| There is, in Japan, a great demand for native | | | | English teaching jobs in Japan come through the |
| English speakers teaching English, but most of that | | | | JET program, overseen by the Japanese |
| demand comes from private English "conversation | | | | government. The JET program, while it does |
| schools", or Ekaiwa, or JET, the Japan Exchange | | | | include employment teaching English in Japanese |
| and Teaching Program. | | | | schools on a daily basis, is really designed to |
| Teaching English in Japanese Ekaiwa | | | | expose the Japanese people to foreigners. |
| Ekaiwa are very common in Japan, and are | | | | Most of those teaching English in the JET program |
| "schools" in which those teaching English will be | | | | are assistant teachers in Japanese middle and high |
| actually offering individual of small class sessions | | | | schools. They must be under forty, and have |
| of conversations. Ekaiwa give Japanese of every | | | | both excellent language skills and a college |
| age a chance to engage in real English | | | | degree--although the field does not matter--and |
| conversation; teaching English in this way can give | | | | they are not allowed to choose the part of Japan |
| the teacher a chance to see their students | | | | in which they will be working. If accepted to the |
| progress in a very short time. | | | | JET program, however, their airfare will be |
| There are chains of ekaiwa in Japan, rather like | | | | provided. For more info see on Teaching. |
| there are chains of ballroom dancing studios in the | | | | Those accepted to teach English in the JET |
| US. The premier chains include Geos and ECC, | | | | program will have to have great interpersonal |
| which have upwards of two hundred ekaiwa, but | | | | skills, because they will be immersed in a foreign |
| there are thousands of smaller schools. Salaries | | | | culture and left more or less to their own devices |
| and working conditions will vary according to the | | | | as far as seeing that their basic needs are met. |
| money behind each operation. | | | | And they will be responsible for representing their |
| Those wanting to teach English in the Japanese | | | | native countries while in Japan. |
| ekaiwas can contact one of the recruitment | | | | Given a choice between the ekaiwa and JET |
| offices that the chain ekaiwa operators have | | | | English teaching positions, most of those |
| established abroad, in particular in the US, UK, | | | | considering a job in Japan opt for the JET |
| Canada, and Australia. While the better schools in | | | | program, which offers better salaries and, most |
| the most desirable locations may require degrees | | | | of the time, better working conditions. But if you |
| in English and teaching experience, many ekaiwa | | | | are young and resourceful, and want to see Japan |
| only require a college degree. | | | | while getting paid for doing something that is |
| The JET Program | | | | second nature to you--speaking English--an ekaiwa |
| Many people, however, find that the premiere | | | | job can be just the ticket!. |