f you intend on relocating to Japan as a qualified teacher there are many facets of this beautiful country for you to enjoy.

Even though there is much to look forward to the difference in culture is something you need to prepare for. More specifically the difference in the culture of education is something that may shock your system.

We thought you might find it useful if we introduced you to some of these differences.

Travelling with your students

Where you might be accustomed to many of your students being dropped off at school by their parents, Japanese society instills a sense of autonomy in its people.

99% of the students at the schools you will teach at live very close to the schools they attend, thus majority will commute to school via foot or bicycle. High school students will most likely commute via train or bus as a large majority may not live as close to the high schools as those in the lower grades.

As an expat teacher making use of public transport is your cheapest option. You must get use to commuting alongside your students to the school you teach at.

Whether its walking, biking, on a train or on a bus, the likelihood of travelling with your students is high.

A culture based on testing

Future occupational success in Japan is highly dependent on educational success for students at school and university.

The Japanese education system places more emphasis on achieving high in mandatory entrance exams than achieving high from grade to grade. Making it into a good university means achieving well in high school. To get into a good high school students need to achieve high on their entrance exam.

This will affect what you teach and how you teach. Compared to commonwealth countries you will need to become accustomed to this form of test-centric mindset throughout your educational experience.

Whether you’re teaching at a primary or secondary level you should adjust your style of teaching to accommodate this culture.

Successful adjustment can be achieved by investigating the style and content taught at ‘cram’ schools. ‘Cram schools are available for Japanese kids to receive help particular subjects they may need help with or passing important exams such as entrance exams at various levels.

Dealing with naughty kids

You might expect the Japanese students to be quiet, studious and extremely respectful of authority. The truth is that you will find nothing different from the schools you come from – you will have a mix of obedient and disobedient students. Like any classroom you will experience diversity in personality.

The difference lies in the Japanese constitution ‘Article 26’ “no child shall be denied an education”. You’re basically not allowed to send children out of the classroom. The most that you can expect from poorly disciplined children is that they may leave the class room eventually for a smoke.

There is also a difference in what is considered bad behaviour. Where you might find sleeping in class a form of bad behaviour your Japanese (JTE) counterpart wont.

This is guaranteed to frustrate you especially when the bad behaviour is directed at you. We recommend talking to your JTE or supervisors and expressing your feelings towards the situation.

Talking to your JTE will help you to understand the Japanese culture towards discipline.

You can expect huge cultural disparities in discipline and it will take some getting used to.

Students can’t fail

At all levels in commonwealth schools’ students will only move onto the next grade when they have achieved the required pass mark.

However, you might be shocked to learn that students at elementary and junior high school levels in Japan can’t fail a grade. Regardless of their marks or attendance these students will automatically advance to the next grade.

The worst part about this is that students who behave poorly will most likely be the ones who enjoy this automatic pass.

This makes sense when you consider how difficult it is to get into a good high school which requires excellent scores on the entrance exam as well as hard work at cram schools.

There is little to nothing you can do about this as it won’t change. Just another adjustment you’ll have to make by biting the bullet.

Classrooms

Where you might be used to the classroom being your space as a teacher to thrive and focus on your style of teaching, in Japan it is completely different.

In Japan, the classroom belongs to the students. In many commonwealth schools’, students will move from class to class depending on what subject they are being taught. In Japan, students will stay in their homeroom and the teacher moves around between subjects.

Students will spend their entire schooling experience with the same classmates which comes with it a rather refreshing family element.

As a homeroom teacher, you will be expected to be involved in these students lives as if you’re a surrogate parent. At times, you will be required to do home visits to meet the parents.

This family element is likened to a real family which can either be functional and empowering or dysfunctional and detrimental.

The outcome of your teaching experience depends on which family you enter. You will need to take time to understand this family framework and engage accordingly.

Now that you have an idea of a few of the major differences you can expect we’re certain you will be able to adjust comfortably much quicker than if you were just thrown in the deep end.

If you are interested in teaching in Japan or other Asian countries there are many opportunities for you to explore on our site: www.Internationalschooljobs.com