- Japan Tips
How to Learn Japanese while Working in Japan
At Interac, we talk to many applicants every week, hoping to achieve their ambition of teaching English in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT). One thing we can say will 100% help to improve your job search, and your chances of acing your interview, is without a doubt improving your Japanese.
We are not a Japanese school, but we can recommend some tools that we have seen candidates use to help improve their ability, and secure their dream job. Read on to find out how improving your Japanese language skills can open up career opportunities for you, and help you to transition more easily into life in Japan.
Do I need to learn Japanese to teach English in Japan?
No — at Interac, and many other ALT providers in Japan, Japanese language skills are not required to join our teaching programme. To become an ALT with Interac, you only need to:
- be able to speak English to a native-level
- have received an education in English for a minimum of 12 years
- hold a Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in any subject from an accredited university
- be under 60 years of age
While Japanese language skills aren’t required, they may increase your chances of having your application accepted, by helping you to stand out from other candidates. Even basic Japanese, or a candidate who is actively learning the language at beginner’s level, can increase your chances of finding a position through Interac.
Visit our website for a full summary of the qualifications and requirements needed to teach English in Japan with Interac.
What are the benefits of learning Japanese, as an Assistant Language Teacher?
Again, while there is no expectation for ALTs to be experienced speakers of Japanese, even basic Japanese language skills can be helpful in your role, and to help you navigate life in Japan with greater ease. Some key benefits are:
- Broadening your teaching abilities. Although in most English classrooms in Japan, students are encouraged to speak in English only, having the option to make gentle corrections in their native tongue may help some Japanese students in their lessons. While this isn’t essential, with a fully-trained English teacher accompanying you in the classroom, some basic Japanese can help you to relate more closely to your students.
- Relating to other colleagues in your school. While you won’t be required to speak Japanese in the classroom, at other points of your day, such as in the break room or canteen, some basic Japanese can help you to greet, and even converse with your colleagues who may not speak English. They will likely appreciate the effort you are making, and you may even be able to form some casual friendships outside of your classroom.
- Navigating life in Japan, outside of your school. While Japanese may not be required for your role as an ALT, if you’re living in Japan, knowing enough basic Japanese to order food, ask for directions, and greet people will make your everyday life much easier. While cities with a lot of western tourists such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka have Romanised letters on street signs and other public places, this may not be the case in more rural areas. Having a foundation of beginner’s Japanese will make life in Japan much easier to navigate.
How can I find Japanese language learning resources that are geared towards working people?
With so many resources out there for people who want to learn Japanese, it can be difficult to know where to start, and to find the right resources for your individual language learning goals.
For instance, many Japanese courses and books for beginners will be written with tourists in mind, who want to learn enough basic language skills to use for an upcoming vacation to Japan. However, if your goal is to move to Japan to work, the vocabulary and language exercises you will need are likely to be rather different.
We would certainly recommend beginning with the basics of the language, which tend to be the same for just about every learner. However, once you’ve mastered how to greet people with the correct honorifics, order food, and purchase a train ticket, you may be ready for some language which is workplace-specific.
Search for online courses or in-person lessons which specify that they teach “career Japanese” or “business Japanese”, and pay particular attention to any which are designed especially for English teachers. There are many foreign nationals living and working in Japan, so there are a number of resources available to help them learn the Japanese skills that will benefit them at work, and during their leisure time.
Learning Japanese for Work: Our Recommendations
Many of our Assistant Language Teachers express a keen desire to begin learning the language as soon as they arrive in Japan (if they haven’t begun already).
With so many language learners, and those who have successfully mastered Japanese as a second language on our staff, here are some of the best resources we have found to learn Japanese, while living and working in Japan.
Popular Japanese language learning platforms
Japanesepod101.com
Japanesepop101 is probably the best site to get started with, as they have a lot of videos and lessons that can be accessed even as a free user. The various paid plans are a pretty good value for the huge volume of resources.
Wanikani
Wanikani gets high marks for people trying to up their kanji competence. Their program promises to get you to the 2000 kanji level (pretty much the average in common use) in a year, which we think is a great way to up your skill level to help get a great position.
Anki
Anki is a program for PC & web and an app for mobile phones to make flash cards and study with stacks of cards. It’s pretty famous among Japanese language students, and a lot of pre-made stacks for various JLPT levels, etc. already exist, making it easy to get going quickly.
We’ve also compiled a list of the best apps to assist with Japanese language learning, if you prefer to take your studies on the go.
Reading Practice for Hiragana, Katakana & Kanji
Navigating the path to a successful interview can be daunting, especially when it comes to demonstrating your skills in Japanese. Whether you are just beginning to grasp the basics or looking to polish your existing skills, mastering the art of reading hiragana, katakana, and kanji is crucial.
While learning Japanese, it’s important to note that Japanese is made up of three writing systems, or alphabets; hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Don’t worry, it’s not as overwhelming as it sounds! Having an understanding of all three will help you learn the language faster and more accurately.
We compiled a list of recommendations and summaries of some of the best websites around to help you practice reading Hiragana, Katakana & Kanji — whether you’re a complete beginner, or an advanced learner.
Other ways to learn Japanese while working in Japan
These language-learning platforms and apps will provide you the best foundations for your journey to learning Japanese as an additional language. However, there are also a number of great ways to integrate this learning into your everyday life, boost your progress and build confidence in your Japanese speaking skills.
Here are just a few methods that our ALTs and teaching coordinators would recommend, to take your Japanese skills from beginner to pro!
Language exchanges
A language exchange is when two people, each aiming to learn the other person’s language, connect and help one another by conversing in each of their respective languages. As well as being a great way to make friends internationally, language exchanges can give you insights from a native speaker that you may not otherwise get. For instance, advice on region-specific dialects, or the subtle differences between formal and informal speech.
Language exchanges are a fantastic way to practice your spoken Japanese, whilst also giving you the chance to assist somebody else with their English language skills. For ALTs or aspiring language teachers, this can also be helpful as informal teaching experience, too.
Find a learning buddy
If the idea of a language exchange feels a little daunting, you may be able to find another person within your teaching network who is also learning Japanese and is at a similar level to you. Having a learning buddy is a great way to practice speaking in-person, hold one another accountable, and even make friends with other ALTs or English speakers in Japan.
Real-world situations
You may be able to pick up some conversational Japanese at school, or when you’re travelling to and from work. However, one of the best ways to become more proficient in the Japanese language is to get out there and practice in real-world situations.
Begin small, with a solo trip to the konbini, but as you build in confidence, you can begin setting yourself small challenges, such as ordering at the counter at a traditional ramen shop, or even attending a cultural class or event.
If you live in the city, you may find that a lot of native Japanese speakers will reply to you in English, even when you’re speaking Japanese. However, don’t be discouraged — they are typically just trying to be helpful, rather than insinuating that your Japanese is bad! The more opportunities you get to practice your Japanese in real-world situations, the more your confidence and proficiency will grow.
Engage with your students
When you begin your position as an Assistant Language Teacher, you’ll be surprised at how much you learn from your students. Schoolchildren in Japan are famously well-behaved, but like most kids, they love the opportunity to speak to somebody new and to share their interests.
Learning what’s popular with your students, what they like to do, and conversing with them in Japanese (when appropriate) is a great way to cement your new language skills, as well as building a great relationship with your class.
Japanese kids often enjoy hearing about different cultures and their traditions, so sharing how you celebrate certain holidays or festivals in your home country can be a great conversation starter. It may even be a good topic for a special English lesson.
A last word from us
The bottom line is, while we don’t expect our candidates to be fluent, it definitely makes it easier for our recruiters to put you forward for positions when you have some Japanese ability.
For the jobseeker who, right now, has little or no ability, start using these tools to study a little every day. If our recruiter can say that you “are currently studying” Japanese, it’s going to help a little more than if you are not. If you are a year or more away from looking for a new job, start studying now so you’ll have a better chance at a great position when the time comes to make your next move!
If you’re interested in working in Japan, consider applying to be an ALT with us here at Interac. We provide an excellent opportunity to explore Japan, while earning a living enriching the lives of young people through language and education — and we’d love for you to join the community.