teaching English
Because the Japanese school system isn’t going to teach them how to say “The set list is lit!”
Fantasy tale provides best of both worlds with a story that students both can and will want to read.
Reports say the Canadian teacher regularly spanked children and shoved books into their mouths.
Like so many foreigners living in Japan, I first entered the country as an eigo shidou joshu, more commonly known as an Assistant Language Teacher, or ALT for short. Although terms like “grass-roots internationalisation” and “globalisation” are uttered during ALT training seminars and by boards of education across the country with such frequency that you’d swear they’re being sponsored to use them, in reality an ALT’s role at a Japanese junior high school (where the majority in Japan are employed) is to go along to class with a non-native Japanese teacher of English (or JTE) and, as their job title implies, assist in teaching. The idea is that students, particularly those from rural areas, will benefit from the presence of and instruction from a native English speaker.
But are native speakers entirely vital to English language education in Japan? And should native English speakers, rather than Japanese teachers of English, be the ones taking the lead role in the classroom?
MOST POPULAR
Now
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
What’s up with the “mosquito buzz” noise at Shibuya Station?
Hello Kitty is now a transforming truck robot[Photos]
New Travelling Bento pouches turn your luggage into a Japanese lunch box
What’s the best way to spend 1,000 yen at Daiso Japan?
How to do an overnight bus trip to Hirosaki from Tokyo – Part 2【Photos】
Downtown Tokyo’s meaty monster Kaibutsu ramen will challenge your stomach, thrill your taste buds
McDonald’s and Gundam team up for customized anime mecha and fried chicken sandwiches[Video]
7-Eleven Japan releases Uji matcha smoothies… but only at select locations
What are the worst things about living in the Japanese countryside?[Survey]
Weekly
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo- Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
Japanese convenience store gives away free ice cream with creative ad at Shinjuku Station
Japan is so hungry for workers it used up its five-year visa quota in record time
Tsujihan sushi bowl restaurant goes viral with foreign tourists, but is it worth the hype?- 7-Eleven Japan releases Uji matcha smoothies… but only at select locations
7-Eleven Japan’s cooked-in-store takoyaki is here! How does it fare against the street food king?
Monthly
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events- Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan- New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Yearly
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
RECOMMENDED STORIES
How to do an overnight bus trip to Hirosaki from Tokyo – Part 2【Photos】
Downtown Tokyo’s meaty monster Kaibutsu ramen will challenge your stomach, thrill your taste buds
McDonald’s and Gundam team up for customized anime mecha and fried chicken sandwiches[Video]
7-Eleven Japan releases Uji matcha smoothies… but only at select locations
What are the worst things about living in the Japanese countryside?[Survey]
Turns out you can draw all four original starter Pokémon with just three colored pencils【Video】
We visit the oldest remaining Komeda Coffee cafe in Japan for a retro blast from the past
Visiting Tokyo’s newest unmanned Self Cafe in Shibuya
Adorable Totoro lamp is here to make us ooh, aah, and learn what honnori means【Photos】
Japan’s popular bead bonsai kit is as beautiful as it is gruelling to make
Second-generation sumo burger coming to Burger King Japan with return of Baby Body Burger
Japanese sweets souvenirs don’t get more beautiful than this
-
