Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) work in elementary schools, junior high schools and high schools in Japan. The basic idea is that a native speaker (usually of English) supports the Japanese…
Written by Ben Davies
The purpose of this blog is to introduce you to some ideas about teaching English as a foreign language. I lived in Japan and taught English for several years. It was a great experience that I would strongly recommend. Browse through the blog posts and get some tips, or get in touch if you have a specific question or comment.
Want to Blog for jobs.ac.uk?
Are you about to move abroad to TEFL? Or have you been there a while and think you could share your experience and tips with our audience? We would love…
2 Years in TEFL: What I’ve learnt
It feels like only yesterday when I set out from my home in Coventry with a packed lunch and a book entitled ‘How to Teach English‘. My destination was Japan,…
From Kansai to Hokkaido
If you’ve been following My TEFL Journey from the start, you might remember that I moved from Kyoto to the adjacent prefecture, Shiga. Having spent the best part of two…
Moving House in Japan
The process of relocating in Japan is pretty complicated and expensive. Unfortunately, I am in the middle of that process right now. For the benefit of anyone who might be…
Teaching English at Schools in Japan
Schoolchildren in Japan start learning English on a mandatory basis as early as the age of 6. English at school continues until graduation at the age of 18. By far,…
How to Teach One-to-one English Lessons
It goes without saying that one-to-one lessons (or ‘man-to-man’ lessons as they are called in Japan) present a set of challenges that are unique. Whereas group lessons can rely on…
How To Teach Unplugged – The Naked English Teacher
I remember teaching a short course some time ago for advanced English students. The first part of the course was fairly standard – vocabulary building, role-plays, some debates on artificial…
Interview with Hokkaido Insider (Part 2)
Part 1 of the interview with Ken Hartmann of Hokkaido Insider aired some views on history of teaching English in Japan, and the effect of the global financial crisis on…
Teaching in Japan: Interview with Hokkaido Insider (Part 1)
Today, we have a double-header of an interview. Ken Hartmann is the authority on English teaching in Hokkaido – he is the man behind Hokkaido Insider, the leading recruitment guide…