13 thoughts on “So you want to be a direct-hire ALT?

  1. This is so fun to read and really helpful. Thank you for this Mr. Baron Von William ‘Bill’ Buzz Lightyear III of the House of Usher. Lol

  2. If one was to get a license to be a fully fledged high school teacher, what are the working hours like daily? Do japanese students go to school on the weekends? What about the holidays, are they not allowed to take paid holidays off when there are no students? Do you still get vacation days? Sorry for all the questions and thanks on advance.

    1. Hello there and thank you very much for taking the time to read and to leave a comment.

      I have to admit I don’t know about becoming a high school teacher in that much detail, but in answer to your questions:

      – A friend of mine who does the job works long hours and often (usually, in fact) on weekends, too. I’m not sure if the students have classes on weekends, but they do have clubs, events, and so on, and most of the teachers have paperwork, preparation, and other things to be getting on with – on Saturday and sometimes Sunday, too.

      – High school teachers are entitled to paid holiday, although I suspect that like junior high and elementary school teachers, a lot of them don’t take advantage of their full entitlement for the year. Particularly recently, though, the school principals that I work with have been encouraging their teachers to do less overtime and take more paid holiday during the spring, summer, and winter vacations, and if need be (e.g. if they have small children that need looking after or have sports days, graduation ceremonies, etc.) during term time, too.

      Overall and from my friends’ descriptions, it sounds like a much tougher gig than being an ALT, but more fulfilling, with a greater sense of responsibility, and potentially with better money and benefits, too.

      Thanks again and the best of luck if you try to become a high school teacher yourself!

  3. hey i hope you don’t mind i make a post, even though this threat is probably several years old.
    i want to start by saying, thanks for the information it was interesting, personally i am planning to get out of ALT soon, once i finish my masters in education and will get into a private, int school or university (i have one or two contacts on this, i hope ><).
    But regarding ALT i have a really obnoxious coworker, he is direct hire BOE teacher, the guy is a total clown. I mean to be an ALT, one doesnt need to be.. the sharpest tool in the shed, but this guy, wow.
    He goes on about the fact he is BOE and throws around his sense of superiority, for such near endlessly. Though he is infact, not a good teacher and probably only got the job because he married a Japanese women.. the poor girl.. and he is decent in Anime Japanese xD.
    Furthermore, he may be removed from this school next year after 5 years being here due to rule breaking, and i saw him touch a highschool girls hair from behind (it was not consensual) with a Japanese coworker, to which my vice principal was shocked and asked for his removal.
    So there is that. As they say, pride comes before the fall.
    But i wonder, what was the difference between your work as a Direct Hire ALT and a Dispatch Hire ALT, because of this guy, it got me curious. But granted i think there is no differences in the work, am i correct? thanks

    1. Hello there and thank you very much for taking the time to visit this blog and leave a comment.

      The story about your direct-hire colleague is intriguing. I’ve come across one or two weirdos and undesirables during my time as an ALT and as a conversation school teacher, so it doesn’t surprise me. Also, as the only direct-hire ALT in the city where I work, I, too, have probably been guilty of patronising my dispatch company colleagues. Like you say, though, it sounds like he’s got a taste of his own medicine and is going to have to look around for a new job – unless he’s very lucky, quite possibly with a dispatch company!

      In answer to your question, I can only speak for the situation regarding myself and the BOE that employs me, but essentially, the work that I do is the same as that of my dispatch company colleagues. The only differences are that I work slightly longer hours; I have to work during summer, winter and spring vacations unless I use some of my paid leave; because my Japanese is at a reasonably high level, I am occasionally called upon to act as interpreter (for example, when exchange students are visiting from the States) or translator; and for three months during the summer term, I teach an evening class at the local community centre (which also earns me a little bit of extra cash).

      Anyway, take care of yourself and I hope your next direct-hire colleague is a nicer person to work with!

  4. Great source of information buddy. I am from UK , Brighton. I am in Takamatsu Kagawa. married to a Japanese . I am working as an ALT with dispatch company, looking for direct hire . If you know anything please let me know.

    kind regards,

    Ganesh

    1. Great to hear from you, Ganesh, and thanks for taking the time to read and leave a comment.

      As it happens, you’re not the first person to ask that question (!), but yes, if I hear of any direct-hire positions that are free, I’ll let you know.

      I hope you’re enjoying life in Japan and that the whole Corona fiasco isn’t making things too inconvenient for you and your family.

      Take care and all the best,
      Tom (aka Muzuhashi)

  5. Hello Muzuhashi

    Very supersaiyanishgenkiitadaki article! Thinking of… did you mispronounced “musukashi” and that event cause you to use it as your pen name :3

    I am also planning to get out from my agency and take a path of being a direct hire… reason is my dispatch company placed me to a hidden village with a 90 minute curvy-uphill-curvy-uphill schools (of 6 10km apart) :3 My 22 year-old kei car radiator gave up on me twice… that prompt me that I can’t have my local car shop suffer for always meeting my impossible request of getting replacement of cheap 2nd hand parts with 5 years warranty like my new washing machine from the surplus shop.

    I think I can checked all the 3 boxes that you aforementioned…

    1. I don’t need a VISA (I’m a certified Nihonjin :3)
    2. I can speak and joke using Japanese.
    3. I was able to secure the ALT contract for 2 years now even though I look like them…

    My only concern is… I am not a native speaker… I heard success stories of non native speakers landing a direct hire job but also lately I’m hearing that the competition was kinda fierce…

    Can you give me some piece of, chunk, tekitou na… advice that can give me the courage to face all challenges plus the numb heart to talk to my area manager about leaving her even though she’s having trouble looking for other replacements to vacant positions :3

    1. Hello and thank you very much for your comment! Also, sorry for taking such a long time to reply – I’ve been very busy with my new non-ALT job and neglecting the blog recently…

      In answer to your questions:

      1) Yes, the name Muzuhashi does basically come from the word “muzukashii” (actually in combination with “hashi”, which as I’m sure you know is the word for chopsticks).

      2) Regarding getting out of your dispatch company and into a direct-hire ALT job, my advice would be: don’t quit until you already have something better lined up! You certainly don’t need to be a native speaker, but it does help if you can communicate reasonably well in Japanese and read/fill in whatever paperwork is required. Basically, just keep studying, keep looking, and eventually an opportunity will present itself.

      (Also, I know what you mean about old kei cars – the dispatch company I used to work for hired me a kei and during the time I was driving it, it broke down once and had a flat tyre on another occasion!)

      Good luck and do come back and let me know how you get on!

      All the best from Muzuka…er, I mean Muzuhashi.

  6. Hello Tom,

    I found this article while searching for how to get hired by the board of education in Japan right after searching for what degree one needs to teach in Japanese schools as a licensed teacher. Your articles answered both of them or at least, I got an idea about being able to get licensed without going to University for 4 years. I supposed that works if one already holds a degree. Thank you for the article.

    1. Hello and thank you very much for leaving a comment. (Also, sorry for taking such a long time to reply.) I’m glad you found this post useful – it’s probably the most popular one on the whole blog in terms of the number of hits. Also, I hope you manage to find a direct-hire ALT job yourself and that you are enjoying (or will enjoy when you come here?) your life in Japan.

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