The Japanese term for this is “genki.”Įnthusiasm is especially good when you’re teaching younger Japanese students. The more enthusiastic you are, the more encouraged your students will feel. Whether you’re teaching an entire classroom or doing a one-on-one tutoring session, one of the best things you can do is be high energy and confident. Simply being conscious of this distinction between Japanese and many western societies can be really helpful while lesson planning as well as interacting with students. Students don’t want to stand out from the rest. Individualism isn’t highly encouraged in Japanese society. The older your students are, the more shy they’re likely to be about giving opinions. Though it’s common for ESL lessons to involve opinions – “What’s your favorite color?” for example – these will be more difficult to use in an average Japanese classroom. It’s common for Japanese people to use indirect language and say they aren’t sure about things, rather than offering direct opinions. Japanese students may be nervous when asked directly for their opinions. It’s important that you’re willing to repeat the lessons until they stick, and that you believe that your students are doing their best. Some students might also struggle to pick up seemingly basic grammar rules. You might have to work hard to bring students out of their shells.

Be encouraging and friendly, and make sure to praise correct answers. Japanese students may be intimidated by the language and worried about making mistakes. Patience is required for any teaching position, but it’s especially important for English teachers. Your students won’t appreciate it and it doesn’t make for an inclusive learning environment. You can talk about how American culture is different, but don’t make disparaging comments about the differences in Japan. In keeping with that, it’s best not to complain about the culture. Your students will appreciate it if you make an effort to connect with them about their food, language, art, and music. And learn a bit about Japanese culture in general. Take some time to learn about the difference between Japanese and American classrooms.

Your students might be excited to learn about where you’re from, but they also might not know very much about American cultural traditions.

Japanese culture is very different from American culture. Find more companies on our list of the 21 Best Places to Teach English to Chinese Students Tips on Teaching English Online to Japanese Students Respect the Culture

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