Job Discussion Forums

double agent

Hi

can you tell me what is the average age of teachers in japan...

25

30

35

40

21 ?

I really get the impression that Japan is often a first posting for
most teachers.... do they hire 30 year olds...

Celeste · Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 12:11 am Post subject:

Certainly 30 year olds are hired in Japan. (I am somewhere in that age range myself, and my husband who also works here is 10 years older than that.) There is an alarming trend of trying to pay entry level wages for all TEFL positions in Japan right now, however. If you are an experienced EFL teacher, then you will have to search carefully to find the right employer. You may find the best way to do that is to come over to Japan with an entry level position and spend that first year making contacts and searching for proper employment for your second year.

chi-chi- · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 194 Location: In la-la land

Many people will say that Japanese people have biases against hiring older people, but I would say that it is actually more accurate for Taiwan.
In Japan, the average teacher I encountered was in their 40's.
It certainly seems that many of the people posting on here are in that age range, as well.
I have worked in three different countries and IMHO Japan is QUITE isolating for a person in his or her early twenties.
Many say that the median age range in late 20's, but I personally did not find this to be the case.
Taiwan hires early 20's, Korea all over the spectrum regarding age, and Japan, with its aging population, seems to have found some sort of a "comfort zone" regarding older teachers.
So this can be good news or bad depending on what age you are, I guess.
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**Never mess with a Southern Belle**

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Age depends on what TYPE of teaching you are involved with.

Eikaiwas (conversation schools) probably hire people in their late 20s/early 30s more often.

High schools and such hire people in their 30s or slightly older.

Universities have an age limit in most cases of about 35.

Exceptions about, but these are the average ages I have encountered.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan