My husband and I just found out we're PCSing to Japan. He has a BA in English, a Master's in Education and experience teaching Enlish in Korea. I heard finding employment in Japan is very difficult. Can anyone advise on what may be available to him?

I would have him check in with the "Navy College" once he arrives and see if he is able to teach some of their courses for them. With turnover like it is sometimes, you can teach college level classes for them. They are on a schedule of about every 8 weeks so they are short semesters. You might have him check online as an online "teacher" as well. With distance learning now, he might be able to do quite well.

He could also substitute for the schools. The pay is now up to $101 per day and they are always looking for subs. He can choose if he wants to do all schools or just MS or HS. If he thinks he might be interested, go to the DoDDs website and find a number and have them send him the paperwork to start then he can do the fingerprinting right after arriving and put into the computer and be ready to go rather quickly.

http://www.pac.dodea.edu/

Informally, there seems to always be people asking for conversational English lessons - they've even asked if I, a computer geek, would be interested in doing so.

Wow, thanks for the info, but since he is a HS English teacher here, has a Masters and a cert to teach overseas, $101 a day seems really low. I'm a Chief so maybe he'll have to be a stay-at-home dad for a while.

Thanks again for the information!

Unless he wants to try to be a "local hire" as a teacher at the school, $101 for 6 hrs of work is one of the best paying part time jobs on the base. Again, he can also see if he is able to teach on a contract for the Navy College or their affiliates which would then be an additional part time job!

Good luck!

Posted By KS on 13 Aug 2010 11:56 AM

Wow, thanks for the info, but since he is a HS English teacher here, has a Masters and a cert to teach overseas, $101 a day seems really low. I'm a Chief so maybe he'll have to be a stay-at-home dad for a while.

Thanks again for the information!

Basic economics I'm afraid - a dearth of jobs + a large and practically captive labor pool = employers who can offer less pay. 

My guess is that with his credentials and experience he'll do FAR better teaching English directly to the Japanese.  He might want to even inquire at the local college.  I know that the one here in Sasebo would love to have someone of his qualifications available.

experience he'll do FAR better teaching English directly to the Japanese

I think some people underestimate the power of teaching english to the Japanese.

One thing I would recommend is group classes. Its hard to get it up and running, but do the math.

Example teaching scenarios:

2-3 hours for 1 student 2000-2500 yen per hour
2-3 hours, for 2 students, 1500-2000 yen per hour
2-3 hours for 5+ students 1500-2000 yen per hour

If I was to recommend the best strategy, it is this: 1000 YEN PER HOUR PER STUDENT!

Get a facility you can rent off-base.

There is one located directly across the street from the Yokosuka Daiei, but if your on another base in Japan, just find any local community building, that is easy to get to by train.

Offer a flat rate, doesnt matter if you have 1-20 students, 1000 yen per hour is cheap.
Word will spread, and you can also have some flyers drafted, that you can post at the local community center boards.
Have a friend, or hire someone to draft up some documentation for the local city hall.
They have a monthly flyer that goes around.

Things take time to grow, dont expect 50 students enrolled in 2 weeks. You have to network, and you have to be clever the way you do it. Use the internet, use social networking sites, and most of all, get someone that is Japanese that is willing to help you write on those social networking sites. Your customers dont speak or read english, so how are you going to find them, or them find you?

So lets say, for the next 3-6 months you spend hours and hours devoted to getting your name known. Now you have 10 students.
Offer classes 5 times a week. They can come as little or as much as they want. It doesnt bother you, its still 1000 yen per hour.

Also offer an incentive for them to bring a friend to the next class. tell them, there friend is completely free, if you bring them, and when they come, tell them they can come again for free. Give them 2-3 free classes, which will make them feel more of a friend relationship then a business one.

As people start to realize, your initial goal, is NOT to make a living, but to just provide a solid resource, it will make people feel more at ease to continue coming back.

TOO MANY people try to charge the 2500-3000 yen per hour. Its TOO MUCH! Try to cut down, and offer something cheaper. Remember its not always about getting rich, or making a lot off of 1 customer. Make a little off of 100 customers, and in the end, you have a better relationship with them, and also you made more in the long run.

Times are hard right now for anyone. They cannot afford to dish out, 10,000 yen per week for 4 hours of training.

But they can dish out 4000 yen for those same 4 hours. Now just have to work on getting 10-30 students, and you will be good to go.

This entire concept, requires someone devoted to getting students, and clients. Its not easy, and I am no expert, just wanted to point out, I feel there are a lot of Japanese people that DO WANT TO LEARN from an native english speaking person, but sometimes prices are too expensive.