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How to become an English Conversation Teacher

Also called: English conversation school teacher

Teaches English that is useful in real life, at home and abroad, with a focus on conversation.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say university is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualification is required to start, but as well as a high level of spoken English you need sound grammar and vocabulary and good communication skills. Many teachers have studied abroad. Some schools set a written test, a speaking test and a practical teaching test such as a demonstration lesson when hiring. Large English conversation schools often have their own training systems. The job involves students of all ages, so as well as communication skills, kindness, consideration, patience and a sense of responsibility are valued.

Ways in

Pay · Job openings · AI and this job

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Questions people ask

How do I become an English Conversation Teacher?

No particular education or qualification is required to start, but as well as a high level of spoken English you need sound grammar and vocabulary and good communication skills. Many teachers have studied abroad. Some schools set a written test, a speaking test and a practical teaching test such as a demonstration lesson when hiring. Large English conversation schools often have their own training systems. The job involves students of all ages, so as well as communication skills, kindness, consideration, patience and a sense of responsibility are valued.

How much does an English Conversation Teacher earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥4,420,400 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Private teachers and instructors, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become an English Conversation Teacher?

Not always. In this job's census occupation group, 45% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: Education & Teaching degrees; Junior college (短期大学) programme; Vocational college (専門学校) course: Foreign languages.

Will AI change the work of an English Conversation Teacher?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026