for all the Japanese office practices, the school is likely bending over backwards to accommodate you as far as they are, giving you easier rules and an easier time than the native staff. There can be nice perks that go along with the job. For example, you get free attendance to school parties and events; if your school has special field trips or seminars at resort locations, you go for free.

When you start your job, find out about all of the working conditions, either by asking at the interview or by asking a teacher at the school before or after the interview. Once you accept the job, though, you should accept the conditions without complaint. You are, after all, working in Japan; you have to accept all that goes with it, good and bad. Although it might be easy to forget, there is usually more good to be found than bad.

Also keep in mind that complaining openly is not something that is often done in Japan. Many foreign teachers who complain about things are not liked by office staff, who must work longer and harder and are paid less; from that perspective, it is easy to see foreign workers as spoiled. When speaking to the office staff, remember that they don't have it as good as you, and are just trying to do their best.



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