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Question # 4. Can I go to Japan to teach ESL if I am single?

by BBelew57 on April 13th, 2007

Question #4. Can I go if I am single?

Most of the teachers who come to Japan are single. Perhaps 80% of the people we hired were single…Mid 20's; some, however, had just added the 2 to the age blank.

We usually asked for a one year committment before we would jump through all the hoops to get them a working permit. Of the 30 some single people we hired, only two had to be asked to leave and just one that I remember, abandoned their commitment and left early.

20-somethings can be very responsible. They are young, energetic and often full of pee and vinegar. They make the best teachers.

They have interests and are interested and are attractive to the Japanese.

This can be very healthy for a school. The teacher will also gain much from active involvement with the Japanese. EVerybody learns and grows.

However, single people get lonely. The holiday seasons are backwards in Japan. Christmas is party time and New Year's is family time. Single people from the states, at least, want to be with family at Christmas and party on New Year's.

When culture shock comes, and it does come, the single person has no one share war stories with. This can be defeating.

The answer is "yes!" Single people can and should go to Japan to teach English, if they are mature, outgoing and strong enough to handle loneliness and boredom from time to time.

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POSTED IN: ESL