A typical day at work

Marko starts his work at 8:20 a.m to attend a morning meeting, where he will be informed of events of a day.

The number of classes he teaches varies from day to day. It is normally four to five classes per day, with the 1st class starting at 8:50 and the final class ending at 15:40.

Ten to fifteen minutes of a 50-minute class is assigned to him, during which he greets, talks to students, and have them engage in fun activities, like bingo and crossword.

Skills you can develop

Now you must be wondering what skills you can get out of teaching English in Japan. The followings are skills he has greatly enhanced so far.

・Creativity
One of the skills he has developed is creativity. He is required to provide his students with fun activities so as not to lose their interest in the English Language.

・Planning & Management
Classes always start/end at a fixed time, so thorough planning and time management are crucial. He has learned to estimate how long each activity will take. He always has extra activities in store in case students finish early.

・Communication
To better communicate with his students and coworkers, he is constantly improving the way he speaks. This has allowed him to enhance his communication ability immensely.

・Teamwork
Teaching English in Japan as an assistant language teacher, maintaining good relationships with his Japanese teachers is important in facilitating better classes.

Memorable Moments

Every job comes with rewarding feelings and moments, and teaching in Japan can be quite a fulfilling and fun experience. Still not convinced? Marko’s firsthand experience can change your mind!

・Connection
Despite a language barrier, he has been able to connect with his students. His favorite moment of teaching in Japan is when he can get them to understand his words and see them laugh.

・Receiving a love letter
Receiving a love letter from your significant other is very romantic. One of his most memorable moments so far was receiving a note (with big “I love you” on it) from a student.
It was from a male student though..

・Seeing his students enjoy his class
This is every teacher’s dream! Seeing a roomful of teenagers enjoy and laugh has given him great pleasure.
**Bonus tip: This is the first and foremost step to getting love letters from your students.

Life in general

Teaching English in Japan aside, he has explored and experienced Japanese culture.
Here are what you can expect from your adventure in Japan

Biggest achievement: Getting a phone and SIM card.

Culture Shock: People look a little angry. (Don’t worry, Japanese are friendly people!)

The city he lives in: He enjoys the homey and friendly atmosphere of Saitama.

Most memorable moment: Becoming friends with Japanese people.

Food: From a 500 yen Gyudon (beef bowl) lunch course to a high-end sushi course, Japan offers mouth-watering food.

➪ Advice from Marko
“Teaching English in a Japanese public school is a challenging task, and one thing I always keep in my mind is watch and improve the way I speak. Always be simple, clear and to the point. This applies to outside a classroom as well. Try to communicate with coworkers,students, and people in your neighborhood as often as you can!!”

Need more advice? Check out 5 must-knows before you go!

Not sure how to ace a Japanese interview? Learn more on our blog!