Hey there, Japan enthusiasts! It’s me again, your friendly neighborhood Dariru, coming to you with another installment of my adventures in the Land of the Rising Sun. Today, let’s dive into the world of English teachery, the tried and true gateway for many foreigners looking to make their way to Japan. Specifically, the Eikaiwa.
The king of all the English realm is Eikaiwa. It is the one ring that rules them all.
The Job Pool
Japan will be facing some problems in the future on the job-front. There is a shrinking pool of workers here simply because there is a shrinking pool of people having kids. The problem is there is a growing group of elderly that society (and the job-front) needs to support. To put it bluntly: in the future there just won’t be enough people to support the elderly, and in turn society as a whole. Pretty big problem, eh? So even though some people might not like it, it looks like foreigners might be necessary to fill the jobs out there that will support the large group of aging Japanese. However, until politicians figure that out, teaching English is still pretty much the go-to gig for foreigners.
Now, why is teaching English the go-to gig? Well, English is still the rockstar language for business and international connections, and everyone wants an invite to the concert. But here’s the twist – mastering English in Japan is like trying to catch a noodle with chopsticks in a tornado. Sure, they toss it into the mix in Junior High and High School, but it doesn’t quite stick like it does in other English-teaching hubs around the globe.
Spaghetti English
Cue the government, tossing spaghetti at the language-learning wall, hoping something magical sticks. They are starting English lessons earlier than ever in school, but until they crack the (language) code, there’s this gigantic English aftermarket. Imagine it like a bustling market full of language possibilities!
You’ve got ALTs (that’s Assistant Language Teachers, for the uninitiated) rocking it at public schools, international schools where English is the language of the land, and a whole bunch of private, corporate, and online teaching gigs. If you can dream it, there’s probably a spot in Japan teaching English just like that. But the king of all the English realm is Eikaiwa. It is the one ring that rules them all.
Eikaiwa, which translates to “English conversation,” came out of post-World War II Japan but really took off during the bubble era in the 80’s and 90’s. And the reason it’s stuck around so long and gotten so big? It focuses on practical English, the kind you’d use in a real chat, not just the nitty-gritty grammar and vocabulary the schools are hooked on.
Eikaiwa for All
What makes Eikaiwa the king of the English hill? It’s accessible. Lessons cater to everyone from 3-year-old kiddos to 85-year-old seniors. They’re simple, delivered in bite-sized increments, and provide a more relaxed way of learning. It’s the “for fun” version of English learning. Plus, finding teachers is a breeze. To be a teacher, there is no need for a teaching degree; just a bachelor’s degree and proficiency in English will do the trick.
Because some days, like everyone, you just feel like a squid-tape player (from Squid Sensei)
And the one thing that separates Eikaiwa from the rest of the other English-teaching opportunities is that it is first and foremost a business. So it’s targeting mostly short-term customers and workers. For students the short quick lessons are approachable and fun. For teachers, It’s the ideal gig for short-term stays in Japan, with shorter workdays (about 6-8 hours), decent pay (2400 yen-2600 yen per hour), and no homework to take home. It’s perfect for those who want to soak in the beauty of Japan without being buried in work.
Unfortunately, for teachers, Eikaiwa is not designed to be done more than a year or two. So after a while, the job becomes like clockwork. I’m talking about the McDonald’s of teaching English, my friend. Fry, flip, repeat. It’s a factory line of English conversations.
Also unfortunately, the entire industry has been in decline in recent years. Back in the bubble days, folks earned higher wages and worked fewer hours (I heard rumors that they even got paid to go home during the summer vacation). I started in 2003, and my contract was for a mere 6-hour day and a 30 hour work week. Some of the OG’s who were rocking it when I started were living the dream. We’re talking higher wages (2800+ yen an hour), didn’t have to teach kids, and had a sweet 25-hour workweek. Nowadays, newbies are looking at lower wages than mine (but still pretty good) and 8-hour workdays. Talk about a shift!
Try explaining complex concepts in a foreign language to a bunch of energetic kids who don’t understand a word you’re saying as they throw cushions, hang from the rafters and toss their feces (some of those may not be true).
Challenges of Teaching
Teaching English in Japan has its share of challenges. It can drive your patience (even the sweetest old lady can become taxing after 3 minutes of trying to say “No thank you”). And while kids are cute, amazing little creatures, they can be obnoxious little demons. Try explaining complex concepts in a foreign language to a bunch of energetic kids who don’t understand a word you’re saying as they throw cushions, hang from the rafters and toss their feces (some of those may not be true). It can be stressful to say the least. But if you’ve got a knack for teaching, it might just be your cup of tea. For me, teaching has never been my thing (and I was never a huge lover of school), so I shifted to part-time about a decade ago when I delved into the world of comics.
And let me tell you, transitioning from the classroom to the comic book panels has been one wild ride. Comics are my passion, my true calling, but teaching still keeps the bills paid. Yet, as I navigate my 40s, the energy needed for those lively children’s classes seems to evaporate mysteriously. Seriously, where does it all go?
TEACHING KIDS
Teaching kids… Oh boy. Get ready. Even if you’re a kid-whisperer or a certified teacher … YOU ARE NOT PREPARED! Usually the classes are great. I enjoy 90% most of mine. But at least once a week you’ll have a class from hell. Imagine a group of ten 8 year olds. 2 kids are staring at you blankly, completely lost, not understanding a single word. You’re teaching them “My friend likes pizza.” The problem is these two can’t even read basics like “is” (even after taking lessons for 3 years). But right now, all you’re trying to do is get the class to repeat after you. And NO ONE is repeating. Your collar is beginning to feel a bit too tight. As you try to help one of the lost ones out, the kid next to you grabs your sleeve, screaming “Sensei! sensei!” But before you can even hear his question, the kids at the end of the table start yelling. They’re arguing about something. You try to get them under control, all the while hearing the Sensei Sensei from behind you. Blood pressure is rising. Once you’ve separated the arguing kids, you turn back to those 2 lost students and they are drawing pictures in their book. Because like half of the kids in the class, they have no interest in studying English. They’re only there because their parents force them. Blood is starting to boil. So you try to just ignore it all and get back to teaching when — Sensei Sensei! It turns out the kid is asking about the answer for the previous page. The one we all just did together. The one they were supposed to have been listening to. Blood is ready to explode. The only response you can muster is a sigh as you point at the answer. Which is when the group at the end of the table starts arguing again. Your eye is beginning to twitch. You yell at the group to stop when– Sensei Sensei! The kid is holding his book again pointing at the rest of the page. Which is COMPLETELY BLANK. And that’s when one of the kids just decides to get up and leave the room. Steam is now coming out your ears. As Mr. Sensei Sensei tugs at your sleeve, and the lost ones draw pictures, and the arguers yell and complain, and the ballsy kids walks around out side, that’s right when — well you get the picture. Chaos. And this is only the first 5 minutes of class.
I dream of the day when I can hang up my teacher’s hat and fully embrace my life as a creator. But hey, reality check – making a living off comics isn’t exactly a walk in the cherry blossom-filled park. Retirement age might be knocking on my door before that dream becomes a reality.
So here’s to the highs and lows of teaching English in Japan, to the students who make us laugh, and to the hope that one day, we can all retire our red pens and textbooks for good. Until then, my friends, let the English lessons and comic creations continue!
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*I don’t use AI for my artwork. These filler images are just for fun and aren’t meant to represent my art so they have been labeled “AI GENERATED.” I want my blog to be enjoyable for you but I don’t have 2-6 hours to draw each image (this blog is done in my free time). If you’re against AI in art, please direct your criticism elsewhere (maybe someone trying to pass off AI generated images as their art). I am not doing that.
As you say, it sounds like a mixed bag. Teaching 16+ year-olds should be better no ? At least at some age, they attend such a school because they want to and not because the have to. I’ve taught math in high school and to working adults – the adults win !
This gives me such a great sense of being in the classroom where you teach, and it also helps me understand the language-learning “system” of this business model. Some of this was laugh-out-loud funny!