I’m not sure if this is true of all four eikaiwa (feel free to comment and tell me otherwise), but the one I’ll be working for has offered a chance to practice conversation classes here in Australia before I leave. My students will be Japanese exchange students here for a two-week homestay and I’m very, very nervous.

The eikaiwa classes are conducted in much the same way as they would be in Japan. It’s not compulsory but I think it’s a great way to prepare yourself, and to get an idea of what will happen before it happens.

A nice bonus is that they pay a small amount of cash per session to cover travelling expenses to the practice classes.

If the company you’ll be working for offers such practice classes, take up the offer. If not, ask them why they don’t, hehe. Another option is to talk to your local university or college - see if they have any Japanese exchange students and volunteer to do some practice eikaiwa classes with them. They might return the favour and offer practice Japanese classes.

Will post on how my practice classes went after they happen.

Tutoring students privately is yet another option for people wanting to teach English in Japan. In fact, many people who already work for the large eikaiwa corporations supplement their incomes with tutoring.

There are a few companies that organise teacher-student match-ups. They will charge a commission, or a percentage fee (although there are a few web-based ones that are free). Be warned though, there aren’t many Japanese students that will be brave enough to contact a potential tutor just because they picked up a phone number on a web site.

Another option is to post classified ads both in local papers like Metropolis or online at sites like Gaijin Pot. Some of the ads there are quite interesting. I quite like the one where she offers to teach you for free between 12 and 1pm so long as the student pays for lunch! Again, though, students may feel uncomfortable about responding to a classified ad.

It seems the best way to get tutoring students is by word of mouth and introductions. A room mate that’s heading back home, for example, could recommend their students to you. Or similarly, a collegue at work might help you out. It can’t hurt to try classified ads though.

Don’t forget, like I mentioned in this post, getting a TEFL/TESOL qualification can also land you tutoring jobs, if the agency that provides you with the qualification also provides a job search service.

Tutoring is a nice way to make some extra pocket money, and generally tax-free!