Teaching English in Japan – A Glossary of Terms
Are you interested in Teaching English in Japan?
It’s often difficult to know where to start. Even more so when websites and forums are full of industry jargon.
For that reason, I have put together a basic glossary of common terms used in the English teaching industry in Japan.
ALT – Assistant Language Teacher
The term “ALT” covers work in Japanese schools, from elementary school through to high school. In the “ALT” role you work alongside the regular Japanese teacher of the class. Hence the title “Assistant Language Teacher”.
The Jet Programme provides the majority of ALTs to Japanese schools.
Eikaiwa – English Conversation School
Eikaiwa are private schools that teach English conversation. These schools exist because, although English Language Education is a core subject in Japanese schools, the focus is very much on grammar. For this reason, an English conversation school can focus on “conversation”, knowing that their students already have the required grammar.
Below are some of the more well-known conversation schools in Japan so you can check them out yourself.
I worked at Nova for four years. Learn about my experience in my Nova blog post.
HRT – Home Room Teacher
This abbreviation is mostly used by ALTs as they are the ones teaching in elementary schools. The home room teacher is the main teacher for that class. In my experience they usually teach all subjects except science and music.
JET – The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme.
The JET Programme provides most of the ALTs in Japan. The JET Programme’s goals are for its participants “to interact with local communities to promote internationalisation at the local level.”
Here’s a link to their website.
Alternatives to JET
If you’re reading this blog post, it means you’re just starting your journey towards teaching in Japan. At this stage I want you to realise that The JET Programme isn’t the only option for being hired as an ALT in Japan. Other companies that provide ALTs to Japanese schools are Interac, Altia, and Heart.
JTE / JTL – Japanese Teacher of English / Language
The acronyms JTE and JTL are mostly used by ALTs. This is because when you teach in a conversation school you are usually teaching alone. However, I have heard the terms used in conversation schools if a Japanese teacher is assisting or co-teaching a class.
Qualifications to Become an English Language Teacher
TEFL – Teaching English as a Foreign Language
TEFL is a qualification for teaching English in countries where English is not the primary language. So, this is the one you’re looking for if your goal is living and teaching English in Japan.
TESL – Teaching English as a Second Language
TESL refers to teaching in a country where English in a common language but is not the student’s native language. So, if your goal is teaching English in Japan, this qualification isn’t really relevant.
TESOL – Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages
TESOL is an umbrella term which covers both TEFL and TESL qualifications.
CELTA – Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults
CELTA is a TEFL qualification. This qualification is administered by Cambridge English and is affiliated with Cambridge University. As a result it is one of the more trusted providers the qualification.
Note: The above terms are often used interchangeably in Japanese advertising for foreign teachers. So, it’s an important consideration when searching for the best course to take, but it’s less important when actually applying for jobs.
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. I hope the glossary has helped you toward your goal of teaching English in Japan.
If there’s a term that I’ve missed, or if you’d like some more information on anything, please let me know in the comments.
Finally, Click here to go to my blogpost “How to Get a Job Teaching English in Japan”.
