99.9999% of my teaching experience was in Japan. So, I thought it was time to write a post on learning (and teaching) English in Japan.
We'll look at the options available and the good/bad points of each of them.
English Conversation Schools
(英会話)
Good
A lot of English conversation schools (ECS) are near train stations in large cities, so they're conveniently and easy to find. Most operate from about 9am to 9pm (or later). There are many different payment plans.
The teachers come from all over the English speaking world, so you can get exposure to British, Canadian, Australian, and American English. A few schools even have fluent, non-native English speakers. There's the opportunity to learn the English language and the culture of different, English-speaking countries.
ECS hire both experienced ESL instructors and people with experience in other fields. Nearly all have some kind of training programme for new, inexperienced teachers, and often get help from their trained and/or certified co-workers.
Teachers at these schools are usually very friendly, keen teachers, and international travellers. Many have worked in different industries and can offer training in other skills along with English communication.
This brings us to the...
Bad
The training at some ECS isn't very good, and is often short or rushed. New teachers have to rely on experienced peers to fill the gaps in training. The quality of lessons is often inconsistent. You can have a well-structured, practical lesson one day, then get a terrible, useless lesson the next.
ECS don't always have good human resources practices (long hours, limited time to prepare, bad managers, etc). The salaries for ESL teachers can be very low. Look at the chart from a very famous, and profitable ECS (which won't be named here).
The result is often many good teachers joining an ECS then leaving for better job (or returning to their home countries), usually within 6 months or a year. A lot of ESL learners like to have one teacher for a least a year or more.
English conversation schools often don't allow students to choose their own textbooks or materials for their ESL studies. Teachers often aren't not allowed to use extra materials or plan customized lessons for individual students or groups.
If you have special needs as an ESL student, an eikaiwa may not be the best place for you.
Then, there's the cost. An ESL student could easily pay at least 500 000yen a year on fees and textbooks. Be careful: some eikaiwas over-charge students for textbooks (when many actually get a very good discount).
Click here to read the story of Trevor Harmon who worked for a large English conversation school. It's dated (from 2002) but still a good example of common teaching experiences.
Here's episode 6 of "English Teachers" where they present a very common image of big, English conversation schools.
Advice
Do research on the English language schools available to you. A good resource in English is GaijinPot which has blogs and articles written by people who work (or have worked) in the ESL industry. You can get an "insider view" of working conditions in many English conversation schools.
Certainly, you can talk to friends, co-workers, and other former English conversation school students that you may know. Searching online is also helpful. Mixi (Japan's version of Facebook and Twitter) and has a lot of feeds on ESL (here) in English and Japanese.
All ECS offer demo lessons (usually 20 minutes or a full hour). The company usually gets their best teachers to do these lessons, so you can get an idea of how good the service is, and if it's the right "fit" for you.
If possible, try to discretely watch a regular lesson. Are the teachers friendly and patient? Do the students look interested in the lesson?
Customer service is important. Does the school allow students to choose their textbooks (for private lessons)? What kind of payment plans are available? Is there a time limit on when you can cancel a contract?
Also, talk to the schools active students before or after the demo lesson. Are they happy with the service? Do they plan to renew their contracts with the school? Why? Why not?
English conversation school students are your best source of information.
From my experience: there were difficult situations in my time with English conversation schools. Overall, I'd say the experience was positive. My co-workers and I would work hard to ensure a student was well served and had fun, practical lesson.
The other option for ESL students is:
Private Teachers
In Japan, many ESL learners choose a private English teacher, often jokingly called "Starbucks English": go to any Starbucks in Tokyo or Yokohama, and you'll see at least one teacher with her/his student.
Good
If you have very specific needs or goals for your ESL studies, then a private instructor is the best option for you. The teacher has freedom to adapt lessons to suit you or your group. You can choose whatever textbook you want or choose not to have a textbook at all (as one of my students did).
There are many companies that can help you find a private ESL instructor. I can personally recommend two:
7 Act
Teacher-Student.com
Both companies help people find a teacher for you. A sales person will actually go with you to observe the demo lesson. Plus, before a teacher is signed, she/he has to do a "sample" lesson and interview.
If your teacher can no longer provide lessons, both companies will work hard to get another one to you ASAP. There are membership fees, but, it's a good value: you have complete control over the lessons and teachers you want.
7 Act asks teachers to charge 3000yen/hour.
Teacher-Student.com allows instructors to set their own rate. Most students prefer to pay 3000yen to 3500yen per hour.
This is much more affordable than an English conversation school which can charge between 9000yen and 12000yen for a private lesson. Plus, many teachers will happily make photocopies of textbooks and material (often) free of charge to use in your lessons.
Bad
Coffee shops aren't always the best place to have lessons. They're crowded in the evenings, and can be very expensive, especially Starbucks Japan. Some teachers leave Japan after a year or two.
Advice
However,
If you don't want to use a coffee shop, there are community centres that have space for private lessons (though you should pay your teacher outside). A lot of companies will allow their employees to use their offices or meeting rooms for private lessons.
The majority of teachers who provide private lessons have been in Japan for at least two years, and some times more.
Outsourcing companies like 7 Act and Teacher-Student.com have teacher profiles available online with their rates, lesson style, and availability.
Don't be shy about asking the teacher questions during demo lessons, or letting them know if you're unhappy with their service. Remember, you're the student, but, you're also "the boss".
From my experience: private lessons are very rewarding. There's a closer relationship between teachers and students, which often lead to friendships at the end.
If you're an ESL student in Japan, please feel free to share your experiences and thoughts in the comments section. Certainly, if you have any questions, you can also write them down, or e-mail me.
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