A click on an interesting advert has given me the opportunity to meet and teach some of the most wonderful kids you could ever meet and the chance to explore one of the most beautiful, culturally rich places in the world. In Hokkaido, which I lovingly call the frontier, things are a bit slower than life in other big cities. But, admittedly, it isn't for everyone's liking. But, from my time here, I can say there is something for everybody - with the added benefit of smaller crowds for you to really enjoy the experiences. Be it food, nature or cultural experiences. It requires a little effort to find something you love. For me though, the best part is the job. Everyday I get to spend with my students is a literal blessing. Watching their eyes light up the moment they see me walking towards their classroom never gets old. And, knowing I get to make an impact in their lives in one way or another is icing on the cake for me.

On the negative side, again, things here are slower than in Tokyo or Osaka. So, most things here close at 9pm - except for the convenience stores (of course) and the odd fast food restaurant. So, depending on where you are in the Sapporo (or Hokkaido generally) 10pm can literally be a ghost town. I'll admit, that was an adjustment - even as someone who prefers the quiet. The biggest challenge however I would say are the occasional stares. Not menacing in anyway; but, certainly inquisitive. Most times, I understand it. It is very rare to see someone of African descent (Black) here in Sapporo; I accept it as natural to want to figure me out (except Japanese culture doesn't encourage direct confrontation). But, it can be daunting and uncomfortable at times. And, there are days when it is just really annoying. That said, I have no other major complaints.

So, if you want to try something different, certainly Japan offers that in abundance.
If a slower pace and colder place is your ideal fit, I really think you'll love Hokkaido.
If you love working with children, then this job will suit you perfectly.

I have not been in the program for long, but I have had a great experience so far. Moving to Japan was really difficult but the staff helped me through it and were patient with my mistakes. This is my first time teaching in a classroom, and everyone has been very understanding of my shortcomings. The most difficult part of the program was figuring out how to get to my placement location, since I had to get from the airport to location on my own.
Adjusting to the move has also been difficult. It was expensive to furnish my apartment, so it is important to be aware of the cost.
However I have had a great time traveling around Japan, trying new foods, meeting new people, and learning how to be a better teacher and member of Japan.

I have been working for Interac for the past year, and my experience has been remarkable. The human-centered management style enables a greater sense of trust and teamwork within the company. The support is outstanding, whatever the issue at hand.

For me, after our baby was born, my wife and I decided to take a step back from the daily career hustle. At the same time, I was pursuing my PhD and wanted to focus on my research. My recruiter understood my needs, and I was matched with the right school. Working at Interac allowed me to focus on the well-being of our new addition, spend much-appreciated time with my family, do research, and still make a decent living with a contributing job. I have been welcomed and embraced by the community since joining my current school. The working hours are set solidly, which means one can always have the rest of the afternoon to pursue whatever side hustle/hobby/exploration one fancies. Weekends are off, and there is a nice, long summer vacation, not to mention Golden Weeks and other frequent national holidays. This is truly precious for me in this new chapter of my life. I plan to work for Interac for a long time.

I've been working with Interac for a few years now. The company has always treated me quite fairly and they've always been helpful with the few issues that pop up with being a foreigner in a foreign land. When you need them, the support staff can help you resolve issues almost immediately. Working with the students is one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. You have one job and that's to make English fun. This can be particularly difficult at times, especially with the big exams for schools that pop up. You want students to see English as a game, something fun to do between their history and math classes. I think the most important thing is to love English itself. English is such a funny language and we have so many fun little expressions that can really liven up the experience for students. "I like dogs" vs "I like dog" and the like can really make students perk up.

I’ve been working with Interac for almost three years and my experience overall has been very positive. Moving to Japan in the height of the pandemic, not knowing the language and totally on my own, I was a little nervous and not sure what to expect. The staff helped me to transition seamlessly, helping me with housing, training, settling in and making sure I had everything I needed to get my job done.

I was placed in schools with very nice teachers and good facilities, and there was a plethora of material made available to me. Given that this was my first time teaching and interacting with students in this way, having everything available really made it easier for me to perform at my best.

The office staff really try hard to support teachers and they check in every now and then to see how you are doing. If you have issues they will try to deal with it as soon as possible. Whatever you may need, they’re only one email away.

While there have been challenges and ups and downs, overall I truly value my experience working with Interac. I am glad they were apart of my journey to Japan, and would encourage anyone to take that initial step with them as well.

This program is a fun way to grow social and professional skills! Honestly, I never thought I would have the confidence to talk to (let alone teach) so many strangers, but the more I took the leap, the easier it got to try new experiences.

Being completely new to the country, I felt I had the support I needed if I had questions for the company, and the teaching environment was perfect for honing relationship skills, even without adequate Japanese language proficiency.

English is a rapidly growing subject in all Japanese schools, so staying on your toes and being flexible is very important. At the end of the day, my Japanese coworkers are always grateful and lovely, no matter how our joint lessons went. It's reassuring to know that everyone is learning and growing together. And the kids are so much fun! English time is full of games and songs, so your reputation for fun proceeds you wherever you go.

I feel like I've grown more capable of handling unknown situations and coming into new ones with self confidence. Try this program if you want to see what you're capable of, and grow to the next level for your dream career.

I was placed in a very rural part of Japan. While it's not the most "exciting" place, I have very much enjoyed the slow pace of life and great nature during my soon-to-be three years here.

As for the company (Interac West), my experience has been overall good. They generally respect my time, and provide a lot of freedom both in and out of work, but also provide a lot of optional support. First settling in was a breeze, with thorough help with housing, car rental, setting up bills, taxes, and insurance, etc. Interac also provides a rather large amount of teaching resources and materials, though I personally almost always make my own. The only trouble I've really had is with mistakes made by the (in my opinion understaffed) scheduling team, but even then I'd consider them moderate inconveniences.

Regarding pay, I'm single but I don't imagine it'd be easy to raise a family, especially in a city. There's also virtually no pay progression if you want to stay a teacher (like me) rather than moving up into more managerial roles, assuming you can. That said, my rural town is rather cheap living, and I'm single, so I have no issues living within my paycheck and can save some.

Overall I'd say being an ALT with Interac isn't the best for long-term, "career" teaching, but can be a great way to have an adventure or a stepping stone into office positions or other work in Japan.

I was placed in a very rural part of Japan. While it's not the most "exciting" place, I have very much enjoyed the slow pace of life and great nature during my soon-to-be three years here.

As for the company (Interac West), my experience has been overall good. They generally respect my time, and provide a lot of freedom both in and out of work, but also provide a lot of optional support. First settling in was a breeze, with thorough help with housing, car rental, setting up bills, taxes, and insurance, etc. Interac also provides a rather large amount of teaching resources and materials, though I personally almost always make my own. The only trouble I've really had is with mistakes made by the (in my opinion understaffed) scheduling team, but even then I'd consider them moderate inconveniences.

Regarding pay, I'm single but I don't imagine it'd be easy to raise a family, especially in a city. There's also virtually no pay progression if you want to stay a teacher (like me) rather than moving up into more managerial roles, assuming you can. That said, my rural town is rather cheap living, and I'm single, so I have no issues living within my paycheck and can save some.

Overall I'd say being an ALT with Interac isn't the best for long-term, "career" teaching, but can be a great way to have an adventure or a stepping stone into office positions or other work in Japan.