Teach in Japan

1. What made you want to become an ALT in Japan?

Living in Japan is an experience I have always wanted and teaching is an occupation that has always been attractive to me. Growing up with a Japanese mother in America I felt a desire to connect more with that side of my cultural background, and learning English with her as I grew up I felt more naturally equipped than others to teach English as a second language. Beyond that, living in a community where I know no one but have every opportunity to directly contribute and engage is both challenging and fun, and I can say that I certainly made the right choice coming here. In addition, timing-wise I think coming straight out of college was important to me. It’s harder to relocate to a different country later on and I was afraid if I waited I would ultimately never come and have this amazing experience.

2. When was the most rewarding moment as an ALT?

While my tenure as an ALT has been short there have been many moments that remind me why I am doing this job. One that stands out in particular was my first practice with the local dance group, here called 美翔蓮. The students and parents worked to translate the dance instructions into English for me to better understand. This was outside of class and while they had no obligation to do so, that desire to communicate with others even when you don’t share a common native language is something I work hard to foster in my students. Seeing it come to life was a real joy.

3. What’s the main reason you think joining AtoZ was a good choice?

There are many ALT companies around Japan, and while I have no comparative experiences I can say that AtoZ has supported me immensely as I try my best to integrate into the community and schools here. The staff are not only helpful but personable and friendly too. I really do feel as though they care about me and are looking out for my best interest. Coming here with no connections has been difficult in some ways, but even without family I still feel as though there is someone I can always turn to.

4.What do you wish you had known or should have done before coming to Japan, and what should you have done to prepare?

I wish I had studied the region a little more. It’s important to be ready for the climate wherever you go. In my case I did not pack enough winter clothes. In addition, while I was aware that my specific area was a little lacking in terms of stores and restaurants I was sure I could make it work without a car. Having done a little more research on the regularity of buses I would’ve realized the importance of a car to my specific area. That being said, in both cases my neighbors have helped me immensely, giving me rides until I purchased a vehicle, and one even gave me a kotatsu to get me through the winter! Even so, there’s no such thing as too much preparation.

1. What made you want to become an ALT in Japan?

I like language and I really like to communicate with people. Having studied pedagogy, English and Japanese at university, it was a no brainer to give it a try.

2. When was the most rewarding moment as an ALT?

When you get honest responses from your students, either through genuine questions or efforts, even though it might be challenging.
Nothing feels as good as having a positive reaction from the students to the activities you are trying to teach.

3. What’s the main reason you think joining AtoZ was a good choice?

I had a good response to my recruiting at AtoZ and when researching them online they had good reviews. They also seemed to take care of their ALTs, with continuous training opportunities and everyday life issues, in comparison to other companies that didn’t seem to have the same approach.

4.What do you wish you had known or should have done before coming to Japan, and what should you have done to prepare?

I had already visited Japan prior to starting at AtoZ, so had an idea on what to do to prepare, but for people who are thinking of working as an ALT and have yet to visit Japan, do some research on the area and to learn hiragana/katakana and some useful phrases and words. Unfortunately, not many in Japan have a proper grasp of English, but are very friendly and helpful, especially if you try your best to communicate as well in Japanese.

1. What made you want to become an ALT in Japan?

Since I was a child, I have always been attracted to this country. In 2011, I finally had the opportunity to spend some time here and realized I wanted to learn more about its culture and people. Teaching has always been a passion of mine, and I already had some experience in my home country. So, connecting with the local community through teaching felt like the best way to do so, allowing me to learn more about Japan while also sharing my own country and culture.

2. When was the most rewarding moment as an ALT?

Choosing my most rewarding experience as an ALT is difficult because there have been so many opportunities to connect with students, whether in the classroom, during lunch, or at school-wide events. Once I had a class of 5th graders who initially didn’t like English but were always kind to me and created opportunities for me to spend time with them outside of our English classes. As I got to know them better, I realized they were motivated but very shy and lacked confidence. After months of working closely with their homeroom teacher to adapt the classes to their needs, the students became more engaged and enthusiastic. Eventually, they felt confident enough to even have other teachers observe their lessons for a regional teacher training event. A year later, as their final project before graduating, they even created and performed their own original version of Momotaro in English in front of their parents. I was incredibly proud of them!

3. What’s the main reason you think joining AtoZ was a good choice?

When I started researching teaching opportunities in Japan, I noticed a lot of mixed opinions. One of the main challenges many ALTs face is the lack of continuous training and support after the initial period. Many find themselves struggling with the working environment while also adjusting to life in a new country. AtoZ, however, had everything prepared in advance for me—from securing a nice apartment to helping me connect with other teachers in the area. They ensured I had access to everything I needed during my first weeks in Nagano Prefecture. The training schedule was clear, and I continued to receive feedback and support well into the school year. The company’s one-day and half-day training sessions throughout the year helped me improve both my teaching skills and my confidence. I never felt alone and was given many opportunities to grow in my role.

4.What do you wish you had known or should have done before coming to Japan, and what should you have done to prepare?

Moving to a different country is rewarding but challenging. No matter how much you prepare, you will likely feel like you could have done something differently. My advice is to come here with two things: an open mind and an open heart. These will help you navigate your new environment and respond to the challenges you’ll face along the way. I also recommend connecting with your AtoZ peers and getting involved with the local community. You are not alone!
Hope to see you soon!

5.Could you briefly share your career path, from being hired as an ALT to your current role as Area Leader?

While I had previously taught at a language center in Italy, working in a public school in Japan was an entirely different experience. It’s a world built on interdependence, and helping each other, both inside and outside of the classroom, is one of the most important elements. When I moved here, I found a team of passionate people striving to deliver both fun and meaningful classes to children. I made it a point to learn as much as I could from them. After a few years, I actively sought ways to give back and share what I had learned with other ALTs. Being a proactive and collaborative team player is key to building a successful and rewarding career in education.

I’m Ren. I am a Canadian who moved to Japan just before COVID-19 shut things down. I worked in Osaka for a year (teaching English in the edutainment industry) before moving to be a eikaiwa teacher in Ehime and then to Nagano as an ALT/ELT. It’s been a bit of a roundabout journey but being an ALT/ELT is actually what I set out to do in the first place, being trained as a teacher in Canada.

1. What made you want to become an ALT in Japan?

I wanted to become an ALT in Japan because having experienced the school and teaching environment in Canada as well as in the UK, I wanted to gain more knowledge of what it was like in Japan and I wanted to gain more experience as a teacher and more perspectives of teachers around me. Also, to be honest, the eikaiwa hours are tough! Being immersed in the school environment gives more opportunities to learn the language, culture and can also be a way to get involved in the community that was not possible as an eikaiwa teacher.

2. When was the most rewarding moment as an ALT?

For me, it was being able to get involved in the swimming lessons during PE this summer. I used to teach swimming at my local community centre back at home and I had no idea how much I missed it. Many of the teachers after learning I used to be a swim teacher would have me demonstrate the drill and we would also do a little team teaching in the pool. We did the radio taiso (radio exercise/stretches) and the warm up in English!

3. What’s the main reason you think joining AtoZ was a good choice?

AtoZ was a good choice for me as the education team listened to me when we were talking about placement. They worked with me to ensure that it was a placement where I was able to handle things and thrive as a teacher and an individual. Furthermore, they continue to make themselves as accessible and supportive as possible and check in periodically to help support their teachers.

4.What do you wish you had known or should have done before coming to Japan, and what should you have done to prepare?

Having now lived in Japan for nearly 5 years, my only regret is not trying harder to learn Japanese before moving. A smaller regret I have is not getting into an ALT company earlier but I think having experienced a few different types of English teaching jobs has also been a blessing in disguise. I think those opportunities have made me a better teacher and more equipped to be an ALT. That’s not to say that it’s impossible to jump right into being an ALT.

1. What made you want to become an ALT in Japan?

I became an ALT because I wanted to give back to Japan some of what I felt they had given to me. After I graduated college, I was a bit lost in life and not sure of what to do with myself, but eventually, I decided that I had always loved Japan and Japanese things. So, speaking zero Japanese, I enrolled in a Japanese language school and uprooted my entire life to come here. Since coming here, Japan has been nothing but extremely welcoming and kind at every opportunity. People were willing to try communicating with me even when I could speak little to no Japanese. They have always respected who I am as a person and treated me and those around me well. I quickly fell in love with Japan, and after graduating from the language school, I wanted to give something back to the country and the people who have given so much to me. I have always loved teaching in one form or another, and being an ALT, I can share some things that I love about the English language with teachers who are excited to work with me and students or are excited to learn about English.

2. When was the most rewarding moment as an ALT?

I am still very new to being an ALT, so I cannot yet say what my most rewarding moment will be; I am sure that has yet to come. However, I can say that the moment that I knew being an ALT was the right choice for me was immediately upon coming to the schools and meeting my fellow teachers and the students. This is my first full-time job in Japan, and while everyone has been incredibly kind to me in my daily life, I did not know what to expect when working with new people in a new city. I knew everyone would be respectful, but I did not know how genuinely excited and welcoming they would all be from day one. On my first day, I knew that this was going to be a job that was right for me. All of my fellow teachers were so warm when talking to me; they were delighted that I spoke any Japanese at all and were incredibly patient with me when I talked with them in either English or Japanese. I knew I would be able to do flashcards and activities well, but I was not sure how much I would be able to help teachers with substantial material. But, on day one, one of my fellow teachers asked me to look over a test she had written for errors. I corrected the small grammatical errors, and I also wrote some notes for the English that did not sound very natural. I did not initially think those notes would be very important, but I wanted to do as much as possible first to see what my teacher expected from me. Going over the test together was the moment that I truly knew this was going to be a good experience. We worked together to explain what the grammatical errors were and how to avoid those, and the teacher was absolutely thrilled that I had notes on how to speak more naturally in the test. We worked together to make the sentences more fluent, but we also worked within what the students had learned from their books. It was a really fun and insightful experience for me, and I knew from that moment on, thanks to the huge smiles from the students and the enthusiasm to learn from everyone, that I was going to have a very rewarding and fun time working here.

3. What’s the main reason you think joining AtoZ was a good choice?

I am thankful to be able to work with AtoZ because everyone is not only kind but also extremely competent in their jobs. Where I come from in America if a company tells you in an interview that “we’re more of a family,” that can actually be a red flag. But, AtoZ did not tell me that they work as a family; they showed me that. Everyone I worked with was sincerely understanding and compassionate, with an earnest desire to help workers and set up the best possible situation for the schools. I was hired and moved to a new city quickly, and AtoZ helped me from start to finish find a temporary apartment to stay in for a month and then helped me find another apartment that I could stay in more permanently, and that allowed me to have my cat with me. The ways that they can help to spread out the initial moving fees was also a life saver as getting a new apartment in Japan can be a cheap cost of living but an initial very high cost. So, AtoZ helping me navigate all this is what allowed me to keep my cat, and for that, I will forever be grateful for their compassion and assistance. At every step I have worked with AtoZ, I have found that level of care and commitment to making my life easier and the schools happy. The instructors that I had in training, I felt, were not only extremely insightful and showed me techniques and teaching philosophy I had never seen before but were also genuinely fun people and people I see as mentors and friends now. There are plenty more examples of why I am happy to work here, but it is sufficient to say that the people at AtoZ truly care about their workers and the schools and are extremely adept at their jobs to make school and daily life manageable.

4.What do you wish you had known or should have done before coming to Japan, and what should you have done to prepare?

I think before coming to Japan, it is important to really internalize that it is a different country with different values and a different language than the one you are likely coming from. I have found Japan to be exceedingly accepting of myself as a foreigner; people are kind and treat me as they would everyone else, but with more leeway if I do not know all the cultural customs or nuances yet. Likewise with speaking Japanese, when I first moved to Japan, I spoke literally no Japanese and could barely even read hiragana or katakana at all, but from the beginning, people have always been willing to meet me where I am and communicate through Google translate if needed. While I have found Japan to be welcoming to people who are very different and who do not speak the language at all, I will say that if you want to see genuine delight in the Japanese people, if you are eager to learn about their culture at all or learn Japanese, they will be so thrilled to teach you and help you. Even though my Japanese is still very poor, I have never once felt insulted by someone’s response to me not phrasing things perfectly. They have always been extremely patient and eager to try to understand what I am saying. Similarly, as an ALT, it is not required that you bow at the right time every time or always know the correct customs, but the more you try, the more you will see that everyone around you is excited to see you get better at fitting in. You should not feel like you need to master Japanese or Japanese customs before you come to Japan, but if you come to Japan with an open mind, eager to learn as you are to teach, you will find people will wholeheartedly return that enthusiasm and help you along the way. After all, daily life is certainly easier if you can communicate with the people around you. Even if you do not need Japanese at school, you might find it helpful at the grocery store.