Teaching Japanese in Japan?

addictedKool · (#1 (**permalink**))

I'm currently pursuing the premed track in a U.S. college but I'm thinking of a plan B, just in case the journey to medicine doesn't work for me. Since I am minoring in Japanese, I am thinking about becoming a professor (for either Japanese or NBB) and I was wondering if it is possible for me to teach Japanese to foreigners in Japan at a university? Would I get paid just like a professor in any other subject? Heck, are professors paid well over there? Would teaching Japanese be as competitive as teaching English?

Is there a program I can apply for, similar to JET?

MMM · (#2 (**permalink**))

There is nothing like JET for teaching foreigners in Japan. A professor is paid well, and teaching in a university would be the biggest payday. There are also teaching gigs at community centers I have seen, but the pay isn't nearly as nice.

The problem is if you are minoring in Japanese now, your competition is 1) Japanese natives who are fluent in English teaching Japanese and 2) English natives who are fluent in Japanese (have lived in Japan a long time).

addictedKool · (#3 (**permalink**))

Thank you for the reply, MMM!

I want to be realistic and have a back-up plan just in case I do not get into a medical school and realize medicine isn't really for me. For the past couple of days I have been toying with the idea of becoming a professor and the only two subjects that I can passionately teach is either NBB or Japanese.

If I choose to teach Japanese, either in the States or in Japan, would it seem... normal and not awkward for an African-American female to teach the course? All of the Japanese professors (with the exception of one Caucasian woman) that teach the language at the university I attend are well, Japanese.

Because Japanese is the official language for a single country, would there still be a demand to hire a non-Japanese professor willing to teach the language either in the U.S. or in Japan?

ozkai · (#4 (**permalink**))

I agree with MMM as they had the JET programme when I was in Japan five years ago.

It paid a healthy wicket and didn't seem to bad for many with no experience.

Going on what he said, sounds like the competition may now be a little more demanding.

addictedKool · (#5 (**permalink**))

Wait... I thought JET was only for English teachers teaching in Japan.

addictedKool · (#6 (**permalink**))

Can someone please answer my question(s)?

MMM · (#7 (**permalink**))

One of the best Japanese teachers I had was an American guy, because he understood the difficulties of learning Japanese in a foreign language.

I don't think it matters if you are black as opposed to white if you are teach (I assume) Japanese to non-Japanese speakers. However, just as some Japanese prefer to learn Japanese from native speakers, the same is true of some foreigners learning Japanese.

I applied to one school in the US as a Japanese teacher, and was told flat out they wouldn't hire a non-native speaker to teach. I then questioned the legality of that stance, and was then told to send my resume. You don't need to ask if I got the job...I could imagine you might get that reaction from some schools in Japan, where the legalities of hiring practices are different than the US.