Enrich Your Teaching Career & Discover the Spirit of Japan

Name: Enrich Your Teaching Career & Discover the Spirit of Japan
Brand: Interac Japan
SKU: 29159
Rating: 4.37 (70 reviews)

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4.37 Rating

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Location

Japan
- Tokyo
- Osaka
- Fukuoka
- Sapporo
- Nagoya

Length

52+ weeks

Classroom Audience

Early Childhood Pre-School Middle School High School

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Program Details

Classroom Audience

Early Childhood Pre-School Middle School High School

Housing

Apartment

Age Min.

Age Max

Pricing

Salary / Benefits

Your experience in Japan will set you apart from your peers. When you teach in Japan, you will find that there is much more to be gained than a regular paycheck. In fact, your experience will shape your future by providing you valuable career experience, experience living in a different culture, and the lifestyle of freedom and growth you have been waiting for. As an Interac ALT, you will most likely receive a gross annual salary of approximately ￥2.4 – ￥3.0 million Japanese Yen per year.

Price Details

There is no charge to apply to Interac.

What's Included

Activities Visa

What's Not Included

Accommodation Airfare Meals

Last Updated: Jan 09, 2024

Last Reviewed: Apr 15, 2024

Wish List

161 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Interac teachers enrich the lives of thousands of school and children in Japan every year by delivering interactive and exciting English lessons. Commonly known as ALTs, which stands for assistant language teacher, Interac’s instructors, enrich children’s lives by sharing their knowledge of English and communication skills and giving insights into other cultures.

As an ALT at Interac, you will work in nursery school, elementary, junior high, and high schools throughout Japan. These are our clients. Your job is two-fold: language instructor and cultural ambassador. These two aspects are inseparable, and you, as a successful Interac ALT, will become an expert in both.

You can expect to teach classes on your own, with a Japanese teacher present to help manage the classroom. Although there are variety of Japanese schools, you can reasonably expect to teach in at least two. The company also provides training programs to support those without experience as an English teacher.

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Video and Photos

group of students wearing school uniforms with blue bows

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Program Highlights

Start things off right with an intensive (paid!) initial training and orientation session.
Work Mondays to Fridays with scheduled teaching hours between 8 am and 5 pm.
Attend on-going skills development and training programs.
Become an important part of your school and local community.
Take advantage of Interac’s Staff Preparation Program (SPP) and build portable skills you can leverage in the classroom or take with you into a potential staff position like recruiter, head teacher, trainer, or even office staff.

Popular Programs

Interac North Company

Interac North Company is in charge of the Hokkaido and Tohoku area which is the largest area of Japan in terms of land mass. The kind of person who typically comes to Interac North has a more self-sufficient outlook on their time in Japan, compared to other areas. They are looking to get a “real Japan” experience for several years.

Interac Kanto North Company

Interac Kanto North Company covers the area known as the “Kanto-Koushinetsu” region, which is a large span of prefectures to the north and west of Tokyo, the nation’s capital. In this part of the country, there are many hidden towns and an abundance of nature, including hot springs, mountains with upper slopes famous for skiing, and many other delights for you to discover.

Interac Kanto South Company

Interac Kanto South is centrally located in Yokohama, the largest city in Kanagawa Prefecture. Just out of the Tokyo metropolis, Kanagawa is a metropolitan prefecture. Everything is only minutes away from the city centre by train, making it the perfect place to start your teaching career in Japan.

Interac Kansai & South Central Company

Interac Kansai & South Central covers a large part of the central region, based in Nagoya with offices in Hamamatsu and Osaka. There are a wide range of placements and school styles for teachers in Osaka, with many positions being in rural areas or suburbs. The kind of ALT we are looking for within the Kansai area is a teacher who will be looking to get involved in the local community and isn’t just requiring a ‘day job’.

Interac West Company

The West Company area is one of the largest across Interac. It encompasses 16 prefectures ranging from Hiroshima to Fukuoka, including Saga and Okayama. This means there is a huge variety of activities and places to visit for anyone looking to teach English in Fukuoka or further!

Program Reviews

4.37 Rating

based on 70 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Teach

5 rating 47.14%
4 rating 48.57%
3 rating 1.43%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 2.86%

Benefits 4
Support 4.6
Fun 4.25
Facilities 4.3
Safety 4.75

Good for Building your resume, Adventure travelers

Showing 41 - 48 of 70 reviews

I have been living in Japan for about seven years. Right off the bat, Interac has been amazing. Setting foot into a new country that I barely speak the language is something I thought I could never do, but as soon as I got in and met with the head teachers and staff, I knew then that I was in good hands. I looked at information online and read reviews on Glassdoor beforehand and most of them were positive enough that made my decision to move to Japan that easy. Looking back after seven years, and after meeting a number of other ALTs that came and went from other dispatch companies, Interac is by far one of the best, if not the best ALT dispatch company in existence. I live in an area that I love and the branch I work under is trying to pull all the strings just so I can stay and not move elsewhere because I love the area that I living in right now. The people are amazing! Interac considers the request of its employees and this is extremely rare nowadays. I have taught at three neighboring school districts and I am grateful that I did not have to move. Moving is part of the life of the educators in this country, I'm afraid.
One cannot even begin to imagine the other problems I have heard from other ALTs from other dispatch companies that I am extremely grateful I am with Interac. If you are reading this and is a prospective future ALT. This may sound like textbook marketing but, I implore you to click on that join us now button to learn more!

Pros - will help it's instructors settle in
- will never miss a paycheck
- will provide all the necessary training needed
- has resources online to aid in-class or self improvement
- will have someone personally checking in on its employees' well-being
- considers the employees requests as top priority

Cons - cant list any sorry

Pros

will help it's instructors settle in
will never miss a paycheck
will provide all the necessary training needed

It's like youre looking at a desktop wallpaper!

Response from Interac Japan

Hi Bruce,

Thank you for your fantastic review of Interac and for sharing your positive experience with us over the past seven years.

We're thrilled to hear that you have had a smooth transition into living in Japan and that our support and assistance has made it easier for you. It's wonderful to hear that you feel Interac is one of the best ALT dispatch companies and that you have found a community in the area that you love.

Your feedback about our commitment to our employees' well-being, the helpful training and resources, and our consideration of employee requests is much appreciated. We're glad that you would recommend Interac to prospective ALTs, and we look forward to continuing to provide a supportive and rewarding experience for all of our employees.

Thank you for your support!

Interac Recruiting Team
Tokyo

By Interac on February 3, 2023

A lot of your experience will vary greatly depending on what school you go to and what grade range you are teaching. My experience with my junior high school has been lovely! The teachers are very kind and the students are eager to learn. It's the perfect opportunity for people looking to move to Japan especially if they are not confident in their Japanese abilities. I recommend it for anyone looking to travel and gain some life experiences for a year or two.
The company does their best to accommodate their instructors and are very generous with finding placements that suit your needs.

Pros

Culture exposure
Chances to express yourself
Entry-level with no Japanese required

Cons

Few opportunities to make friends
Poor pay and benefits
Can't improve Japanese

Response from Interac Japan

Hi Mika,

Thank you for sharing your positive experience with Interac!

It's great to hear that your placement at a junior high school has been a lovely experience, with kind teachers and eager students. Your recommendation for those looking to travel and gain life experiences in Japan is much appreciated.

We're happy to hear that our company has been able to accommodate your needs and find a placement that suits you.

Thanks again for your kind words and we wish you all the best in your future endeavors!

Interac Recruiting Team
Tokyo

By Interac on February 3, 2023

I have been living in Japan for about seven years. Right off the bat, Interac has been amazing. Getting off the plane and setting foot into a new country that I barely speak the language is something I thought I could never do, but as soon as I got in and met the head teachers and staff, I knew then that I was in good hands. I looked at information online and read reviews on Glassdoor and most of them were positive enough that made my decision to move to Japan just like that. Looking back after seven years, and after meeting a number of other ALTs that came and went from other dispatch companies, Interac is by far one of the best, if not the best ALT dispatch company in existence. I live in an area I love and the branch I work under is trying to pull all the strings just so I can stay and not to move elsewhere. Interac considers the request of its employees and this is extremely rare nowadays. I have taught three neighboring school districts and I am grateful that I did not have to move. Moving is part of the life of the educators in this country, I'm afraid.
One cannot even begin to imagine the other problems I have heard from other ALTs from other dispatch companies that I am extremely grateful I am with Interac. If you are reading this and is a prospective future ALT. This may sound like textbook marketing but, I implore you to click on that join us now button to learn more!

Pros - will help it's instructors settle in
- will never miss a paycheck
- will provide all the necessary training needed
- has resources online to aid in-class or self improvement
- will have someone personally checking in on its employees well-being
- considers the employees requests as top priority

Cons - cant list any sorry

Response from Interac Japan

Dear Bruce,

Thank you for taking the time to write such a thoughtful review of Interac. We appreciate your positive feedback and are delighted to hear that we have been able to provide you with a great experience as an ALT in Japan.

We are glad that you have found our support, facilities, and safety measures to be top-notch, and we are especially pleased that we were able to help you settle in and make your time in Japan a success.

Thank you for recommending Interac to others and for highlighting the benefits of our program. We wish you continued success and enjoyment in your time in Japan.

Best regards,
Interac Recruiting Team
Tokyo

By Interac on February 16, 2023

Interac made my dream come true! I am a Licensed Professional Teacher in the Philippines and I am a nikkei-jin as well. Living here in Japan is not as easy as 1,2,3! I almost gave up my dream to become an English Teacher here but through patience, dedication, and positivity that I have. I met Interac and it changed my life! From being so hopeless to being an inspiration from the rest of my family and relatives living here in Japan that it is not too late to chase your dreams even we are living in a foreign country. Interac gave me a whole new world and bigger opportunities here in Japan. Through Interac, I inspired many more people and students as well. Through Interac I'm continuing loving the field which I really belong.

Pros

Salary is fixed! So you don't have to be worry!
You can enjoy life inside and outside work!
If you join the company, you will be in a great hands!

Cons

You can do more and explore more if you know how to speak Japanese.
Once you join Interac, it's hard to leave. Best company

Response from Interac Japan

Dear Lorden,

Thank you for taking the time to write such a heartfelt review of your experience with Interac.

We are thrilled to hear that we were able to help you achieve your dream of becoming an English teacher in Japan and that our program has had such a positive impact on your life.

Your dedication, patience, and positivity are truly inspiring, and we are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of your journey.

Thank you for recommending Interac to others and for being an inspiration to your family, students, and others. We wish you continued success and fulfillment in your teaching career.

Best regards,
Interac Recruiting Team
Tokyo

By Interac on February 16, 2023

Interac has provided me a wonderful opportunity to work with Japanese teachers and students in an area I really appreciate.|

The support and assistance from my superior has been very helpful. While professional, they are also very friendly and sociable.

The work has been rewarding and I am very happy that I am able to be creative in my approach to class lesson and activities.

The pay for Interac is serviceable, but I'd love for there to be room to improve it.

The hours are mostly good too.

I am very happy I have had the opportunity to work here!

Pros

Room to be creative
Supportive network
Excellent experience to live and work in Japan

Cons

Pay is good, but could be better
Staying until required hours can feel a bit unnecessary
Your situation may differ depending on your placement

Response from Interac Japan

Hi Dennis,

Thank you for taking the time to write a review about your experience with Interac.

We're delighted to hear that you have appreciated the support and assistance provided by your supervisor and that you have found the work to be rewarding and creative.

Your feedback regarding pay and hours is appreciated, and we will take it into consideration as we continually strive to improve our benefits and support for our employees.

Thank you for your positive contribution to Interac, and we're glad that you are happy with your experience working with us.

Interac Recruiting Team
Tokyo

By Interac on February 3, 2023

I have been with Interac for over 10 years and it’s given me so many experiences I never thought I would ever have. Being thrust into a new culture took getting used to, but I really grew to love it. Interac had initial orientation and training to help get us ready, and afterwards, monthly meetings to cover basic topics regarding school and home life.

When I was ready to move to another prefecture, they were very supportive and helpful in my move to another part of Japan! They helped me with arranging movers, taking care of the utilities, finding and setting up my next place to live, and getting me settled and ready for my new school.

Advice:
Leave your comfort zone!
Try new things, even if it’s just walking somewhere you haven’t been before!
Don’t be afraid to ask Interac for help!
Take pictures to share with friends and family!
Bring something from home to show students and fight homesickness!

Pros

Doing things you can only do in Japan
Making new friends
Growing as a person

Cons

Homesickness
Image of Japan may be different

Response from Interac Japan

Hi W Nick,

Thank you for sharing your positive experience with Interac!

It's wonderful to hear that you've had such a fulfilling time living and working in Japan with the support of our team. Your advice to leave your comfort zone, try new things, and reach out for help is spot on and we're glad to have been able to support you during your journey. Your recommendation to take pictures and bring something from home to help with homesickness is also a great idea.

Thanks again for your kind words and we wish you all the best in your future adventures!

By Interac on February 3, 2023

Working with Interac has been a blast for me since the first day.

I've seen tons of complaint reviews about the ALT system in Japan and I've never really understood why.
It is true that the money isn't great, but It's decent and, unless you have a hungry familly, way enough to live.
Also the work we are doing isn't physically demanding or mentaly oppressing.
It's a lot of fun and good times.
Everyone has been kind and supportive to me. I'm very grateful to interac for giving me this opportunity.

Pros

Supportive team
Internal Career potential

Cons

Money ! you might not become a billionaire here.

Response from Interac Japan

Dear Xavier,

Thank you for taking the time to share your positive experience with Interac.

We are delighted to hear that you have found working with us to be a blast and that you enjoy the fun and good times that come with being an ALT in Japan. We appreciate your comments on the decent pay, supportive environment, and lack of physical and mental demands.

We are grateful for the opportunity to provide you with this experience and appreciate your recommendation to other adventure travelers, couples, solo travelers, and students.

Thank you again for your kind words.

Best regards,
Interac Recruiting Team
Tokyo

By Interac on February 16, 2023

I have been working with Interac for almost five years and I would say that this is the most fulfilling and most enjoyable job I ever had in my entire life. It made me a better teacher.

To be honest, It wasn’t easy at first. I had to adjust and adopt to the culture and learn teaching styles and strategies that are applicable to teaching English in Japan. I used to teach young children backhome for several years but I had to unlearn some of my old teaching methods to be effective in my new role. Interac has been very supportive all these years. They provide intensive trainings to prepare you for the ALT role and continuous trainings as you go along. You’ll also have access to learning and teaching materials online.

With this job, I was able to enhance not just my teaching skills but also two very important skills that I believe an ALT needs- flexibility and collaboration. I learned how to teach flexibly as either the main teacher or assistant teacher and be prepared whatever the situation requires. Yes, Interac provides training for that but I also learned mostly from experience. Also, and I am very thankful for this, I learned to work harmoniously with the Japanese teachers and staff inside and outside the classroom. I am naturally shy, but overtime I learned how to interact not just with my students but also with the people I work with everyday. I will definitely take these skills with me wherever I go.

Response from Interac Japan

Ma Monica,

Thanks for your great review!

We put a lot of emphasis in initial and ongoing training so that our ALTs can feel totally secure in the classroom. Our goal is to get ALTs to the point where they can succeed and develop their own style that best fits their students and schools.

We hope you'll continue to use the skills you've developed in classes and make them a part of your portable skills from now on.

Regards,

Interac Recruiting Team
Tokyo

By Interac on February 1, 2023

Questions & Answers

Are there teaching positions near Sasebo?

Hi Jodie, Thanks for your question. We do have positions occasionally in Nagasaki Prefecture, as well as other locations in Kyushu. We cannot promise a position exactly in Sasebo, since the placement situation is fluid each season, however if you choose to make an application and express a desire to be placed in or near the area, we will make an effort to find a position you'll be able to agree...

By Interac on April 18, 2021

Can the teaching job in Japan last my entire career or is it only for a few years?

Hi John, Thanks for your question. We do not have tenure limits, so you are welcome to stay as long as you like. There is also a career system within Interac for advancement within our organization into administrative positions such as Head Teacher, Management Trainee, Trainer, and Managing Consultant. Regards, Interac Head Office Tokyo

By Interac on April 18, 2021

How many years of teaching experience is required?

Hi Belinda, We do not set a certain number of years of teaching experience as a requirement. Having teaching experience of any kind will definitely help you in the application process, but we have teachers without any previous experience who are excellent in class. We provide thorough initial training so you'll feel confident about standing in front of students. If you have any other questions...

By Interac on March 30, 2021

Can first year teachers apply?

Hi Belinda, The requirements to apply as an Interac ALT are: -Be a native-level speaker of English -Have received an education conducted in English for at least 12 years -Have at least a bachelor’s degree in any subject from an accredited university -Be a team-player that is professional, flexible, cheerful, and energetic -Be under 60 years of age We welcome people with teaching experience of any...

By Interac on March 30, 2021

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

What inspired you to teach ESL?

Following university, a lot of my friends went on round the world trips coupled with 6 month working holidays in Australia or New Zealand. I wanted to immerse myself more in one country and use it as a base for further travels. I narrowed down the options to Japan, Venezuela and South Korea and of these, Japan held the most interest for me from my interests in video games, motorsport and new technology. ESL was the best way to earn money while experiencing the country.

Why did you choose Interac?

I wanted to work in schools in order to experience the culture and language more than in eikaiwa. It seemed a natural choice.

View Entire Interview

Describe your day to day activities as a teacher in Japan.

Everyday is different. The weekly schedule is rarely adhered to and there are so many things going on in the school that I could always have someone or something to tag into. You need to be proactive, if you just sit at your desk you will never be approached, so you have to get on with things yourself. In most of my spare time I would prepare lesson plans and do prep for my Elementary school classes where I ran the whole show. Eventually the lessons you plan for Junior High School also get used by the teachers and further from that in my 2nd year I was trusted to plan for one of the 4 lessons in the week with each class.

Each class is different and although you shouldn't, you do end up having your favorite students and classes. I would spend a lot of time with the kids between lessons and after school, if I didn’t join in with club activity I would watch them practicing, invariably gravitating to the students I got on well with, but trying to build relationships with others. Lunch was always my time and I asked to eat in the staff room and not with the students, after eating I would walk around the school and meet more people.

How has this experience impacted your future? How did you get promoted to Managing Consultant at Interac?

I work in financial services now on a Japanese desk. I don’t think the job itself made any difference but learning the polite levels of Japanese meant when I interviewed for my current role, I had the base language necessary to operate in what I do. Working in a Japanese school taught me a lot about interacting with others in an environment where you have to be proactive and start things yourself. If you don’t do that you will be left alone and that impacts negatively on your development and your general feelings.

That proactive approach and also being able to ignore negative events and not get bothered by them, or bother others is the way to help yourself. I always just got on with my own business and through performance was noticed by Interac management, who promoted me steadily through the rungs.

What is one piece of advice you would give to others thinking about teaching abroad?

Do it. When you get homesick, remember that in a few years time you will have had the biggest character building experience of your life and something you will remember forever.

Staff Interviews

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

What position do you hold at Interac? What has been your career path so far?

I am the Managing Consultant (MC) for the Kita Kanto Branch which covers the Gunma, Ibaraki, Saitama and Tochigi prefectures. I started off as an ALT in September 2007 with Interac and spent my first three contracts until March 2010 in Ibaraki working as an ALT in two elementary schools and one junior high school.

After that, I moved to Tokyo and worked at two elementary schools, one of which was a special school in Shizuoka prefecture and I commuted by bullet train every Friday. I had to wake up at 4:30 in the morning for that assignment but I really enjoyed working with the students and staff at the very small school in the mountains.

In my second year in Tokyo, I was promoted to the position of Head Teacher for my particular board of education and during the year I started taking on training responsibilities as well. From April 2012 I was a full-time trainer for the Tokyo branch and in charge of nine boards of education.

From September 2013, I became the Managing Consultant and still remain in that position to this day. I currently am in charge of 163 ALTs living and working within the four prefectures listed previously.

Did you teach abroad? If so, where and what inspired you to go?

My only experience teaching abroad is within Japan. I spent a week here along with a week in Taiwan visiting friends in late December 2006. It was within 36 hours of going around Tokyo that I found I really wanted to stay and learn more about the people, culture and language. I also had been working in schools for the previous three years in America so the chance to experience more of Japan and still work with children made Interac a perfect fit for me. A little over eight months later I was working with Interac in Japan and have been here ever since.

View Entire Interview

What does the future hold for Interac? Any exciting new programs to share?

The Japanese government is strongly pushing for expanded programs within English education. With the Tokyo Olympics coming up in 2020, the country is ready to add nearly 8,000 additional ALT positions in the next few years in an effort to allow Japanese students to speak English at the same level or better than their Chinese and Korean counterparts. This means that along with the growing ALT market, Interac will continue to expand even more than the average of over 100 positions a year since I joined in 2007.

There are many new exciting developments we are working on such as a new set of lesson plans to match the textbooks being released next year as well as a standardized phonics program. On top of that, we are completely redesigning the initial training program and allowing for additional training to be done overseas before coming to Japan as well as after the initial training is finished to give our ALTs the smoothest transition possible into their new schools.

The next five years will be very exciting for the ALT market!

What's it like teaching in Japan? And what's one tip you'd give newbie teachers there?

I really enjoyed my experience teaching and many times when I am observing my teachers at their schools wish I could return to the position. I could speak for hours on end about the wonderful experiences I had and amazing people I met along the way. That's not to say that there were no difficulties along the way, but that should be expected when moving to a country as different as Japan is.

If I had to give one tip it would be to soak everything in and be as outgoing as possible. Even if you come to Japan with less than conversational Japanese ability, you are the one that has to make the initial move. If you do that, nearly everyone will reciprocate and include you in their lives, whether that's the staff in the schools, Japanese friends elsewhere or even the friendly man waiting at the bus stop. Japanese people tend to be a bit more shy than most westerners, especially when considering that communication has to be done in a foreign language. I can guarantee that my simple advice will make your experience in Japan much better.

What's the best story you have from your time working at Interac?

Wow, well there are so many as I alluded to earlier. If I had to choose one, I would mention one of my Tokyo schools. I had the pleasure of teaching at the same school for two years, meaning I taught the same children for those two years over two grade levels. One of my fourth grade classes in my final year actually invited me back along with their homeroom teachers from the previous five years to their sixth grade pre-graduation shaonkai (thank you event).

Not only that, I was asked to make a speech to the students and parents and then again to only the parents at a separate party to thank me for my work as their English teacher. It was an emotional day and one I will never forget. I sometimes still run into my students on the train in Tokyo!

Besides bringing a fun and educational experience to the Japanese classroom, my goal as Managing Consultant and the reason I still work here is to give others the chance to have experiences similar to mine that will change not only their lives forever, but the lives of their students as well. From speaking with my ALTs, many have been able to do that and some even go on to become teacher's in the home countries. That to me is truly rewarding.

About Interac Japan

Interac teachers enrich the lives of hundreds of thousands of school children every year by delivering interactive and exciting English lessons. Commonly known as ALTs, which stands for assistant language teacher, Interac’s teachers, working in the Japanese school system, enrich children’s lives by sharing their knowledge of English and...

Program Details

Pricing

Program Highlights

Interac North Company 

Interac Kanto North Company 

Interac Kanto South Company 

Interac Kansai & South Central Company 

Interac West Company 

Response from Interac Japan

Response from Interac Japan

Response from Interac Japan

Response from Interac Japan

Response from Interac Japan

Response from Interac Japan

Response from Interac Japan

Response from Interac Japan

Are there teaching positions near Sasebo?

Can the teaching job in Japan last my entire career or is it only for a few years?

How many years of teaching experience is required?

Can first year teachers apply?

Alumni Interviews

Nav Tumber

What inspired you to teach ESL?

Why did you choose Interac?

Describe your day to day activities as a teacher in Japan.

How has this experience impacted your future? How did you get promoted to Managing Consultant at Interac?

What is one piece of advice you would give to others thinking about teaching abroad?

Staff Interviews

Ryan

What position do you hold at Interac? What has been your career path so far?

Did you teach abroad? If so, where and what inspired you to go?

What does the future hold for Interac? Any exciting new programs to share?

What's it like teaching in Japan? And what's one tip you'd give newbie teachers there?

What's the best story you have from your time working at Interac?

Interac North Company

Interac Kanto North Company

Interac Kanto South Company

Interac Kansai & South Central Company

Interac West Company