Hello! My name is Kate, I’m 24, and I’m from Ireland. I moved to Japan six months ago to teach English for a year. I graduated last year with a degree in philosophy, politics, economics and sociology from Trinity College Dublin… While I thoroughly enjoyed my studies, and hope to pursue a related career in the future, I did not feel quite ready to enter the so-called “real” adult world of climbing career ladders just yet. Teaching English abroad appealed to me because it’s a way of truly experiencing another country by immersing oneself in the society. I also believe my personality meant I would adapt well as a first-time teacher: I am a social person and take great joy in meeting new people and learning about diverse cultures. I am delighted that I made this decision and have never regretted it for a moment.
I would be lying if I said the preparation for moving across the world to a country I had never been to wasn’t at times daunting. However, the process through which I did this was hugely helped by Xplore Asia and their partner company whom I did my TEFL qualification with. The TEFL qualification was really accessible and interesting. It was a 120-hour online course which I was able to complete at my own pace. When I finished the qualification, Xplore Asia stepped in and guided me the rest of the way. From conducting my interview in an approachable way to helping me negotiate sending my degree certificate to Japan, they were always there to answer my (many) emails and questions really quickly and thoroughly. Each future teacher is assigned a particular mentor who liaises with you for the duration of the process, which eliminates the need to constantly update several different people. I’m so grateful to have had the expertise of Xplore Asia guide me through this process – it made everything so much less overwhelming.
Before I moved to Japan, I bought a copy of Lonely Planet’s guidebook. This has been really useful, both in my preparations before I came and also to learn more about different regions and get recommendations for places I want to visit while I’m here. I also used websites such as Tofugo and Japanese Pod 101 to learn some Japanese. Xplore Asia also signed us up to an online cultural and language course which I really enjoyed. Japanese culture and history is very unique and I’m glad I was able to garner some perspective before I moved. Also included in the Xplore Asia package is a cultural weekend trip. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the session earlier this year as my sister was visiting, but I heard the trip to Osaka was a success. I’m looking forward to attending the next round of culture weekends!
Even when Xplore Asia had helped me complete all of my necessary documentation and had secured me a job, they continue to check in frequently and have set up a Facebook page to check the locations of other English teachers around Japan. The company with whom I’m contracted now have also been very helpful, and do the majority of the work for you before you even arrive in Japan! They assigned me to my school, found me an apartment, signed me up to various utilities companies, and sponsored my residence card – all things I would really struggle with as my Japanese is elementary (at best). I was initially concerned as I don’t have a driver’s licence, and this is one of the stated requirements by the company.
However, if you are placed in an urban area, there is no requirement to drive; it is just for teachers who get allocated to rural areas in Japan. I was luckily placed in Kanagawa prefecture, and I live about 20 minutes from a great part of Tokyo called Shimokitazawa, and 30 minutes from Shinjuku (whose station I still get lost inside). Public transport is brilliant in Japanese urban areas and I can access the school I work in easily. The reliability of public transport is still a novelty to me, if a train is 3 minutes late it’s considered a “significant delay”; in Ireland, I feel grateful when the bus I’m waiting for arrives at all!
Moving across the world is never going to be an easy decision or undertaking, but I can’t recommend it enough. If you have the curiosity and passion, everything else will fall into place; especially if you have a support network of family, friends and companies like Xplore Asia at your back. My experience of Japan so far has been brimming with rich cultural experiences, meeting like minded friends, travelling, and, maybe most importantly, I’ve learnt a lot about myself. Although I felt I wanted to escape the imminent “real world” after university, unbeknownst to myself, I signed up to something which has helped me grow and prepared me more for adulthood more than any other experience could have.
“ If you have the guts to move to another country, especially on your own, you can do anything. “
– Kate Burke
