How to Teach English Online to Japanese Students

Teaching English online has become more accessible and attractive after the outbreak of the pandemic. There is a number of online English teaching companies looking for ESL tutors. It is a great opportunity for English teachers who are willing to connect with students from all around the world or students from a specific country. Among these countries, Japan has one of the highest demands for online English tutors. If you are interested in teaching English online to Japanese students, continue reading!

Teaching English Online to Japanese Students

While most online English teaching companies are catered to the Chinese market, there are companies that focus on teaching English online to Japanese students. Japan is one of the countries that have a low level of English proficiency. According to the 2020 EF English Proficiency Index, Japan ranked 55th out of 100 countries around the world. This is considered quite low considering how influential Japan is worldwide.

Japanese people often face language barriers when it comes to communicating with foreigners as it is an incredibly popular travel destination. Also, Japanese businesses are globally well-known. Thus, it isn’t surprising to see business people having to deal with international customers and partners. Yet, this can be challenging for many Japanese people. Therefore, there is a great demand for learning English online. No wonder why so many English teachers decide to teach ESL to Japanese students online.

Requirements Needed to Tutor Japanese Online

Following are the common qualifications required to teach English Online to Japanese students.

• Native English speaker
• TEFL certificate
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Prior teaching experience

Keep in mind that not all online English teaching companies for Japanese students will require teachers to meet all four qualifications. However, these are commonly required by online schools. A bachelor’s degree and teaching experience aren’t as important as being a native English speaker and having a TEFL certificate. Although this list is not always required, it is strongly recommended to have a TEFL certificate as it is the best way to prove you are a qualified ESL instructor for Japanese students. A good thing about a TEFL certificate is that you can also obtain it through online courses. It is also very useful if you are planning to teach English abroad.

Time Difference when Teaching English to Japanese Online

Are you aware of the time difference between Japan and where you are located? If you aren’t in South East Asia, this is crucial to keep in mind. The peak online teaching hours for Japanese students are weekday morning and evening and weekend daytime. This is because most Japanese students are willing to take online English classes before fo after school/work.

Find the Best Online English Teaching Companies for Japanese Students

There are so many online English teaching companies out there. However, you want to make sure to find the best one for you. Among the many options, here are a few that you might want to consider.

1. EnglishEverywhere

EnglishEverywhere is considered one of the best online English teaching platforms for tutoring Japanese students. One of the best parts of EnglishEverywehre is that it does not require a teaching degree from instructors. It is great for both teaching business English and casual ESL conversation to Japanese students. It could be a great place to start your remote English teaching career.

• Minimum requirements: TEFL certificate, some prior ESL teaching experience, proficiency in using Skype
• Schedule/Hours: teachers set their own schedule
• Salary: 800 – 900 Japanese Yen per 30-minute class

For the first month, you will get paid ¥800 for a 30-minute class. After the first month, you will get paid ¥900 per 30-minute class.

2. Cena English

Cena English is a good option if you prefer teaching adults over students. Most of the students are working adults wanting to improve their practical business English. As an online English teacher for Cena English, you will deliver classes over Skype. Unlike many online schools, teachers will have to prepare classes on their own. This interactive platform allows students to try a 25-minute trial class and choose the right teacher for them.

• Minimum requirements: native English speaker from the United States, bachelor’s degree, TEFL certificate
• Technical requirements: the Internet speed of at least 1.5 Mbps
• Salary: 800 – 900 Japanese 11 USD per 25-minute trial lesson / 22 USD per 50-minute class

A unique fact about Cena English is that students directly pay their teachers through PayPal. This is good for the teachers as they can get the payment quickly instead of having to wait for the company’s pay cycle.

3. CafeTalk

CafeTalk is a great online English teaching platform for Japanese university students. Once students have their preferred sessions through CafeTalk’s online messaging system, ESL instructors and students will get a chance to have a conversation before the actual lesson. English teachers for CafeTalk have to reflect on the student’s learning after each class. For example, you will have to highlight areas for improvement or briefly note the student’s progress.

• Preferred qualification: applicants who are fluent in Japanese, Korean, or Chinese will be given priority (not required)
• Technical requirements: proficiency in using Skype, stable Internet connection
• Salary: 500 – 2000 Japanese Yen per 25-minute lesson

There isn’t a specific subject, or curriculum teachers must follow. Therefore, teachers can choose to any topic they are passionate about, such as hobbies, I.T., or specific areas in ESL education.

4. S-Lessons

If you like teaching English to kids, S-Lessons might be a good fit. If you teach English online to Japanese children with S-Lessons, you will have two options for delivering your lessons. First, you have the option to follow the pre-made lesson plans. Second, you can choose to prepare your own class with your choice of ESL lesson plans, materials, and activities.

• Minimum requirements: 1+ year of teaching experience
• Technical requirements: stable Internet connection, proficiency in using Skype
• Salary: teachers set their own price

S-Lessons give teachers the flexibility when it comes to choosing class times and salaries. The class runs for 22 minutes. At the end of each class, teachers will have to spend 3 minutes completing the evaluation sheet. So, in total, each class will take 25 minutes.

5. Best Teacher

Best Teacher is a great platform to teach a well-rounded lesson of a mixture of all speaking, listening, and writing English. As every student has different goals, levels, and interests, Best Teacher encourages instructors to prepare their own classes. After all, teachers know their students the most.

• Minimum requirements: proven English fluency
• Technical requirements: strong Internet connection, proficiency in using Skype
• Salary: 5 – 6 USD per hour

The salary isn’t very competitive. However, Best Teacher is one of the few companies that will hire non-native English speakers. If you are a non-native English speaker who is capable of teaching English to Japanese students, Best Teacher can be a good option for you.

FAQs About Teaching English to Japanese Students Online

Here is a quick guide to some commonly asked questions on how to teach English online to Japanese students.

Can I teach English to Japanese online?

Yes, you can teach English to Japanese online for most of the online English teaching companies if you are a native English speaker. Having a university degree, teaching experience, and a TEFL certificate might boost your chances of getting hired by an online English teaching company for Japanese students, but they are not always required.

How much do online English teachers make in Japan?

The hourly salary for each online English teaching company varies a lot. However, as an ESL teacher in Japan, you can expect to make about 1,700 USD or more. Teaching online can be less than this, depending on which online school you decide to work for.

Can I teach English online without a TEFL certificate?

Yes, you can teach English online without a TEFL certificate. If you are willing to teach English online to Japanese students, you will be able to find many online ESL companies that do not require teachers a TEFL certificate. However, obtaining a TEFL certificate is a good idea if you are planning to continue teaching ESL in the future, as it is very helpful when finding a teaching abroad job.

What is the best online ESL company to work for?

The best online ESL companies for teaching English to Japanese students are EnglishEverywhere, Cena English, CafeTalk, S-Lessons, and Best Teacher.

Teaching English Online to Japanese: Join the Conversation

What are your thoughts on teaching English online to Japanese students? Did you find an online teaching company that you like, or do you prefer teaching abroad in Japan? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We would love to hear from you.