Help - FAQ

How do we find students?

Most of our students respond to ads in local magazines and newspapers or through our Japanese language website.

Who pays for textbooks?

The teachers and students are responsible for buying their own text books. The students can request the teachers to teach from certain materials/books. The student can also seek teachers' advice about text books.

After the teacher recommends a textbook to the student, the student is responsible for purchasing the materials by his/her own. Please ensure that the book is available for purchase either at a major local bookstore such as KINOKUNIYA and/or online at a site such as http://www.amazon.co.jp.

If I meet my student at a cafe, who should pay for drinks?

Both teacher and student should pay for their own drinks.

How does lesson cancellations work?

S1 helps to schedule both the trial lesson and the first paid lesson. Subsequent lessons should be freely scheduled by both teacher and student. Generally, both teacher and student should notify one another at least 24 hours in advance if one or the other needs to cancel a lesson.

In case of any cancellation of lessons due to unforeseen circumstances, such such as medical emergencies etc., please contact the student as soon as possible and arrange the make-up lesson later on.

In case of any cancellation of lessons (or time change of lesson) within 24hours,The amount of lesson could be charged at the next lesson time. S1 will not guarantee whether the charge will be paid.

Can I sign up if I am not living in Japan currently?

No. Please sign up at our website after you come to Japan since you need to provide the address and phone number in Japan. Records in S1 database for teachers who are not living in Japan will be deleted automatically.

Can S1 help me get a visa?

No. Only teachers who are currently living in Japan with a valid visa are available to sign up. We are also unable to respond to any questions regarding visa issue.

Can S1 answer questions about how to get to Japan?

No. Several other web sites may help to cover this topic. For example: http://www.teachinginjapan.com or http://www.ohayosensei.com . Please sign up with S1 after you have arrived in Japan and have a vaild telephone number and living address.

How long do I have to be in Japan to register with S1?

Four months. Since most of our students want to study for at least a few months and pay S1 for teacher contact information, only teachers who are available for at least four months can sign up.

When should I delete my profile before I quit?

At least one month notice period. Since most of our students want to study for at least a few months, please delete your record from the database at least one month before you stop teaching or leave Japan.

What should I respond to the student when he/she contacts me?

You should probably make the necessary preparations in advance before you get the first call.

S1 suggests that you:

  • Decide the meeting place that is well-known and easy to get there
  • Decide your available teaching schedule(date/time)
  • Explain to the students that you'll meet them the first time and explain how to get to your house /study location. It is also good to ask if they've studied English before (even if they speak English quite well, for example).

    It shows that you are interested in teaching and that you are thinking about their level. Since many students want to ask about your method of teaching, you'll need to be ready to explain that too.
  • And of course, speaking a little Japanese helps. If you know a few basic sentences you'll be able to get the students to the teaching location.

    If not, we have some compiled bilingual materials in romaji (roman characters) and Kanji to help you get started and handling calls during the first meeting/lesson.


What do I need to start?

First, get organized. You'll need:

  • A schedule book
  • File folders for each student/lesson you'll teach
  • To become persuasive and friendly on the phone
  • To learn the different transportation routes to where you'll meet students.
  • Needless to say.....teaching materials
  • You'll need to provide a good generic first lesson for different levels of students to convince them that your are worth returning for more lessons. In addition, you may want to have some business cards for a more professional look. For those of you teaching at your homes, you may want to tidy up your place a little.

How/What should I teach?

Whatever you feel comfortable with. Some teachers prefer professionally published textbooks, some use materials they've made, some teachers use different copies from different books. Using professionally published textbooks seems to be most common. To request a catalogue from some of the major ESL Publishers in Japan please visit our Top Page.

How should I make schedules with students?

Again...it's up to you. You can give students a fixed schedule each week, or let them choose the next lesson time at the end of each lesson. Letting students decide their next lesson time keeps things flexible. While it works well with only one student, it may be best to have a fixed schedule for the class with a class size of three or more members.

How do I get paid?

The timing to ask payment is up to you. If you're not comfortable to ask people for money at the beginning, you can ask for at the end of the lesson.

Attending your first lesson doesn't mean that they are YOUR students. Many of them are "browsing" to see who's available and they've contacted you in their "narrowing down" of choices. If you give them a lesson that they consider a good one, they'll probably become your student. If they don't come back you'll probably never know why - but you shouldn't get upset and take it personally. You'll probably never know what a non-returning student considers 'good,' or what kind of teacher they are actually looking for.

Don't be disappointed if a student tells you they will not be taking to your lessons anymore (for whatever reasons). Instead, you might want to: keep your composure, smile, and mention that you'll keep their files, just in case they decide to come back at some point. Moreover, mention any progress made during your class, give some brief advice for how they might want to continue studying, and wish them luck.

Try to resist the temptation to clean your (class)room, cook a meal for yourself, yawn, or talk to a friend/prospective student on the telephone during a lesson. Understandably, students really don't like any of these behaviors.

Do keep files of old students because sometimes after they stop coming (or 'disappears' - for whatever reasons) they may call again out of the blue to continue their lessons and it helps to know where you left off.

If you were asked for a receipt, please click below and download the form.

On the receipt, please write your name and give it to the student at the end of each lesson.

DOWNLOAD receipt here.