Hey everyone,
I recently accepted an ALT position with Interac, so I’ll be moving to Japan soon. I’m excited, but I’m trying to think long-term and turn this into an actual career in education rather than just staying an assistant.
From what I understand, ALTs aren’t licensed teachers and mainly assist Japanese teachers in the classroom , so I want to figure out how to get a proper teaching license while living in Japan.
My main goal is to eventually teach at a private or international school, so I’m looking at a few possible paths:
- Option A: Find a U.S. university or program that allows student teaching overseas while still granting a U.S. teaching license
- Option B: Attend a Japanese university and complete teacher training locally
Both seem viable to me. I’m currently finishing my Master’s in Education this summer, and I estimate I’ll be around N3 Japanese by August. I know most Japanese universities require closer to N1, so I’m okay with taking a year after moving to Japan to improve my language before continuing.
Right now I’m just trying to figure out what the most realistic path is. Ideally, I’d like something that:
- Leads to a recognized teaching license
- Works while I’m already in Japan
- Sets me up for international/private school jobs
If anyone has gone from ALT → licensed teacher (especially while staying in Japan), I’d really appreciate hearing what route you took.
Thanks in advance
by EtienneAP11