Many IES instructors often describe their experience of living and working in Japan as the most exciting and formative years of their careers. Living and working in Japan is certainly a very unique experience. Prepare yourself for hectic daily life, but in safe, ultramodern cities that are also very subtly steeped in tradition. Learn to adjust to culture, behavior, and values that will have you questioning your own comprehension of normality and culminate in a much clearer and deeper understanding of your own cultural traditions and way of life. Meet some of the most friendly, polite, and inquisitive people on earth who will provide you with cultural experiences and memories that will last a lifetime. Taste what is often described as the healthiest, most delicious, and best presented cuisine anywhere, often in surroundings that redefine Western ideas of tranquility and beauty. Challenge and reap personal reward from living up to the high expectations of your students towards their ‘sensei’.
Japanese take great pride in their subways and trains. Nearly always new, safe, clean, numerous, and punctual, you will not need a car in major cities. The Bullet Train also provides easy travel between major Japanese cities.
Ramen, sushi, yakitori, tempura, sukiyaki, soba; throughout Japan, there are restaurants serving food that is healthy, delicious, beautifully presented, and at reasonable prices. A huge variety of Western food is also readily available.
Almost everywhere, you can enjoy a good evening’s entertainment (concerts, shows, movies, restaurants etc.) in often traditional settings and in the comforting knowledge of being perfectly safe traveling home.
As well as sightseeing, staying at a Japanese ryokan (hotel) or minshuku (B&B) is an unforgettable experience. Many have onsens (hot spas) that are very relaxing, soothing, and at the same time invigorating.
Japanese are famous for being friendly, openminded, interested in sharing life experiences, and inquisitive about Western ways. Traveling the country with Japanese friends is a memorable experience.
Department stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores provide both Japanese and Western foods at competitive prices. The cost of living in Japan is comparable to other major Western cities.
Japan has numerous festivals throughout the year. The winter ice festival in Sapporo, or cherry blossom viewing in April, or firework displays and rock concerts in August. Japanese festivals are always exciting and fun.
Visiting temples in Kyoto and Nara, or castles in Matsumoto and Himeji, or gardens in Kamakura and Yokohama, the number of unforgettable sightseeing experiences in Japan is astonishing. If you are adventurous, there's also Mount Fuji to climb!
You can easily find Japanese language schools located throughout most major Japanese cities. Many instructors also exchange teaching English with Japanese friends who reciprocate by teaching them Japanese.
If Sumo, flower arrangement, Kabuki, or the tea ceremony is not your style, how about visiting robot shows, the Ninja Village, or watching Japanese manga movies? Clubs for cultural pursuits are numerous and very actively pursued.
Okinawa, Kyushu, Kansai, Kanto, Tohoku, and Hokkaido all have amazing regional differences to experience. Flying to other South East Asian destinations can also be done cheaply and easily from Japan.
IES is located in Shibuya. Shibuya's rejuvenation has recently gained it the nickname 'entertainment city'.
Since its establishment, IES management has always been guided by both Japanese and Western management practices. We strive to provide a supportive workplace that considers the welfare of all our employees in a complex, multicultural environment. We realize that relocating and adjusting to Japan will be challenging. We therefore make every effort to provide comprehensive support to help ease this transition. This support will begin by assisting you with gaining your work visa and coordinating the details for your arrival in Japan. Upon arrival, our Administrative Staff will support you finding suitable accommodation by introducting a reliable real estate agent, getting utilities attached, opening a bank account, registering at the ward office, and the myriad of other challenges that must be faced to ensure a smooth landing and settling in to your new life in Japan. Simultaneously, our teacher trainers will provide you with the knowhow, techniques, and support that will allow you to acquire the skills needed to provide effective and enjoyable lessons to your students.
Acting as your work visa sponsor, we coordinate your application to the Japanese immigration authority. Your country’s Japanese consulate will then stamp your work visa in your passport.
Contract documentation will be sent to you in your home country. It is written in simple, easy to understand English and provides details on your responsibilities, benefits, and associated compensation.
IES will provide a step by step guide that will enable you to make predeparture arrangements to ensure your smooth arrival in Japan. Information in the guide is detailed and practical.
IES will arrange business hotel accommodation for your first few days providing a base from which you can look for housing.
A comprehensive Settling-In Orientation is conducted the day after you arrive. Advice on key aspects of living and working in Japan as well as answers to your questions will be provided.
Our Administrative Coordinator can advise you about finding accommodation. Help will also be given with other moving in challenges.
All IES instructors are enrolled in the Japanese National Health Insurance Plan. This covers 70% of your medical, dental, and medication expenses. Monthly premiums are very reasonable.
During your Settling-In Orientation, advice will be given on how to acquire a cell phone, SIM card purchases, internet connections, WIFI options, and many other technology related matters.
Initial purchase of air tickets is your responsibility. Financial support to help cover airfare expenses is included in your contract fulfilment payment. All major airlines fly into Narita/Haneda Airports.
For all employees, IES company policy is to use only public transportation for work related travel. On a monthly basis, IES will pay your expenses for travelling both to and from teaching assignments.
On successfully completing your annual contract, you will receive a contract fulfillment payment. This payment includes remuneration to help cover airfares and health insurance premiums.
Relocating to any major city requires an initial investment. IES will provide advice on a suitable amount to bring to cover initial expenses until you receive your first pay check.
Helping others to learn is one of the most satisfying activities in which an individual can participate. During your employment with IES, you will have the opportunity to help several hundred Japanese students communicate more effectively in English. They will remember you long after you have taught them. Your teaching experience in Japan with IES will definitely help single you out when applying for positions later in your career. Relatively few Western professionals have lived and worked in Japan for an extended period of time, nor had the opportunity to learn how the Japanese conduct business. IES teaching experience will give your resume added impact, especially in the ever growing number of Japanese subsidiaries overseas. For instructors teaching primarily school classes, your experience in Japan will always be a definite plus when applying for K-12 positions in North America, Europe, or elsewhere in the world.
The needs of Japanese business executives are very diverse. IES therefore uses a ‘customization’ approach for our business classes. School classes are based on the national curriculum.
Your business students could be senior or middle managers, young diplomats, regular employees, or freshmen. You will also teach elementary, junior high, and high school students.
Key characteristics of good teachers in the West are similar traits that are expected and respected in Japan. The Japanese expect their ‘sensei’ to be professional and beyond reproach.
Classes are held at IES offices or in client facilities around Tokyo or Osaka. You will also teach at government agencies and at the subsidiaries of multinational corporations.
ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) assist the Japanese teachers in the classroom during English lessons. You will experience elementary, junior high, and high school classes.
School schedule starts at 8:30 AM and ends at 4:00 PM. Some business classes are held during the day, but most take place in the early evenings, starting from 6:00 PM or 6:30 PM.
You will receive a series of teacher training sessions that focus on the courses that you will teach, TESOL teaching techniques, texts, and IES teaching methodology.
IES firmly believes that our Communicative Approach to language acquisition exactly matches the requirements of Japanese executives facing challenges in global business.
The Coordination Center provides logistical and administrative support to clients, students, and instructors both before and during each training program.
All IES programs have accompanying training plans and learning materials. IES has developed a variety of learning materials that meet the diverse needs of business students.
Before the start of each training program, instructors receive a ‘Pre-Class Briefing’ during which the goals, students, scheduling, learning materials, and training plan are reviewed in detail.
IES also offers communications training courses that are industry specific and customized to meet our clients’ needs. These courses focus on particular areas of specialty or professional expertise.
IES instructors have Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees from accredited universities in English speaking countries. TESOL and CELTA certification while advantageous is not compulsory, with consideration also given to each candidate’s personality, educational background, and demonstrable interest in and exposure to Japanese culture and Japanese citizens. IES deliberately employs individuals from a range of professional fields.
Pharmaceutical professionals with experience in various areas of the pharma/biotech industry needed to teach at and develop materials for leading pharma companies in Japan. Based in Tokyo, teaching is in English to small groups of Japanese pharma executives. Only applicants with pharmaceutically related degrees can be considered.
Engineering professionals with engineering degrees in one of the following areas: chemical & materials, civil, electronics, industrial & manufacturing, mechanical, automotive, needed to teach and develop materials for leading Japanese engineering companies. Based in Tokyo, teaching is in English to small groups of Japanese engineers. Only applicants with engineering-related degrees can be considered.
Computer/IT Services professionals in various areas of the IT services industry needed to teach at and develop materials for leading IT companies in Japan. Based in Tokyo, teaching is in English to small groups of Japanese IT executives. Only applicants with computer/IT related degrees can be considered.
Accepting applications from university graduates to teach at Japanese corporations, government ministries, and public schools in Tokyo and Osaka. Positions starting from March and September. Japanese language skills advantageous, but not mandatory.
You will conduct classes either in IES offices or at client facilities in and around Tokyo and Osaka, teaching several types of English communication programs (depending on your background: management, engineering, pharmaceutical, computer services, healthcare services, bespoke, as well as general business communication skills) to employees selected by our corporate clients in Japanese industry, as well as to officials from national government ministries and agencies. You will also conduct English language lessons as an Assistant Language Teacher for young learners at Japanese public primary and secondary schools.
You will receive extensive teacher training on arrival supplemented with regular feedback and counseling. In your adult classes, you will be trained to use a small group, communicative, English only, coaching based approach. For all classes, detailed training plans and IES learning materials will be provided. Full administrative assistance with class logistics will be provided by our bilingual Japanese course coordinators.
You will be offered an annual, renewable contract which includes work visa sponsorship, paid vacations, subsidized health insurance payments, contract fulfillment payment (to help cover cost of flights, etc.), and travel expenses to/from teaching assignments. Your starting date is negotiable, with the biggest windows of opportunity during the months of March - June and August - October. You will also receive support with your work visa submission, hotel and other arrival arrangements, finding accommodation, and other settling-in challenges.
We are looking for individuals with excellent personable and communicative skills. Minimum immigration requirements to secure the necessary work visa are a BA/BS degree certificate from an accredited university, in an English speaking country and sponsorship by IES (work visa sponsorship is required to work legally in Japan). Teaching qualifications, TESOL/CELTA certification, and one/two years of work experience while advantageous is not compulsory, with equal consideration also given to each candidate’s personality, educational background, and demonstrable interest in and exposure to Japanese culture and Japanese citizens.
Please email your CV as a pdf attachment (CV must include a chronological listing (with dates) of your educational background and work experience) and cover letter outlining your educational background and work experience) to Damian Thomas in Tokyo: jobs@iesnet.co.jp Successful applicants only will be emailed additional information and an IES questionnaire used during your Skype interview.
International Education Services (IES) is a language training consultancy headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. In 2019, IES celebrated 50 years of experience conducting business, engineering, and customized training programs for Japanese corporations and governmental organizations, as well as providing ALTs for Japanese primary and secondary schools. While English predominates, IES also teaches Chinese and numerous other languages to Japanese executives being deployed overseas. IES management consists of Japanese, American, and British nationals, supported by bilingual Japanese employees. Our instructors are primarily from North America, Europe, and Australasia.
Rose Hikawa Building
22-14, Higashi 2-Chome
Shibuya-Ku
Tokyo 150-0011
Tel: 03-3498-7101
Fax: 03-3498-7113
Hasetora Building
6-15, Koraibashi 4-Chome
Chuo-Ku
Osaka 541-0043
Tel: 06-6202-7355
Fax: 06-6202-7356
We are always interested in your comments, suggestions and enquiries, either in Japanese or English, about our training programs and websites. Should you wish to contact us.