There are many different types of teaching positions in Japan. There are jobs at public schools, private schools, language schools, and businesses. There are generally two types of teachers--those on structured programs (such as the JET program), and
freelance teachers. What I will be primarily addressing here is freelance teaching (since the structured programs take care of everything for you).
Generally a teacher will teach 20-25 classes per week, and the classes may be anywhere from 50 minutes to 2 hours. Most of the freelance positions are at private language schools, and the teaching hours are usually in the afternoons and evenings. Mos
t of the afternoon classes are typically children that come after their regular school day, and most of the later evening classes are teens or adults. Class sizes vary from school to school, but are usually pretty small. When a class gets as small as on
e or two students it is considered a private lesson. There can also be some traveling involved since many schools have branches in surrounding towns.
The average salary is about 250,000 yen per month ($2403.00 as of today's exchange rate 104 Yen to the dollar) although the regional location and type of school or company can drastically effect t
his. There are some other benefits that may balance the salary. Some schools will provide an apartment, or at least will have already paid the deposits. Some schools will sponsor the teacher for a work visa, and pay all the necessary costs. Some will sp
onsor, but not pay the costs, and some won't sponsor at all. Some schools will pay for the train costs depending on where the teacher is living, or provide a daily meal. Some even pay for the transportation costs within Japan to get to the interview. S
o the prospective teacher must balance all these things in relation to the salary.
