FAQ [東京・市ヶ谷バークレーハウス語学センター]

FAQ

How do I apply for a position?: The best way to apply for a position at Berkeley House is to check out our Open Positions page. We are always hiring qualified foreign language teachers. Make sure to read the ‘How to Apply’ section found at the bottom of each position description on our Open Positions page as the application can differ depending on the type of position.

What kind of teachers are you looking for?: We hire the following teachers throughout the year:
1. Full Time Tokyo Rotating Schedule Teachers (English)
2. Full Time Satellite Teachers: Business positions and ALT positions (English). For Business positions, you may be placed in Tokyo or neighboring prefectures such as Ibaraki or Fukushima.
3. Part Time English Teachers (Tokyo, Osaka, Ibaraki and other locations)
4. Part and Full Time Foreign Language Teachers (English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Nepalese…we have students who are teaching over 40 different languages!)
5. Native Japanese speaking TOEIC, IELTS, and TOEFL teachers
6. Translators and Interpreters

What does the application process involve?: 1. Application Submission
2. Initial Interview
3. Demonstration Lesson and Follow-Up Interview
4. Possible Final Interview with senior staff or specific client
5. Offer Letter
The application process usually takes 10-14 business days depending on the type of position.

Does Berkeley House sponsor visas?: Yes, we are able to sponsor a working visa for eligible applicants.

How do I know if I am eligible to be sponsored by Berkeley House for a work visa in Japan?: Please indicate that you will need a visa in your cover letter and a member of our HR staff will contact you if you pass the screening process.

Do I need to speak, read or be able to write Japanese to fill out the visa application documents?: No. The documents will be in English and Berkeley House will assist you with the process.

How long does the visa application process take from application to receipt?: The process varies by application. After receiving your Offer Letter, we will ask you to complete a Certificate of Eligibility application and submit verified copies of your diplomas and passport. Berkeley House will send this information to the Office of Immigration and if you are eligible, you will receive your Certificate of Eligibility. Along with country specific visa documents (please refer to the Japanese Consulate website for your home country), you will take your Certificate of Eligibility to your consulate and apply for your visa. For most overseas applicants, this process takes around 4 weeks.

I don’t speak Japanese; can I still live and work in Japan?: Tokyo is an international city with many foreigners living and working here. Although certain aspects of life are more difficult without the Japanese language, our teachers are able to live and function without advanced language skills. Berkeley House will try and assist teachers as much as possible, but most teachers who work with us have lived and worked abroad extensively and are used to adjusting to life in a foreign country somewhat independently.

Does Berkeley House provide housing?: No. We do not require or provide specific housing for our employees. We can suggest housing providers and help find accommodation which does not require initial fees, but teachers pay for their own housing a utilities.

We usually work with the housing agent Leo Palace for teachers who need our assistance.

Will I receive health insurance?: All people living in Japan are required to register for National Health Insurance. This fee will automatically come out of your paycheck and is around 5% of your salary from the previous year.

Do you have a dress code?: Yes, we do. This is because many of our clients are not only students but are also often business people and those who work for governmental agencies. We would like to show our respect for all of our students by dressing professionally. Well at our office, in our classroom Tanaka building, or onsite with a client, we ask that our teachers be dressed in standard Japanese business attire.

Who will I be teaching?: This depends on the position, but most of the teachers we hire will end up teaching a variety of students from young language learners (junior high and high school students) to university students to adult language learners. If you apply for a Full Time Rotating English teaching position, you must be willing to teach any of the previously listed language learners.

Is it possible to only teach one type of learner?: If you apply for a Full Time Satellite position (business or ALT), you will teach one type of learner. Rotating Tokyo teachers must be willing to teach a variety of students.

How and when do I get paid?: Teachers are paid monthly by direct deposit. Transportation expenses to/from work locations are reimbursed after being calculated.

How long is the contract/commitment?: Standard full-time / satellite position employment contracts are for one year with the option to renew based on mutual agreement. We do at times offer 6 month contracts.

What does a typical schedule look like?: For Full Time Rotating Tokyo teachers, you will receive your schedule the Friday before your work week. Lessons can be scheduled anytime between 9:00-21:00, although sometimes we have early lessons for special students. You must be willing to work on a rotating schedule, but contact hours are limited (typically 25 hours per week) to make up for this.

Business Satellite Teachers and ALTs tend to have more fixed schedules set at the beginning of the semester.

I’m an experienced English instructor, can I negotiate to get higher starting salary?: All instructors start at the same salary, regardless of background or experience. We do have a promotion and raise system in place so those who stay with us long-term have a way to work up in the company. Please contact us for more information.

How many vacation or sick days will I receive?: Full time teachers are eligible for 10 vacation days which they can start using after 6 months of employment. We ask that teachers request holidays that work around their regular lesson schedules as missing work happens less often in Japanese work culture and our clients expect our teachers to respect this tradition.

For teachers who are renewing their contract, they are eligible for an additional vacation day yearly, with a cap of 20 vacation days.

Do I have to work on Japanese National Holidays?: Our instructors are eligible for National Holidays, although they do not always fall on the exact date as our clients tend to have their own holiday schedules. We do have a system of ‘reimbursing’ holidays for teachers who have a student who needs a class on a National Holiday.

Do I have to work on Christmas?: As Christmas is not a National Holiday in Japan, classes may take place. New Years is a holiday, though, so the office is closed during this time.