10 Places To Teach English Online To Japanese Students

There are some general requirements that teachers need to comply with for teaching online in Japan:

• Native English speakers from the United States, Canada, UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand are preferred.
• You must have a TEFL certification.
• A TEFL qualification from The TEFL Academy is exactly what you need to teach English online.
• A Bachelor’s degree – it does not have to be in Education, and isn’t always required.
• Teaching experience of some kind is often required.

Besides these basic requirements, teachers wanting to teach English online to Japanese students are expected to have the following:

• 10+ Mbps download and upload speed
• A good-quality headset and microphone
• A decent laptop or desktop and webcam.

If you already have a TEFL certificate we would advise you to look into one of our Top Up Courses -Teaching Young Learners, Teaching Business English and Teaching Online and 1:1. This can drastically improve your chances for getting a job teaching Japanese students online, or increase your hourly rate.

The rates online companies pay teachers to teach English to Japanese students differ based on a teacher’s qualifications, experience, and if the teacher is a native speaker or not. Below we will look at 10 companies that are great to work for if you want to teach English online to Japanese students.

Preply is a platform where you can tutor students online. Tutors specialise in different subjects, including English. With Preply there is no set curriculum or lesson plan. You create your own lessons based on what your students need. The more engaging and fun your profile is, the more likely you are to get students. Popular tutors earn good salaries on Preply.

• Rates: $10 – $45 an hour. Preply takes commission on every class you teach. The more hours you teach, the less commission is charged. 
• Minimum hours: You have to teach a minimum of 8 hours a week
• Teacher requirements: You don’t need a degree or prior teaching experience
• Native English speakers are preferred but not required
• Technical requirements: A laptop or computer with a webcam, a headset with a microphone, and a strong internet connection

How to sign up: Register to become a tutor on Preply’s website. After a review process you’ll receive a notification on the outcome of your application.

One Coin English is an English online teaching company that uses Zoom to teach students. Classes are conversation-based. Teachers are provided with all teaching material and do not have to draw up their own lesson plans.  

• Rates: $8.50 – $11.50 an hour
• Minimum hours: You have to teach a minimum of 15 hours a week
• Teacher requirements: Teachers must be able to work in Japan
• Technical requirements: A laptop or computer with a webcam, a headset with a microphone, and a strong internet connection.

How to sign up: Apply online via their website

Best Teacher is an online teaching company that focuses their teaching mostly on written work. Teachers reply to messages and edit conversations. This company is great for non-native speakers who prefer to work with students’ written work only.

• Rates: $5 – $6 an hour
• Minimum hours: You set your own schedule – there are no minimum hours required to teach on Best Teacher
• Teacher requirements: A TEFL certification of 120 hours
• Technical requirements: A laptop or computer with a webcam, a headset with a microphone, and a strong internet connection

How to sign up: Register on their website. You’ll be asked to do a written and trial test. After that, you’ll have a Skype interview. Once approved you can start teaching.

Cafe Talk is an online platform that allows teachers to teach a large variety of subjects including English. Teachers decide how they want to structure their lesson plans, from the content to the length of the lesson. Classes are mainly taught via Skype.

• Rates: $8 – $25 an hour. Initially commission of 40% will be charged. As you teach more, the commission will drop to 20% of your set rate.
• Minimum hours: You have to teach a minimum of 2 hours a week
• Teacher requirements: A Bachelor’s degree
  • A TEFL certification of 120 hours is recommended, but not required
  • Native English speakers from the United States, Canada, UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand are preferred
• Technical requirements: A laptop or computer with a webcam, a headset with a microphone, and a strong internet connection

How to sign up: Create a free account and profile on their website. If CafeTalk likes your profile or you fit an open position, they’ll ask you for an interview before you can start teaching.

OkPanda provides one-on-one tutoring in Business English to adult Japanese students. OkPanda has its own platform for teaching (similar to Skype and Google hangouts) and classes are taught via video or audio lessons. Lessons are 25 minutes long with a set feedback session at the end of each class. 

• Rates: $5 – $15 an hour
• Minimum hours: You have to teach a minimum of 8 hours a week
• Teacher requirements: You don’t need a degree
  • A TEFL certification of 120 hours is recommended but not required

Technical requirements: A laptop or computer with a webcam, a headset with a microphone, and a strong internet connection.

Everywhere English is one of the most popular online companies to work for when teaching English to Japanese students. Teachers are responsible for preparing their own lessons and classes are taught one-on-one to school-aged children. Teachers use Skype for their lessons.

• Rates: $14 – $16 an hour
• Minimum hours: You have to teach a minimum of 15 hours a week
• Teacher requirements: A Bachelor’s degree
  • A TEFL certification of 120 hours is recommended, but not required
  • 2 years of prior teaching experience is required
• Technical requirements: A laptop or computer with a webcam, a headset with a microphone, and a strong internet connection.

How to sign up: Fill out the application form on their website, then complete an internet connection test, go through an initial interview and do a 30-minute demo lesson.

Eigox is an online teaching company that makes use of three distinct teaching styles in delivering classes to students. Students can choose between conversation-based classes, textbook formal learning or less formal material-based learning. Teachers design their own lessons based on their student’s needs.

• Rates: $3 – $11 an hour
• Minimum hours: You have to teach a minimum of 10 hours a week
• Teacher requirements: A TEFL certification of 120 hours is required.
  • Native English speakers from the United States, Canada, UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand are preferred.
• Technical requirements: A laptop or computer with a webcam, a headset with a microphone, and a strong internet connection.

How to sign up: Complete the application online, send in a video introducing yourself and go through an online interview.

Lyngo is an online teaching company that does not have very strict requirements for teachers. All teachers receive in-depth training. Teachers don’t have to prepare their own lesson plans as Lyngo provides a set curriculum with all teaching materials. Students are aged between 5 and 15 years and all classes are taught one-on-one.

• Rates: $10 – $11 an hour
• Minimum hours: You have to teach a minimum of 6 hours a week
• Teacher requirements: A TEFL certification of 120 hours is recommended, but not required
• Technical requirements: A laptop or computer with a webcam, a headset with a microphone, and a strong internet connection

How to sign up: Fill out the application online and submit your CV.

NativeCamp is one of the biggest online teaching companies in Japan. They have teachers from all over the world who work for them. The company has their own language platform that teachers use to provide students with lessons.

• Rates: $3 – $18 an hour
• Minimum hours: You set your own schedule – there are no minimum hours required to teach on NativeCamp
• Teacher requirements: A TEFL certification of 120 hours is recommended, but not required
• Technical requirements: A laptop or computer with a webcam, a headset with a microphone, and a strong internet connection

How to sign up: Apply via their website

• Pass an English proficiency test
• Pass a system check on your computer (internet speed)
• Teach a 25-minute demo lesson
• Pass a teaching materials quiz 
• Begin teaching!

VIPKid is a very large ESL company in China that provides one-on-one classes to children aged 4 to 12 years old. Teachers are provided with lesson plans and a set curriculum. VIPKid has linked up with several well-known educational companies like National Geographic Learning, SmartStudy and Scholastic to provide their teachers with materials.

• Rates: $14 – $22 an hour
• Minimum hours: You have to teach a minimum of 7.5 hours a week
• Teacher requirements: A Bachelor’s degree is required
  • Two years prior teaching experience
  • Native English speakers from the United States, Canada, UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand are preferred
  • A TEFL certification of 120 hours
• Technical requirements: A laptop or computer with a webcam, a headset with a microphone, and a strong internet connection

How to sign up: Set up an account on their website, answer a few basic questions and then start teaching after receiving feedback.

Magic ears is an online teaching company where teachers teach students either one-on-one or in small groups. At Magic Ears students are children between the ages of 4 and 12. Magic Ears makes use of advanced technology in their classrooms that creates an interactive teaching environment. 

• Rates: Up to $26 an hour
• Minimum hours: You set your own schedule – there are no minimum hours required to teach on Magic Ears
• Teacher requirements: A Bachelor’s degree is required
  • Some prior teaching experience
  • Native English speakers from the United States, Canada, UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand are preferred
• Technical requirements: A laptop or computer with a webcam, a headset with a microphone, and a strong internet connection

How to sign up: Submit an application on their website

• Give a demo class of about 10 minutes
• Take some training, teach a 25-minute class
• Pass a background check
• Start teaching!

Now that you know where to look for an online job teaching Japanese students, the first thing you have to do is make sure you get a TEFL certification. Which is exactly where we come in!

The TEFL Academy offers a number of online TEFL courses. You can do a Level 3 TEFL Diploma or a Level 5 TEFL Diploma with us. If you choose our Level 3 course you will get a 120-hour TEFL certification. This is an online-only course and a great option if you want casual work teaching English, like volunteer teaching, teaching while travelling and some online teaching.

Choosing our Level 5 course will give you a 168-hour TEFL certification. This course is the best option if you are looking for contracted teaching jobs and government teaching programmes.

Once you have completed either the Level 3 or Level 5 course, you can look into one of our Top-Up courses – Teaching Young Learners, Teaching Business English and Teaching Online and 1:1. 

Don’t delay – the TEFL job of your dreams is waiting for you! Chat to us to find out which of our fabulous TEFL courses is best for you.

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