Do You Have to Have Diplomas in Order to Teach the Japanese Language?
Unlike teaching in national schools, being a private tutor is much more flexible in terms of obligations. This makes it a great choice for teachers looking for jobs after teaching. The only constraint: you have to be over 14 years old! Theoretically, then, anyone can give Japanese language lessons... Pick up on these tips on finding students for Japanese lessons!
- grammar,
- an unlimited vocabulary of Japanese words,
- parts of Japanese culture
- or even some questions on the history of Japan.
Of course, don't feel like you aren't fit if you don't have all of these Japanese assets. It's not because you have a Master's degree in Biology that you can't become a Japanese tutor! In fact, to be sure to do well with your lessons and please your students, it's necessary to remedy your lack of diplomas with a varied experience. For example, you can boost your skills by following our advice and:
- Working in Japan for a few months/years,
- Living in Japan in a host family,
- Having a Japanese penpal,
- Taking classes at a Japanese school,
- Going on a language immersion trip,
- Learning Japanese online, thanks to MOOC courses for example.
The best way to learn how to speak Japanese well, have a perfect Japanese accent, good pronunciation, and to know how to master Japanese writing (kana, kanji, katakana, hiragana ...), there is nothing like direct contact with Japanese people. This will mean more students will want to learn Japanese with you. Many students will prefer a teacher who has traveled to Japan rather than a teacher who has always stayed in America! The diploma is not compulsory, but it is advisable: it is important that your students know they can expect excellence with your Japanese language level! How good does your Japanese have to be before you can teach the language to others?
What Are the Different Japanese Tutor Profiles?
When you consult the Japanese Superprofs list, you may be surprised by the eclectic profiles! Yes, because private tutors, and especially foreign language private tutors, all have taken different paths to get to where they are! Because the constraints are minimal, tutors can begin from many different points. To teach one-on-one at an intensive pace, you do not necessarily need vocational training: many private tutors go with "on the job" teaching, which is a great way to get tutoring going. Discover more ways to conduct Japanese tutoring sessions! Comprehension, pedagogy, and listening...With these qualities, you will be sure to find students interested in your Japanese language classes! So, what are the differences between Japanese private tutors? Here are the most common profiles:
- The tutor-student: if you are in the middle of your studies (whether you are studying Japanese or not), you can give Japanese lessons to beginners in order to supplement your income and finance your studies.
- The bilingual teacher: often at the end of his or her studies, the bilingual teacher has already made a trip to Japan. Students will learn to speak Japanese thanks to their perfect command of French and Japanese.
- The native teacher: Japanese is the mother tongue of the native teacher. No need to go to Japan, he or she already knows everything about their native culture! Whether it's calligraphy, an irreproachable knowledge of the Japanese dictionary, Japanese cuisine...The skills are many!
- National teacher: This pedagogue has a diploma, and whether he or she is retired or not, he or she is familiar with the one-on-one teaching style and knows how to ensure the progression of a student. This kind of teacher knows how to perfectly organize a Japanese course!
Why Learn Business Japanese?
What could the Japanese language help you with? If you are a student looking to work in the field of international business, then you may consider learning Japanese to up your skills and round off your resume. A Japanese business language course will aim to train you with oral expression, marketing techniques, and the customs of certain civilizations. Here, the goal is not necessarily to teach you the Japanese language used in everyday life: it is especially the commercial vocabulary that will be important! Here are some Japanese classes you can attend with this goal in mind:
- Professional translation,
- Japanese business vocabulary,
- Communication course,
- International affairs,
- Economy,
- Legal units,
- Management of international projects etc.
Thanks to a regular apprenticeship, you will learn all the tricks of the complex world of business! To become a private tutor in Japanese, you may want to expand outside of learning business Japanese. Otherwise, your knowledge of Japanese will be limited to the commercial lexicon. However, this sector is very enriching at the cultural level: if you want to learn the specificities of Japanese culture and society through a qualified trainer, learning Japanese business language can meet your expectations!
A Bachelor's Degree in Japanese for Complete Language Learning
The Bachelor's Degree in Language, Literature, and Foreign Civilization is the most suitable for private language tutors! This program is a very good introduction to the teaching profession, since most BA students then turn to the profession of professor or professor-researcher. With this program, nothing will be left out: the objective of the degree is to perfect yourself in the language of Mishima! Things to expect from the program:
- Historical culture of Japan,
- History of Japanese moral and political ideas,
- Japanese literature,
- Japanese phonetics,
- Japanese grammar,
- Translation etc.
To develop your grammatical knowledge, master a conversation in Japanese, study the parts of a name or to learn how to pronounce the verbs well, you will have many "sensei" at your disposal who can guide you! Private tutors with BA training are highly appreciated by students! Indeed, your language learning will be so sharp that you will be able to answer all the questions of your future students! So turn to this if you are seriously considering a career in education.
A Master in Order to Prepare Oneself to the Language Education Sector
The Master's Degree in education and language is THE compulsory degree if you wish to become a highly qualified Japanese teacher. Often preceded by a BA (for language teachers), the master's degree will allow you to familiarize yourself with teaching and education techniques. Qualified teachers will help you be more pedagogical and detect your student's difficulties. No matter what your favorite subject is (in this case, Japanese), the MA in Japanese will help you prepare your Japanese classes and communicate effectively with your future students. The main objective of the course: get your diploma!