And with that in mind, it seems like an ideal time for me to pass on any useful knowledge or advice that I might have before.

I literally forget it.

But the tips, materials and person examples featured in this video contained what I believe to be the most important useful tips to anyone coming to Japan to teach English.

So the first thing you'll be asked to do when you arrive give yourself introduction class known in Japanese as Jekyll Short play.

It's really important as it's your first chance to make a good impression with 40 students in each class.

That's 40 good impressions to make on your first month alone of teaching in Japan.

You can expect to do this class at least 10 or 15 a 1,000,000 times, and actually, over my three years, the way I dealt with this class changed quite a lot before.

I used to go in with a television, lots of pictures and handouts for a quiz I would do on Dhe.

There was usually a lot of preparation required.

I'd spend maybe the 1st 30 minutes doing a presentation, using the pictures on the television, on talking about myself, my hometown on British culture, fish and chips invulnerable.

Yeah, British culture.

But the overall field, this introduction class was very much like a structured presentation.

It was like a monologue on the focus was on.

Wow, it's a foreign and teaching in your school from a distant land.

Many students have never met for another four.

But because of this style, I felt that when I left the class, I barely built a report with students.

I barely got to know what the class was like.

By the end of my time is a teacher the way I did, this class has completely changed.

I would literally just go in with a few printed pictures, some chalk under smile rather than tell them where I was from.

I would get him to shower out some countries and guess on Guess my age as well, often with depressing results.

38 years old, really, I cut down the opening presentation and got students to think up questions in pairs to ask or to do their own self introductions in English.

And most importantly, because there was less structure, I was able to be less serious and more fun on the way.

I knew that this less structured way of doing a nickel short class was better was that when I returned to the class, I was often welcomed with genuine applause and excitement, and students were actually enthusiastic about English class.

So there are many ways you can tackle the jiggle show quite close, but my advice is focused on building a report.

Don't drone on and on about your family in your hometown.

Let's your hometown has a zoo or a space pool.

Don't be too serious.

Don't take too many materials on try and be really happy smiling for on dhe.

You'll do well.

Remember in the crowd.

You will win your freedom.

Andi, don't don't talk like that.

They'll probably scare the Children.

One of the questions I get asked a lot is digging the Japanese to being English teacher in Japan, and the answer is no.

As I mentioned before, I came to Japan with no knowledge of Japanese in between trying not to fail my degree and working almost full time.

It wasn't possible for me to take classes on.

I didn't have much luck finding a tutor in the run up to coming here.

At this point, many confused people will be asking.

Chicken Japan was out in jeopardy is possible.

The answer is, nearly everyone teaching English in Japan is an A L.

T.

Or assistant language teacher working alongside a native Japanese teacher of English.

They could explain the complex grammar you can immerse the students in May 2.

Speaker image on the set up works quite well.

Probably half for teachers coming to Japan can't speak any Japanese, and some never even bothered to learn when they get here, because it's not a job requirement for me, they're not.

Knowing Japanese at work was a real problem when I first got here.

I work in a school with over 1000 students with one or two exceptions.

No students can really communicate in English that well, particularly as it's not an academic school when here in the countryside, English is often regarded as relevant, which in hindsight is probably while we have local bands with names like brown shit and after months of furious study.

In my first year, I was able to speak and read basic Japanese, and it was then that the job became a lot more rewarding.

First of all, I found, students were a lot more willing to talk to me in English, in and out of the classroom, as it gave them a sense of comfort, knowing we could revert back Japanese better still, I could help students a lot more when it came to translating or correcting their work.

On this transition from knowing nothing to being able to communicate with you, it's really rewarding.

I'm not only helped with my relationships with students, but also with teachers on colleagues as well.

So knowing Japanese have made work parties and social events a lot more fun.

So my advice is, no, you don't need Japanese teaching mission Japan, but it will make your time here more fulfilling.

On it will allow you to build better relationships with Jews and stop and it's like me.

Before I came, you having a nightmare trying to find a Japanese tutor or someone to practice speaking with these days, you could make great Japanese tutors online, I mentioned before I'm a fan of the site.

I talking with many awesome friendly conversation partners on you could talk to.

Naturally, there's no substitute to learning spoken Japanese from a native Japanese speaker by doing it online.

It's far cheaper and more convenient than tracking down a Japanese person who's also an experienced shooter in your neighborhood.

If you are considering it, particularly to view, is living outside your plan.

Thanks.

I took it kindly Donated vouchers to anyone watching this video.

Just visit the link alone.

If you decide to book a class, you'll get your 2nd 1 for free.

It's pretty cool isn't something you can actually use.

And if you did it, it will give you a good chance to practice speaking Japanese before you're here.

Thrown in the deep end.

When you start working to teach, you're probably noticed lots of cultural differences and subtleties that you hadn't known about before that no one's ever told you.

Obviously, everyone knows the major ones like you.

Take off your shoes and west slippers indoors often, but I found I discovered 90% of the cultural differences simply from firsthand observation.

You'll see something unusual and then go off to a bar after work and discuss it with the other, seemingly confused for a slipper on schools in particular could be quite different from the West.

So my advice is to try and be observant old times, as you'll find no, what will explain these differences beforehand?

So here, three examples.

If you're caught napping in most classrooms of the world, the teacher will destroy you.

But in Japan is tolerated to a much greater degree.

If you see a student nappy in class, don't necessarily go over and harass them.

Judas in Japan don't get a great deal of sleepers.

They have lots of homework, club activities, ensures and things to do at home, so bit cautious when waking them up.

You don't know what the situation is more often than not.

When you ask a stupid question, they'll turn to their neighbor to check the answer.

And it could be frustrating when the answer's really easy.

You know, the student knows the answer, but they want to check it first with a neighbour and said the whole class is shut down for 10 or 15 seconds while we wait patiently.

Because Japan is a highly collectivist culture, you'll find teachers actively encouraging in class, so don't fight it.

Go along with it.

It just means you have to be more patient when getting that answer our stupid.

You'll find you'll be complimented quite a lot in school, almost to an absurd degree.

You'll be walking down the corridor on.

Students will say Ka Kui or Hawaii or seek a man.

You're here in the classrooms.

You're here in the corridors.

Just don't let it go to your head.

You're not cool.

Not good looking.

You're just a rare foreigner.

Also, many social gatherings.

You'll find yourself being complimented for two things in particular.

Number one is, well, Chris does Cory Ross.

10 days with those on the second.

My try not to get too frustrated when this still happens.

After two years.

When I came to Japan, one of the things that shocked me the most was how often I saw students to play the game rock, paper, scissors or, as it's known in Japan, Junker.

I estimate every student in Japan probably does junk in about 35 times a day on their genuine cultural reasons for this, namely to avoid confrontation with small, trivial dispute, but also to avoid standing out.

So in team activities in class, students will decide the leader, usually by doing junk in.

Because no one wants to stand out, they'll pass.

The decision over to faith may difference between rock paper scissors on junk in is what you say As you play first, everyone holds out their fists and says So Sure.

Good on, then, just before revealing your hands, say, John Kemp on on on Palm, Show your hand.

If it's a tie, you'll quickly say I called a short and try again and keep continuing until someone wins.

Honestly, master, that you've mastered the art of decision making in Japan.

It's not just used for classroom disputes as well.

It's used for literally everything, so make sure you know it.

And who knows?

Perhaps one day the U.

N will adopt rock paper scissors to solve major geopolitical disputes with potentially devastating consequences.

And finally, don't forget about the bigger picture about life outside of work.

It's likely you'll be placed somewhere fairly rural, where there might not be many foreign people around.

So you probably stand out a fair bit on.

This has some pros and cons, mainly pros in my opinion, the pros and that you'll be given lots of opportunities to engage and get involved with the local community.

In my case, I've taught English classes at the international center.

I've helped run special events on take apart into Japanese speech contests, and some of the most rewarding things I've done whilst in Japan have been outside of work.

By getting involved with the local community, I discovered the trick is to keep saying yes to things, opportunities that come up even if it puts you out of your comfort zone.

Just keep saying yes.

I guess the bad point is that you stand out a bit.

In my case, I'm one of about 10 Western people living in the town of 100,000 people on off those 100,000 people.

I've talked 3000 of the English over the last three years, so I'm always careful that whatever I do outside of work never gets back to school our best.

I've gone to a bar and got into work the next day and some students in the class.

No, I was out drinking because I was served by somebody's mum.

But be aware that your actions and your reputation could travel quickly around town, so stay out of trouble.

So five tips.

I hope at least one of them was useful If you've just started teaching Good luck.

I hope your experience is as amazing as mine has.

Bean, if you are thinking about teaching, definitely do.

It is probably the best job in the world after Fried Chicken Inspector.

And as for May, I've been up all night.

I feel pretty awful.

And now I'm gonna fly to Hiroshima to eat some biscuits.

So should be good.

You have a good day.

See you later.

Oh, and also followed the new abroad in Japan.

Account on Instagram because yes.