Position Description

Each year, Technos College hires two (2) English-language teaching assistants; candidates are drawn from Technos College's 10 sister schools. 

Duties

Regular duties include:

• Assist in English classes taught by teachers speaking English as a first language.
• Assist in English classes taught by Japanese teachers.
• Prepare class materials and quizzes; assist in correcting assignments, etc.
• Prepare and teach intensive English orientation lessons to students visiting Technos sister colleges for exchange programs.
• Run English activities or tutoring during breaks between classes or after school.
• Communicate with Technos students outside of class.
• Write for Technos blogs and social media platforms.
• Plan, prepare, and participate in school events throughout the school year.

Other duties may include:

• Participate in Technos clubs (optional). Clubs include sports, music, photography, etc.
• Audit Technos classes of interest (optional).  Classes include design, flower arrangement, dance, etc.

Working Hours: 35 hr/wk (M–F, 7 hours per day between 9:00am–7:00pm, with one hour break); work hours to be determined in consultation with the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Program Head and may change.

Compensation

• ¥180,000/month. ¥17,000 will be deducted monthly for rent and utilities (gas, electricity, water, WiFi); additional monthly deductions are taken for taxes and nationally mandated insurance.
• Furnished accommodations.  Interns are housed in a Technos College dormitory, across from Technos College, with kitchenette and private bath.  There is no canteen in the dormitory, but lunch is available in the school cafeteria during the school day
• Round-trip airfare from the intern’s home country to Japan. Personal travel during breaks is not covered by Technos. If the intern terminates employment before the end of the contract term, Technos will not provide return airfare.
• Ten (10) days of paid leave after 6 months of work, in accordance with Japanese law. Two weeks of winter vacation and one week of spring vacation, to be determined in consultation with the EFL Program Head. 

Comments from Past Technos TA Interns

As English TAs, our main job is to help students with their homework, test preparation, interview  practice, etc. However, our goal is not merely to help them get high scores, but rather to encourage  their self-improvement. That involves more than just working with their papers and grades.
 
While some students are pretty good at English, the level of most students is not the highest I’ve seen. They’re quite shy and there’s also a big difference of level among them, so you should be flexible, conscientious, and patient.
 
It’s recommended to speak English to the students at all times so they can practice the language. So if you expect to improve your Japanese by speaking it all the time at work, unfortunately that won’t happen. You can ask the students/teachers to practice with you sometimes, but it shouldn’t be the main language you use with the students.
 
As for the money, you’ll get paid as an intern, so not a lot. But the net income is more than enough to live comfortably in Tokyo. I always save at least half of the salary for loan payment and big travels, and still have enough to go out every weekend.
 
Leisure activities aside, groceries and transportation are the two main expenses. Cooking by yourself saves a lot of money, and there are a number of supermarkets around the apartment. The apartment is about a 20-minute walk from the nearest train station. You’ll get a bike from the school, but if you don’t want to ride it up the hill on the way to the station you can take the bus.
 
Our job also includes updating the newspaper articles hung in the classrooms, monthly quizzes, social media, and the blog, as well as planning and preparing for the various holiday parties and other such events. This job requires you to be outgoing, understanding, good-humored, patient, self-sufficient, and hard-working.
 
The work schedule is flexible, and you can take classes or join clubs that are of interest to you that will count as work hours, as long as you work it out with the Head Teacher to maintain 35 hours/week. You may occasionally be asked to come in on weekends for special events, but you'll get days off in exchange.
 
My favorite part is the amazing people at the school. The faculty and staff are all incredibly kind and  welcoming, the English department is filled with supportive, hilarious, truly kind people, and the students never fail to make us smile, whether it is because of their friendliness, jokes, or amazing accomplishments.
 
Koganei is an awesome place to live as it is full of parks and interesting sights, while also providing  easy access to everything the rest of Tokyo has to offer. I personally wish I had more Japanese  experience prior to arriving in Japan as it would benefit my personal adventures. But if you are  open-minded, positive, and diligent, this internship is endlessly rewarding in so many ways.

Applying

If you are interested in applying for the Technos College Post-Graduation Teaching Assistantship, click the "Apply now" button to begin the online application.  As part of the application, you will need to

• Download and complete the Technos Post-Graduation Internship Application Form
• Submit a short essay (250–500 words) in which you discuss your interest in the position and the particular skills and qualities you would bring to the work
• Submit two (2) faculty references.

Applications will be reviewed by the IWU Study Abroad Advisory Committee, and two students' applications will be formally nominated to Technos for consideration.