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Tamaki TEFL Recruitment (TTR)

Why choose Tamaki TEFL Recruitment (TTR)?

At TTR, we are experienced in teaching English abroad and in teacher recruitment. The Founder, Tomoko Tamaki has personally taught for 5.5 years in Japan, Vietnam and China which brings invaluable advice about her experiences to her teachers! We offer a full service from the initial pre screen stages, interviewing, guidance on visas and pre-departure assistance and more. At TTR, we love what we do and look forward to meeting enthusiastic teachers!

Founded
2015

Reviews

Default avatar
Andrea
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Great Opportunity

I found Tamaki TEFL Recruitment when I was searching for programs to let me teach abroad. It gave me a unique opportunity to teach somewhere that wasn't in a normal school. Instead, I have smaller classes and get to avoid rush hour on trains because I do not need to be in the classroom at 7am. I was also able to give my preference of where in Japan I would like to be located and they were able to try and accommodate me.

My recruiter was Tomoko and she was very helpful and kind throughout the entire process. Even after getting to Japan, she would check up to make sure everything was going okay.

I would recommend anyone looking to teach abroad to look into TTR to see if it would be right for you! It is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to go abroad because of the support they offer you both before and after you get to the foreign country.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Going into a small cafe while waiting for my time slot at headquarters. It was pouring so I wanted to get out of the rain and it was the closest place in walking distance. It was a cafe run by an older Japanese woman who spoke completely Japanese. It was very nerve wracking to go straight into only Japanese after just barely getting off the plane. Luckily I had been studying Japanese. When I was leaving it w a still raining and she gave me an umbrella as a gift. She was so sweet and made the first day always have a great memory attatched to it.
Pros
  • I'm near the ocean, so the view.
  • All the good I get to eat and try that I wouldn't have been able to in my home country.
  • The people I have met.
Cons
  • The pay is very low in comparison to my home country.
  • The first two weeks of training can be pretty stressful but it isn't a reflection of the actual teaching experience.
  • The initial plane ticket isn't reimbursed.
Default avatar
Rosie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Tomoko is so helpful!

I applied for a teaching job through TTR earlier this year. My experience with Tomoko was amazing. From the initial phone call, the interview, VISA process to my arrival in Japan, she has made everything smooth and easy for me. She explained everything about the job so well and was available to answer any questions I had during the recruitment process. I am now placed in Japan and have started my role as an English Teacher! If you’re looking to teach English in Japan I would definitely recommend working with Tomoko!!

Default avatar
Madison
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Tomoko Tamaki Recruitment is Wonderful!

I am very glad that I found Tomoko for help and guidance on my journey to moving abroad and teaching English! The process can be very daunting and Tomoko helped me through the whole process! There is a lot of steps and paperwork and things that can be overwhelming but Tomoko kept me on track and helped me feel far more prepared than I would’ve been if I did it myself! Her support helped me get all documents ready for my desired departure date. It’s easy to miss small things but she has good attention to detail which makes sure you don’t miss anything!

What was your funniest moment?
I had to catch a connecting flight in Tokyo and they announced it would be delayed. I thought it would be like my home country and it would be delayed for an hour or so. It ended up being a 3 minute delay. This was my first look into real punctuality!
Pros
  • New culture
  • Amazing food
  • New friends
Cons
  • Missing home
Default avatar
Karli
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Tamaki TEFL Recruitment is AMAZING

Tomoko from Tamaki TEFL Recruitment is absolutely AMAZING!
I'll always be grateful to Tomoko for assisting me in starting my teaching career abroad.
Her professionalism, great attention to detail, excellent communication skills and incessant support enabled me to move to Japan with ease.

Tomoko always answered promptly to any concerns or questions I had. She also provided great detail with regards to working and living in Japan, and the required paperwork for the visa application and Certificate of Eligibility. I couldn't have done it without her!
Her encouragement and concern for my needs and well-being astounds me. After moving to Japan, I continue to receive Tomoko's incredible support and concern for my well-being.

I highly recommend TTR to anyone wanting to teach abroad. Tomoko's professionalism and guidance will be invaluable as you embark on your journey to a new life overseas.. Thank you so much Tomoko for your support!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
The most unfamiliar thing I ate was the Kudzu bun with Matcha bean paste & cream! I've never eaten a transparent-like bun that contains a Matcha jelly substance. Since arriving in Japan, I've decided to try and eat everything that contains Matcha! :) I definitely recommend trying the Kudzu bun and enjoying the authentic Matcha flavors of Japan!
Default avatar
Karen
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

TTR is Magnificent

Tomoko played an Intergral role in aiding me with my teaching job in Japan.
I just want to thank her and honor her for excellent work ethics.
She is professional, affectionate and relatable.
From day one when we interacted she made me feel at ease and was a beacon of hope and encouragement through out the whole process.
My trip to Japan was smooth and my adjustment easier because i had the relevant information which Tomoko provided and made my life easy in a foreign country.
I recommend TTR to anyone looking to teach abroad.They are responsible and accurate and can guarantee a smooth transition.
I can attest to this experience firsthand and if you choose TTR ,that's the best choice for your abroad dream.
Thank you Tamaki Tefl Recruitment for helping me achieve my dream,I'm ever so grateful for everything and the constant communication and check up after landing a Job in Japan .

What was your funniest moment?
Getting lost in Japan and I can't speak a coherent Japanese sentence to save my life .
I'm standing at the train station looking so lost and decide at this point if I get to the hotel at 2am I'm 👍. Then a kind lady passes by and looks at me and smiles and asks me where I'm going and I tell her and she points to the train infront of me. 😃 😊 😀
Pros
  • Support from day 1 and currently.
  • Proffessionalism.
  • Compassion.
Cons
  • Sometimes the process delayed but it was beyond anyone's control as the papers were with immigration .However I was constantly updated and informed of progress.

Programs

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Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Tomoko Tamaki

Job Title
Founder and International Recruitment Consultant
Tomoko is the founder of TTR - she was born and raised in Toronto, Canada and embarked on her first TEFL journey abroad to teach in Japan! Her initial plan of going abroad for only 1 year, turned into 2 years in Japan, 1 year in Vietnam and 2.5 years in China! She can definitely say that TEFL is the best path she's taken and she now has the privilege to recruit and represent the best teachers and schools!
Tomoko Tamaki

What is your favorite travel memory?

Climbing Mount Fuji, the highest volcano in Japan (3,776 metres to be exact!) With no sleep and very little rest for 24 hours, it was worth it and the views at the top were incredible! You feel on top of the world... until you have to climb back down again! (See photo!)

My first week in Shanghai, I strolled along the waterfronts called The Bund. With stunning views of tall skyscrapers, it's best to go at night! (See photo!)

I went on holiday to a scenic place called Nikko, in Japan. I was surrounded with stunning views of mountains, lakes and I got to experience a Japanese "ryokan", which is a traditional Japanese Inn known for their bamboo floors and outdoor hotsprings! Lush! (See photo!)

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I love what I do and there's nothing short of that! I'm also continually humbled and fortunate to be able to work with incredible teachers and schools. Without passion in my work, I don't think TTR would be where it is now. I've learnt that you have to put in 100% to what's in front of you and also take the time to enjoy yourself!

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I love hearing from our teachers how happy they are and seeing all their photos and stories. We always keep in touch with our teachers to ensure that they're doing well. (Feel free to go on Facebook to Tamaki TEFL Recruitment to see teachers testimonials!). The best feeling is knowing that our teachers are enjoying their time abroad and really living life to its fullest! I also love hearing stories of teachers pushing themselves out of their comfort zone- conquering their fear of heights with steep hikes in the mountains, paragliding or even eating cockroach-skewers!

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

That's a tricky question! I love them all!

We have various options available for teachers - whether it's teaching solely a range of young children (2-15 years old), conversational group classes with adult learners or teaching 1-1 business English to adult learners, we have various positions to suit various needs. We will always arrange a brief 20 minute pre screen call first so that we can go through the options and to see if any of the roles is a potential match. If all goes well in the pre screen call, we would discuss arranging the video Skype interview in the near future.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

TTR's unique as we have experience teaching English abroad, so we know what it feels like to leave the comforts and familiarity of home and embark on a completely new adventure. We also get to know our teachers very well and build a strong professional relationship - it's important for us to know that the teachers can come to us at anytime to ask questions and that we offer a lot of pre-departure support.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

We are really passionate about providing the best service for teachers and making the transition abroad as stress-free as possible. It's important for us to get to know our teachers individually and build that trust and rapport. We really want to understand what our teachers are looking for in their ideal jobs and making their dreams a reality. Without that passion and drive, this wouldn't be possible!