Can you serve with an Agape form of Love?
Would working with children also be a pleasure?
Is the Bible and English something you are willing to teach?
Are you ready to make an impact for Christ in Japan starting online?
A lot of employment opportunities in Japan require a four-year degree with exception for Missionary English Teachers (METs). Because we implement the Bible in our schools, our METs only require a Religious Activities visa. The good news is that no one has to have a 4-year college degree, nor teaching experience, and they do not even have to be a Native English Speaker (NES) to work with us, although NESs are preferred.
Here is why we teach both English and the Bible as our main objective. By teaching biblical principles and helping parents to raise good children, we believe we are empowering the nation’s potential leaders one by one. By using Biblical principals as our standard and in our curriculum, we understand we are able to accomplish this. Surprisingly, even secular parents and children agree with us in our approach, means, and outcome. Maybe, this is because Japan is ready very soon for a new spiritual outpouring over the nation!
More and more, every day we can see that Japan is getting ready for a big revival. It will sweep over the nation. Are you ready? More workers are needed. The laborers are just a few.
Practical experience is key. Many government-sponsored institutions like the JET organization do not want to hire potential English teachers from abroad if they are over 30 years old. Also, private organizations want to hire Native English Speakers (NES) as teachers, but only if they have had previous teaching experience in Japan like “graduated” JET teachers who have already fulfilled their 1 or 2 year contracts. To become a good teacher overseas then
time, experience, and Japanese language skills are important.
The language gap is one big hurdle for many new teachers but not as much for an experienced English-only Teacher (meaning, there is a way to use only English in the classroom). Also, the differences in culture can be another small hurdle. Then, there is common sense, workplace experience, and the ability to work well with children which makes teaching in Japan an art to be mastered. Employers in Japan are expecting these basic skills. For example, common sense is based on a communal and collective bias as opposed to that of an individual outlook which westerners often prefer. This is why two years of teaching experience is preferred by most employers.
Our purpose as a Business As Missions (BAM) organization based in Japan is to develop and qualify each potential MET at a church or Christian ministry. During this lengthy duration of a one or two year commitment, METs will get the training and experience that they may need in the future. Teaching skills will greatly improve along the way with a greater effectiveness in ministry, leadership, multicultural understanding, and hopefully language skills as well. However everyone should start learning Japanese long before teaching in Japan. Are you Ready?
How Pliable,
Thoughtful,
And Cheerful
Are You?
Good experience, a qualified recommendation from an affiliated source, and Native English Speaking skills (or near-native) are all essential. For Americans and many others, getting a job in Japan can require some faith in order to step forward into the unknown, get basic training and experience as a volunteer, make contacts through the network of Christians here, and secure a Full-Time position with a 1 or 2-year minimum commitment. For those who can’t do it on their own, that is what we are here for. The costs required for this can be minimal especially in the summer months of training. Since we are set up like a BAM organization, we can offset these expenses and provide room and board as well as training for as little as fifty dollars a week until we do find you a church or ministry to work with. If you know you are called to serve in Japan, we believe we can help you find a place to serve and a guarantor who will sponsor you a year at a time, but not all sponsors are able to guarantee wages or an urban environment. Each case is different but there are often a variety of places to choose from. Usually, good opportunities present themselves in March or before. Those who are not sure of their calling should wait until they are sure.
We have seen many Christian English schools close their doors in Japan. There is often a lack of replacement missionaries. Not every church is able to find a replacement “English Teacher” when the former leaves. This is the gap that this ministry fills so that fewer English ministries close their doors when a replacement missionary is not available. And, we are looking for others to help us fulfilling this vision .
With an English Village at a resort location in the heart of Japan, we are set up to provide training to newcomers willing to teach English. Our set up is similar to that of a “Homestay” experience, like when Japanese visit homes overseas to learn English, except we are still in Japan. Japanese students do not have to travel as far in order to have fun in an English speaking environment with many gaijin/foreigners from English speaking countries. Christian English volunteers help out by at our resort locations in exchange for experience and even certification if possible. This will help them get their feet wet and gain employment elsewhere. Up to three or even six months training can be accomplished at these locations. The goal is to help English speaking Christians get the ball rolling in the process of secure a cultural activities or religious activities visa between 4 to 8 months later. By then the MET should be sponsored by a different ministry elsewhere in Japan. We can’t guarantee every teacher a contract with emolument, just like we can’t always guarantee churches the kind of experienced missionary they often hope for. But we can guarantee an experience from which many positive results should flow.
A missionary visa requires a minimum 1-year commitment, typically from March to March for example, but a two or three-year commitment, however, is preferred. If you are called to Japan (or Asia), please come and enjoy our English Village where we train METs how to teach English to Japanese on their “vacation”. Experience is gleaned from this along with some “easy courses” and after six months of training, we can issue an ELT Certificate, English Language Teaching Certificate. A thirty-month certificate is also available for those who continue to follow a set curriculum. Qualified teachers are then able to receive a CTESOL certificate (Christians Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), which necessitates 2 years or more of experienced-based training.
YWAM teams and similar ministries are also welcome. Special rates apply during the first week of May, last week of July, mid-August, and Silver Weekend in September. All of Christmas and New Year’s vacation holiday is also a good time to come. Even if English is or is not your first language, there are several other mission activities that can be done if your team can sing on tune and perform with black gospel songs at local Japanese schools for example. There is also painting work to be done in the church building not to mention “English Teaching” in the café.
Yes, we need more carpenters, plumbers, electricians, painters, and even housekeepers. If individuals would like to come and volunteer, please come! The number of people, season, and dates also come into play so please be in contact with us concerning any details.
Are you willing to serve Christ in Japan? If this be true, please tell us why you, your family, or your team feel called to Japan. How can you can be part of the vision here in East Asia.
Fill out this form below and if you have DIY skills and would like to volunteer in that capacity as well then please state your vocational skills under comments and submit the form. Thank you!
P h o t o C r e d i t s.
Photographs on this page are credited to Chris M Harder, YWAM Vancouver, Snowboarding DTS
Staff Leader. If you need a pro photographer in BC, please contact: [email protected]
W e b D e s i g n e r
Concept and web creation made by
Studio Aikawa founder Kyle Eastman.
Homepage photos and videos also taken by
Kyle Eastman.