"I want to teach English in Japan" / 「日本で英語を教えたい」| Dōgen

[@Dogen]

Japanese pitch-accent and pronunciation lessons: www.patreon.com/dogen

[@chauler5819]

Jokes on you, my imagination's Perfect Japan IS getting food poisoning from an omelette.

[@Dogen]

Best comment

[@wrongrabbit]

@@Dogen Best reply

[@railvolt]

@@Dogen I died when you said that as I have, indeed, gotten food poisoning from an omelette rice dish in Tokyo while visiting family.

[@聖ジェームズ]

Well, I’ve gotten food poisoning from an omelet right here in the USA, so I’m well conditioned.

[@therealzahyra]

Yup, and I am already aware of all the bad shizz that goes on in Japan and how difficult it is for a woman in the workplace there. I don't have a perfect image of Japan at all. And I love teaching and KZbin and I will do both there, so I'm goooood

[@foolsfury9958]

man, this opened my eyes. I don't want to go to japan to teach english anymore.... I'll go to japan to teach russian! Thanks for the motivation dogen sensei!!

[@aftertwentea]

Наконец-то настоящая цель.

[@IsleNaK]

Удачи! 😂

[@EwigerSeptember]

How about German? 🤔

[@IsleNaK]

@@EwigerSeptember Warum auch nicht? XD Aber die Nachfrage für Englisch ist sicherlich höher...

[@echonuim]

@@EwigerSeptember Deutsch kann lech mich im arsche. Deutsch wegen die Grammatik keinen spaß.

[@wolfrox777]

Before watching the video "Worst he can do is call me a weeb" Dogen: Japanophile "OH GOD NO"

[@theramendutchman]

"SAO Otaku" Dogen be hitting savagery levels that should not be legal

[@redfoxakame]

Love your Megalo pic ✌

[@리주민]

Stranger danger 😱😋 Its probably the other word with -phile, but I no longer associate meaning "love of" but rather "abuser of" Audiophile - someone who abuses music Japanophile - someone who abuses japan

[@fabiancisneros3007]

I felt you so much jajajaja

[@danicatempleton6745]

@@리주민 Yeah, they taught us about Francophiles in French class & had to make the same clarification

[@チェリーブロッサム-g3f]

As a Japanese person who is not good at English, I hope that at least the English teacher is a person who wants to see their students grow. I don't care about gender, race or skin colour of teacher.

[@OneMoreWord1]

That's exactly what I want to take my shot at, I want to be an English professor either high school or university level because I had to learn English myself (I'm Dutch) and I want to be the teacher everyone looks up to 😁

[@mohathar26]

This comment really motivates me! If i do choose to be an English teacher in Japan in the future, i will make sure my students become an English master haha

[@チェリーブロッサム-g3f]

@@mohathar26 Off cource!!!!!😄

[@チェリーブロッサム-g3f]

@@OneMoreWord1 Thanx.

[@LagAttacktoSlay]

「かっこいい先生になりたい」ってはずっと前から願いだった！ちなみに。。。僕の日本語にはどう思う？（けっこ笑)

[@scoutcoker9813]

For awhile I was so concerned about the stereotype of me going to another country to teach English. I feared that I would go over and leave after a year due to disillusionment. But, I realized with this video, I think I actually have a pretty good shot. I have my degree in linguistics, and teaching a language is my dream. I really am choosing Japan because it's the foreign language I'm familiar with. Maybe I have a shot at this after all, and I DO have the right mindset to do this. Thank you, Dogen.

[@heathersaxton8118]

Go for it. I taught at a language school in Japan, it was the most fun job I’ve ever had and I looked forward to going to work everyday. Also the pay was the same as my boyfriend who’s an engineer, not too shabby

[@brettpowell7826]

@@heathersaxton8118 so were you making that much because it was specifically a language school or because of how long you happened to be with that school? I don’t care to much about pay one way or the other as long as I make enough to survive but I would like to be able to travel a little and see the some of the country aside from the city I end up in

[@heathersaxton8118]

@@brettpowell7826 the pay only increased a little bit after being there for six months, but not a significant amount. It was pretty good from the start considering it’s Japan (2000 yen an hour)

[@CircusFoxxo]

For me it's the stereotype of "gaijin teach english urg" but also being a professional bad influence with tattoos that keeps me from pursuing it.

[@heathersaxton8118]

@@CircusFoxxo you’re really gonna let some dumb stereotype keep you from living your life? Sad

[@minervashideout]

Came looking for comedy ended up to 'hold up this is an actual advice' instead, welp.

[@colin-kun3611]

Zenbun Katatakala He didn’t say that people will be disappointed the most about Japan not being anime-ish, rather the fact they can’t do what they like -cosplaying, going to conventions and whatnot- cause their responsibilities and working hours would limit their free time, excessively so if they didn’t like the career they are practicing.

[@tetsuyauezato5536]

@Zenbun Katatakala make a video not a comment

[@colin-kun3611]

Zenbun Katatakala mentally iLife choosing to go there? I believe not. Btw who’s Davido-kun?

[@luckydannumber2]

@Zenbun Katatakala Hold your horse, Nelly, you've done a fatal mistake of putting everything under the same umbrella !! This is where you truly didn't understand the video and even then the hypothesis you presented is completely wrong and here's the explanation. When it's an isekai, fantasy or outlandish anime like SAO, Gundam which Dogen Sensei said then "yes", HOWEVER there are anime which are based on real life experiences with fantasy elements which they do reflect and give insights of how Japanese act in Japan and what is life like in Japan. You'll see it constantly if you don't limit yourself to the fantasy anime archetypes, examples include Kimi Ni Todoke, Welcome to the NHK, Monogatari Series, SNAFU from the top of my head and there are many more. If you remove the mythological elements in present-time anime, the anime will portray life in Japan and experiences to some degree. @Tetsuya uezato Zenbun couldn't because he will quickly realise his fatal mistake in his original hypothesis which is: "Anime and Real Life are independent", in layman terms saying that real life does not influence anime and vice versa. He will quickly realise it's not the case because its saying real life tv shows and real life does not have too much in common.

[@luckydannumber2]

@Zenbun Katatakala That's actually quite short, a paragraph explanation is normally sufficient and short. Quite strange you consider that a long reply.

[@sierrakks]

so true... i’m a linguistics/east asian studies major who wants to teach english abroad after i graduate but i can’t understand why people think getting a job they don’t want in another country would be fun...

[@MAlanThomasII]

As someone who owns multiple scholarly works on the history of English, I can't imagine being satisfied teaching English somewhere that wants me to churn out test results (rather than fluency) on a standardized educational plan with no real room for me to use my expertise.

[@UKfan879]

Usually it’s just a way to fund a year or 2 long vacation. Nothing more. Nothing less

[@stepahead5944]

Sometimes the jobs are misleading. They present themselves as being serious, professional work but in actuality the expectation is that one not necessarily be the qualified educator you were hired to be but glorified "edutainment" whose foreignness is exploited to recruit students or is exploited to artificially raise the prestige of your school.

[@tnatstrat7495]

@@MAlanThomasII Gotta start somewhere. Being an ALT is a good foot in the door.

[@tnatstrat7495]

@@UKfan879 I mean if that's your attitude, sure. But if you are looking to turn it into a career opportunity or build your personal growth, you can absolutely do that teaching English. This is a job. It's what you make it.

[@mesieurt2]

No, No. He's got a point

[@acat1463]

Thank you for this video! In Grade 8, I told my English teacher that my dream was to teach English overseas because I wanted to help connect other cultures. She told me that it wasn't a real job, that it was something people do for fun after graduation. I was hurt, but I was still determined to pursue my dream. I went to university, studied linguistics and teaching methodology, then moved to Japan. Japan was a lovely country in many ways, but I felt like there was no opportunity for establishing a real career. None of the other "teachers" took their work seriously, so we weren't highly regarded. It was incredibly disappointing to see. The fetishists were the worst. I moved back to Canada and started teaching English here to our refugee and newcomer populations. That progressed into teaching for colleges and universities, writing curriculum, and now training new English teachers. I absolutely love what I do. I have a great reputation, and I'm paid very well. I wish that more people would see language teaching as legitimate, challenging, meaningful career and stop progressing the awful stereotype that it's just something for Japanophiles on vacation. Maybe one day!

[@Ruylopez778]

Yeah, good point. Often the students in Japan have a very low opinion of English teachers - just above tourists and US military in terms of status. In my personal experience, I found expats and travellers in China were much more normal than in Japan, more open minded. Expats and tourists in Japan were often pretty weird, I thought. I think the system really discourages the idea of a 'career' because they can save on benefits by hiring people new, and waiting for them to get bored and be replaced. It seems like a lot of Japanese sort of 'tolerate' eikaiwa teachers and tourists, but like that they aren't a permanent entity.

[@min8683]

難しいトピックをこんなにも簡潔に分かりやすく説明できるのはDogenさんしかいないと思う

[@GaijinGoombah]

For me, it was more about not having enough ability to teach. I was forced to only teach very basic vocabulary, sentence structure. Some had it worse though. Being nothing more than a native speaker voice recorder. I think a lot of it also boils down to job fulfillment. When we have so few responsibilities, we get disillusioned to the idea that we're doing something important.

[@itwasmewasntit2448]

I'm planning to try JET out 3 years later from now, I'm a bit worried I won't be given the chance to actually talk and teach, not to mention discussing abstract phenomenons. (Teaching would be a means to an end and only for a couple years, but I'm a grammar and literature nazi so I don't think I'll hate it)

[@sasuberu]

@@itwasmewasntit2448 As they say in the JET Program (over and over and over), "Every Situation is Different" (ESID). While I unfortunately didn't get much teaching experience at my school ("Conversational English is prohibited because the students are too stupid" was, I believe, the direct quote from my supervisor), some friends had significant responsibilities at their schools (5-6 classes/day in an urban high school, or rotating between 4 elementary schools and 3 middle schools in a more rural area). It really is luck of the draw. I did get experience teaching at a cram school (yes, this is expressly prohibited by the program but I was guilted into it by my predecessor as well as some of my Japanese supervisors, so....?) where I had a lot of latitude in designing my own curriculum and trying out different methods, so there are other ways to get experience. I recommend finding some way to do some volunteer teaching before you go and maybe even in your community as well once you're there. Plenty of chances to talk and teach outside the classroom as well :-)

[@illiiilli24601]

@@sasuberu > Conversational English is prohibited because the students are too stupid What the fuck

[@tnatstrat7495]

So collect a paycheck and enjoy Japan. Then when your contract is up start a private tutoring/small classes business. Or send your resume out to better high schools, private schools and boards of education to get a more steady and independent job. JET is a foot in the door.

[@calliedesu]

@@tnatstrat7495 I was thinking/planning exactly this. I'm only 20, do you think it's worth getting a year or two experience teaching in the UK or is it a better idea to just get down to Japan and work from there? My mother is a teaching assistant so I think I could get into the industry easily, and teaching/support is an area I enjoy

[@claytonlochman330]

Came to Japan to see ninjas while I work, couldn’t find the ninjas because they’re too ninja, kept working.

[@mothratemporalradio517]

👀

[@maze5634]

がんばれ…！

[@Dingosean]

Otsukaresama

[@1550-s7y]

めちゃくちゃ正論で日本人の私もたくさんのことを気づかされました！日本に限らずどこか外国で働こうと思っている人みんながこの動画を見るべきだと思います！！

[@badsketch9264]

Dogen: puts "Undoubtably" in the subtitles Me: "Eigo jōzu"

[@neat2014]

Undoubtedly jōzu desu

[@いむひょんひょんショス]

@@neat2014 desu is formal sentence. because his japanese is great and you too

[@bigscarysteve]

"Undoubtably" is incorrect, supposably?

[@Rolando_Cueva]

@@bigscarysteve assumedly

[@nebunezz_r]

@@Rolando_Cueva probably

[@fleeno]

I was rejected by GABA and am eternally grateful to them for rejecting me. What you said rings absolutely true. I'm a programmer by profession and passion; yet I originally thought teaching English would be the easiest way to get here. They basically gave me the same advice: "You're not an English teacher, you're a programmer. How about finding a job here doing that?" So I did and have been here almost a decade, started a family, and am so grateful that I can live where I want with a fulfilling career. I sometimes shudder at the thought of having been accepted back then and not getting that advice.

[@RFCSPICYshine]

Do they accept you as programmer?

[@fleeno]

@@RFCSPICYshine Not at GABA, but rather at a large and well-known e-commerce company here in Japan. In fact, it's where I met my wife!

[@nordstjerna2]

@@fleeno Is she Japanese?

[@fleeno]

@@NowhereBeats It's hard to recommend anything specific since everyone has their own skills and interests, but one good way is to continually browse cross-language career sites like careercross.com or daijob.com. You might be surprised at how many jobs there are that just might require skills you already have. If you don't see something that interests you right away, keep searching and searching. I wish you the best!

[@fleeno]

@@nordstjerna2 she is. A native of the area where we currently live.

[@stargirlbb1]

As someone’s who’s literally weeks away from moving to Japan to teach English, this video was very necessary. Thanks bro

[@karcavida3250]

GL, hope you won't suffer from burnout because agencies and schools there tend to have really exploitative tendencies...

[@francismcgurk4200]

おお、日本は初めて？頑張れ！ I’ve lived in many countries, but for Japan, enjoying day-to-day life is crucial. With the low pay, there just isn’t much stimulation, as far as my life went for many years. Gotta find some good friends and good hangout spots I wish you the best of luck, and hope you find a nice class👍

[@kongvang5359]

I'm a few months away from moving there to teach English too. I did my ALT training in Japan and got a small taste of what's it's like though. Honestly, you just have to have fun with the students there. Going there with the goal of teaching actual English will only disappoint you. Another thing people don't realize is the locals. You can go about in your daily life without interacting with anyone, but I found it enjoyable speaking broken japanese to the small local mom&pop stores. They seem to like the fact that I'm trying to communicate with them despite my terrible Japanese.

[@shukrantpatil]

So what will you do after going there if not teaching English ? I’m interested

[@stargirlbb1]

Wow everyone is so kind. Thank you for best wishes

[@LossGaming]

This entire video hits too close to home, please stop watching me dogen.

[@kaiogiovanni]

Advantages of being poor is that you have enough time to change your mind before you get the opportunity to go to Japan lol

[@yogeshghadge5748]

@@kaiogiovanni Perfect!

[@bonjincowboy]

man I sure do love teaching uninterested children about english grammar structure

[@christiant.g.994]

Are all of them really uninterested in learning English?

[@koxukoshu]

@КиСаНьКа_ГаФ That bit about culture really is the key. If you can't figure out a way to use it in your interests then you won't be motivated to learn.

[@vaylard9474]

@КиСаНьКа_ГаФ I have no interest whatsoever in what has become of the cultures of Anglosphere countries. I learn English because of the vast array of information available in English on the internet that my native-language segment cannot provide. English is the modern language of science after all. Also, I can communicate with pretty much the rest of the world in this language. It seems to me that the Japanese care little not just about the US and other English-speaking countries, but about the outside world in its entirety.

[@vaylard9474]

@КиСаНьКа_ГаФ English is not just any language, it's the modern lingua franca. I have no intention of moving into an English-speaking country, but I can't imagine my life without English. I need it every single day: for entertainment, for communication, for education. And don't even speak such a rare language, our segment of the Internet is about the size of Japan's if not bigger. It's just not enough. English today is the kind of language that you need a reason to *not* learn, you have to consciously and purposefully avoid it. And their reason is that they are hermits.

[@thorbergson]

@@vaylard9474 they are kids with a lot on their plate, from puberty to rigorous extracurricular activities to university enrollment. Perhaps in a small town where a Caucasian person turns heads, and English is just Martian to them. In many lower income countries, parents, and the society in general, view English proficiency as a social mobility device, so kids want to learn. Japan lacks that. I'm not saying you aren't right, just that it might be difficult for a Japanese teen to appreciate that. And unmotivated student is the worst kind of student.

[@katiekawaii]

This is good advice, but I think there's another factor that is probably responsible for most cases: they never intended to stay forever. Most people go teach in Japan not to immigrate permanently but just to have that finite experience. That's what I've seen, at least.

[@ChickenGeorgeClooney]

Yeah, like I've been considering those "teach English in X with only a bachelors degree" jobs, but I'm not interested in a long time thing. Just as a temporary job combined with all the life experiences that would come with doing a job on the other side of the world.

[@BC33714]

Personally, a good portion of the people that I have met who aspire to do this have delusions that this is going to be a permanent career. They genuinely think that they're going to spend the rest of lives living out some perfect fantasy in Japan. I genuinely feel bad when they base their whole life's plan on the assumption that that they are going to permanently live in Japan as a teacher, but then reality of Japan's ESL industry kicks in and they end up with nothing to show for it but disappointment and a plane ride home a year later.

[@JunJun-or8fd]

ひとつひとつの言葉のアクセントというか音の高低差も匠に操ってて紙の上だけで勉強してない事がすごく伝わる 素直に感動した

[@TemporalShrew]

You can't scare me, Dogen, I'm both a Japanophile *and* an English grammar otaku. Though I'm also confident I'd lose in any war instigated by or on cockroaches, so we'll call this one a draw.

[@Abyssno1dad]

Hello, arachnophobe here. I’ve seen cockroaches and I think they’re kinda cute. Do normal people see cockroaches the same way I see spiders? I’ve heard nothing but hatred for cockroaches and spiders, but I never understood the cockroaches part.

[@fridtjofjohanolderheim6213]

@@Abyssno1dad I think they're kinda disgusting and ugly, but the big problem with cockroaches is that they'll completely infest and take over your entire house. You'll end up finding both dead and living cockroaches absolutely everywhere, whereas a spider will just fuck around for a few days and then die

[@beersnarkunbleached5660]

You and I have a lot in common, buddy.

[@sameash3153]

@@Abyssno1dad cockroaches can fly

[@Aringki]

@@Abyssno1dad I for one think spiders can be cute, but I'm not totally unafraid of them. Cockroaches just... Disgust me. Unlike spiders which usually stay still and stay in corners, cockroaches just go wherever they want. You might say that cockroaches stay away from humans as well, but... I've had one attempt to crawl on my face when I was asleep before. It's traumatizing. And like the other person said, it's more likely for cockroaches to infest your house

[@perfume-tengoku2455]

it's the other way around for me, after being overwarned that i would end up having my dream Japan tore into pieces once arriving in Japan, I actually fell in love with the "lifestyle" of living in Japan; security, healthcare, fashion, organization and nomihoudai. Granted I never worked as a teacher, just in a company. I think some of the main reasons why people get frustrated and go back is: - inability to adapt and understand social rules - wanting to only meet Japanese people - thinking they're leaving all their personal problems home to start a new life but getting to understand that those issues never were sorted The strongest and most reliable and relatable friend group you can make as a foreigner in Japan is with other foreigners in Japan. This is the people that go through the same stuff as you do. Depression from being alone in a foreign land, everyday life problems, etc... You'll meet Japanese people that way: these people will have Japanese gf/bf and friends, who you'll meet, you'll likely also meet half Japanese people who like to hang out with foreigners more, etc. After sometime you quickly see the delusional people who aren't gonna last long here, and the ones who are going to stay for 10 years.

[@furikakez]

i’d add to your list the inability to learn japanese to a decent level. Enough to get better job opportunities, engage in more social activities, have more independence and freedom, more entertaining alternatives and increasing their lifestyle overall.

[@perfume-tengoku2455]

@@furikakez Oh true ! More simply, thinking "I'll learn Japanese once I'm there" is a classic. Reality is that a language won't magically get in your head by stepping foot in Japan. When I arrived in jp i had already a decent speaking level which made it way easier to enjoy living there, while people who didn't speak a word felt regrets for missing out on things because of language barrier. Guys, try to get to JLPT 5 !

[@mizmimaroses]

@@perfume-tengoku2455 This makes me very happy because I feel like people like to beat into my head that living in Japan or [insert country here] isn't all it's cracked up to be and me wanting to live there is just silly. I studied 4 months in Japan, and it's so true, the closest friends I made were fellow foreigners from around the world (it was so refreshing to be with people who weren't all american), but my bestest friend of them all was an incredibly quirky Japanese guy who hung out with foreigners 10x more then he'd ever hung out with another Japanese person. I met him through my other foreign friend and I met other Japanese people through him. A lot of those people are still over in Japan, and after 2 years I'm still dying to go back just because I never felt more at home with a group of people before.

[@perfume-tengoku2455]

@@mizmimaroses how nice! i assume you were probably like me part of one of those foreign exchange students squads haha. there's a sort of solidairty that makes foreign students closer I feel:p inded you meet people by meeting people. I'm trying to go back but can't because of stupid covid19. Hope you can go back soon

[@laurabalog3546]

When I was in Japan every foreigner I saw we made this kind of understanding eye contact like "yeah, bro this is rough. I get you fam" 😂 especially in a small village! I was only there a month and had struggles, but I too fell in love with the way of life. Cities are organized chaos, everyone follows polite social cues like silence on trains, I lost my purse in a huge shopping center for an hour, had all my money and passport! I had left it in the cafeteria. A man running a food stall held onto it and as soon as he saw me called out to give it back and two elderly women said they watched him to make sure he was honest and didn't steal anything. Good luck with that kind of experience in New York or London! I think people forget that Japan is a country like any other, that it has many issues too, and like in the video they have this perfect Japan in mind. But it is still a good place to live in my opinion. Safe, clean, (cockroaches aside but that's another story) and beautiful!

[@pooo1113]

どーげんさんマジですごいよな 本質を突くってこういうことなのかもしれない 嫌味のような感じもないし、ちょっとした冗談も入れられてすごい 冗談の入れ方が日本っぽくないけど不自然さもなく、自分の母語との融合感がすごい とてつもない努力をされたんだなと思う

[@rizzofromIndo]

Dogen-san is secretly telling us he is a Kirito Cosplayer after hours. 😂😂😂

[@ianfinrir8724]

Like we didn't know that already?

[@もも-j1j5w]

私の学校の海外から来た英語の先生が生徒と一緒にtiktok撮ってその動画を生徒がアップしちゃってそれが学校にバレて強制的に元の国に戻されてたwwwwまじで可哀想でしかない、、ww

[@モハメドモリメメントアリ]

何それこっわ ALTの先生ならノリでやっちゃいそう

[@WiggyJiggy]

"Getting dumped on a rainy day in Yokohama..." - after being stationed in Japan, this one definitely hits home for me.

[@koxukoshu]

You can just feel that this line was inspired by an past experience.

[@catmerchant8699]

Being able to move forward from unhappy events is what truly shows your maturity and dedication to live in a foreign country

[@StarShiningTail]

change it to sannomiya for and yup, been there

[@Whydoesthissitesuck]

That sounds aesthetic af though

[@flashdel626]

​@@Whydoesthissitesuck Yokohama is not nice enough to make up for it haha

[@gon2018]

The only thing that popped in my head after reading the title was: "Come to English to teach Japan" sorry... Love your videos though!!

[@Geck0GC]

got to be honest, that's how I read it at first.

[@MeneltirFalmaro]

Where did "Come to English to teach Japan" originally come from exactly?

[@Mark_TDD]

@@MeneltirFalmaro From his collab video with Abroad In Japan.

[@merkoo7]

Same.

[@okashi3806]

thats the comment I was looking for!

[@caelointheclouds]

Hello Dogen, As a child I always wanted to live in Japan. The architecture, the landscape, the cities has always enticed me. I always said to myself I wanted to become an architect and practice architecture in Japan. I always said I wanted to learn Japanese and I never did. So then I hear you speak Japanese it so natural and so eloquently, you’ve encouraged me to go ahead and learn it. And yes , you’re totally right people have a misconception that all they wanna do is go teach English when there’s so much more you can do an offer to Japan.

[@astral6749]

So.. are you still planning to go to Japan and be an architect there?

[@tetsuyauezato5536]

Missed the point.

[@justarandomgamer6309]

for me I thought that because, as a young person whose never left the states, I have legit no idea of any other I could get there(and stay). I mean literally just thinking of how I'll make my dream come true gives me a headache from overthinking xD

[@Munchprime]

If you're learning for free, I strongly recommend starting with Tae Kim's guide. It teaches fundamentals you need that most other places fail to cover at all.

[@Munchprime]

@@tetsuyauezato5536 I don't think he missed the point. Everyone who wants to live in Japan can benefit from knowing Japanese, and this video is encouraging for anyone who wants to go there for reasons other than teaching English - like being an architect.

[@tender3545]

I do believe that the whole disillusionment thing is important to get a full grasp on before going to a country, so I've spent a good amount of time researching all that sucks about Japan. I've watched videos on why you *shouldn't* move there, and heard stories of people who got depressed while living there and decided to come back. Even after all this, I still want to move there, and I think my mental state is in a good place so that I'm ready for the negative experiences that will come along with living there. But the one thing that sucks is that most people just assume I have no idea what I'm talking about. They just assume that I'm fantasizing Japan and they completely dismiss my dream and my reasons as "only cause of anime." I've wanted to move to Japan for a few years more than I've been a fan of anime, but that doesn't matter to most of them. So what I've realized is that people will hate on you for your dreams, people expect you to fail, and people assume the worst in others, but if you still want to work hard for your goals despite this, then you know you're passionate enough to make it ;) Videos like this are always great reminders

[@Voltaire8559]

The main message of this vdo goes far beyond the reaches of people who “want to teach English in Japan.”, but also to the majority of the “unemployed us” that are looking for job-fullfillments in life. Thanks sensei!

[@smyunicorn]

To the SAO otaku, whose dreams have been brutally crushed by reality, "just wait for truck-kun to isekai you out"

[@ErebosGR]

That completes the otaku experience. According to Tonikaku Kawaii, truck-kun can score you even a cute teenage wife. So, win-win.

[@NukeMarine]

Given my hatred of that anime, it made me sympathize with the imaginary protagonist in Dogen's tale all the less.

[@mijukudreamers]

@@ErebosGR it is not truck-kun, it is our lord and savior truck-sama

[@msmtch]

Truck-sama ftw

[@CidGuerreiro1234]

Ah yes, Ambulance-kun's older brother.

[@yuvcharmer]

Last time I was this early, Dogen used to say “これから日本語のレッスンをおこないます”

[@DengueBurger]

I think he would say 今から

[@elementart_]

Ah yes the good old days of super advanced Japanese lessons

[@yuvcharmer]

@@DengueBurger you’re right.

[@NaokiP72]

You can tell just how early that was by the fact that he didn't say 講座

[@wekillanimal8663]

What i can read from your comment is "korekara nihon .... No retsun wo okonaimasu"

[@TheBrainSpecialist]

Of course he drops this the day I submit my application for JET

[@catmerchant8699]

Lol good luck

[@tnatstrat7495]

God forbid you get a steady, relatively easy, decent paying job overseas straight out of college. Sounds horrible.

[@rsmith02]

JET can be a springboard to other careers. Study Japanese and network like crazy in your free time (by doing things you enjoy).

[@TheBrainSpecialist]

@@rsmith02 thats the plan my dude

[@rsmith02]

@@TheBrainSpecialist Nice, keep that in mind even when you're busy with the day to day. See you over here

[@TheAntinowherelane]

Anyone who thinks Japan is perfect needs to spend 30 minutes in the foot tunnel by Shinjuku station after a busy night. (That said, I love visiting. Please go see more than just Tokyo, folks.)

[@sunnylotus]

As a Japanese person who went to university in the US, it was actually quite annoying to have Americans tell me that they wish to work in Japan to teach English. Most of the time, they don’t actually have a passion to teach, just seeking for an excuse to live their otaku fantasy in Japan 🙄

[@チェリーブロッサム-g3f]

Such an American must be thinking: "Japanese people with poor English skills won't notice that I can't explain English grammar well to non-native speakers, and I can work as a tutor for a short time."

[@nebunezz_r]

Americans do be saying they're good at English when they can't even tell the difference between two distinguishably different words that is "They're" and "There".

[@holliswilliams8426]

@@nebunezz_r I had a stroke trying to read that.

[@spoppyboi6427]

@@nebunezz_r sez u

[@nebunezz_r]

@@holliswilliams8426 well you're an American.

[@ruthsangree1473]

LOL this could be copy pasted for English Teachers in Korea

[@gogakuhei]

search/replace anime for k-pop and you've got yourself a video

[@karcavida3250]

@@gogakuhei LOL that's so accurate, Japan and Korea seem to attract the same weebish type of people

[@dustinm2717]

from what I've noticed korea and kpop are kinda like to the young feminine raised population like what Japan and anime are to the young male raised population Different demographic and aesthetics, but a lot of the same patterns pop up between them

[@jasonlee7928]

Except instead the foreigners who want to move to korea usually have a dream job of being a kpop star. At least the english teacher in japan is more realistic and way less soul crushing

[@lavendercamellia7131]

@@jasonlee7928 if you crush your soul...and sell it to the devil though.....you might actually become a kpop star lol. sign that contract girl

[@AlexSinclair]

Stop telling me the truth right to my own face.

[@distinctloafer]

Serves you right.

[@koja_kar]

I just want to explore the countryside, find a remote job or something and a little mountain or coastal town with decent internet and take it slow for a couple of years. That's my very long term goal

[@StevenBara]

Corona brought us much closer to this goal 👍

[@koja_kar]

@@StevenBara Hopefully. Company I'm with right now is really old fashioned and wants everyone back in the office as soon as the pandemic ends. I'm quietly looking for work elsewhere

[@sirdingmydong2107]

@@koja_kar Good luck man. I want to live in japan some time for a few years, but However, I am american, and I love my country, so it would be difficult to stay permanently. I would miss America, and the rights I have here.

[@Liam-zg2ip]

Yep

[@MikeEPerez]

It really is a unicorn hunt. I'm lucky that my spouse has a job here in Japan, but I've had a really difficult time finding remote work. Either it doesn't meet the requirements of my visa, or the asynchronous schedule doesn't work, or there are too many tax issues that the company can't deal with. So for now, I have to rely on freelance work, which is a major crapshoot.

[@Xx_SE7EN_xX]

「彼らの夢は給料の低い英語教師になるわけではない」うっ…給料システムイカれてるんで……ｗ

[@merutosan8]

I've been learning Japanese for 8 years and I've been a non-native English teacher for 5 years now. I actually went through immense training to be certified as an international teacher. Why did I get this special training you ask? To teach English in Japan. Even the thought of it made me feel euphoric, still does. My main reason is to improve my Japanese because I just love the language. I'm not much of an anime otaku, although I occasionally watch a thing or two; I love Japanese, I love writing it, I love speaking it and I definitely love listening to it. My dream is still to teach English in Japan, however, I always believe that your videos provide a valid perspective, albeit humorously most times. This one was more insightful. Thank you Dogen-san.

[@kianap4640]

Great advice lol Don’t forget to do what you love, where you want to do it

[@pirateradioFPV]

Well, there's the reality vs the dream aspect but also the fact, that most people want to experience japan and in couple of years they've had their fill, both the reality and the dream.

[@TheParkourFencer]

The one issue I have with this video is that it assumes that leaving Japan after a few years is some sort of failure or the person has become dissatisfied. I just finished my application to teach in Japan this afternoon, actually. I want to make the most of the experience, but I don't intend to live there after I finish. I think that many people share this perspective. It is a wonderful opportunity for engaging with another culture, and hopefully giving back to the people who live there through your passion and involvement. However, that doesn't mean it is that person's entire life plan.

[@kotoriimbued2340]

Totally agreed. Some people are just not sure what they want to do in life, even after multiple personality tests, counseling, they sometimes just need to try it for themselves and make the most out of the experience; whether it's bad or not. You see, I plan to live in Japan for around 2 years and come back to my home country after, but who knows maybe I'll hate it and come back after a couple of months or maybe I'll love it and want to stay much longer. I've also genuinely always wanted to try teaching English and have done it a bit in the past but not as an assistant teacher. I want to experience and learn about myself while immersing myself in another culture. You can also include the nuance of having "luck" in finding a good placement/contract, which could include or not a bad apartment with cockroaches that is 2h away from the school (with a bad reputation) you need to teach or a nice clean apartment with AC 5 min walk from your school next to a conbini and onsen and most of the students are really nice + you aren't a human voice recorder. In the end, I think videos like these are important to set realistic goals and expectations to not be truly disappointed and truly think about your decision. Also for deciding to make the best out of that decision whether you are lucky or not. For sure dougen knows there are more nuances, as in all things, pretty sure he didn't want to do a 30 min video with all the possible nuances; he gave a pretty good image of the general stereotype experiences you hear online or on forums lol.

[@Andrew-yl7lm]

Quite true. Those are the people that often leave to go and do as he said, teach in Bangkok or Shanghai after experiencing Japan.

[@Dingosean]

Well, thats only if you also think the intended subjects in this story all planned to return home. So many people want to move to japan, start a new life in japan and live here forever and ever without having ever visited. They think all of Japan is just some dreamland of anime, new age technology, and sexy tiny asian women or whatever, when in reality its unbearably hot, unbearably cold, windy, rainy, maybe snowy, sweaty, wet, crowded, full of red tape and bureaucracy, fucking fax machines, CDs and Laserdisks are still in use, the buildings arent insulated, you cant find shoes in your size, the people are kinda ignorant of your culture or values, there are so many bugs, you wont see mt fuji every day or ever at all, relationships with Japanese are NOT what you are used to, you need to do weird ass shit like have the police to come to your house and measure your parking spot in order to buy a car, and most of all, you will never 'belong' simply because youre a foreigner. IF you can deal with all of that, you will learn to love living here as I have.

[@toodleloos]

well it was aimed specifically at people who DO intend to stay and then become disillusioned after some years and blame it on the country...which happens VERY often.

[@メグロモスアウト]

イントネーションが完全に日本人のそれですごい

[@Akusiapa-mc2iz]

?

[@メグロモスアウト]

@@Akusiapa-mc2iz He speaks perfectly in Japanese pronunciation. That's amazing.

[@newve5179]

非常に明快な日本語で筋の通った指摘です。考えたことの無い世界の話で参考になりました。

[@ruda02]

Not teaching english, but leaving in a really expensive closet more than 15min away from Kawasaki Station and rethinking all my life

[@rsmith02]

Is Kawasaki really that expensive? I don't get why.

[@ruda02]

@@rsmith02 Tokyo is just a few stations away and i like to believe thats the reason why. Other than that, i have no idea

[@rsmith02]

@@ruda02 I get that but it's not really a high-end area. I mean I had an apartment by Kichijoji for less than 10 man and now have a house in Kamakura for not much more!

[@jackf.4785]

@@ruda02 what's your rent? It's very easy to find places IN Tokyo itself for ¥85k and in talking 1K, Studios, Loft apartments etc.

[@ruda02]

@@jackf.4785 RIght now its 65kJPY for a really small place. I like Kawasaki, but can`t wait to move from here

[@keiochris]

Finally! I can listen to this without feeling horribly self-conscious.

[@Dogen]

Lol I prefer listening to your version

[@keiochris]

Dat ASMR amirite?

[@EmberShot_]

I completely agree with this. I got my start teaching ESL in China back in the summer of 2014. In university, I had majored in history, which did, to a small degree, prepare me for ESL teaching. I did not plan to live in China, but I knew I was going to appreciate that experience. I came back to the U.S. in summer of 2015 and took a couple years to earn my M.A. in history, but I always felt that connection to TESOL. Perhaps it was my part-time job after returning to the states teaching ESL to students from all over (including Japan), or the fact that I had become moderately good friends with the head of the TESOL department at my university by a chance elevator encounter. In any case, my appreciation and love of grammar and ESL instruction led me to become an adult education ESL instructor, but once my wife finishes her B.A. in English, we're off to Japan. To become ESL teachers. Indefinitely. This is a commitment we did not take lightly, as I have experience living abroad (not just China, either), and she is fluent in Japanese (from Hawaii). Before anyone thinks about moving to Japan to teach English, I highly recommend learning more about the work culture / ethic, school system, apartments, INSECTS in Japan, and English grammar (in depth, not some How To book), just to name a few. And, of course, watch more of Dogen's videos ;)

[@lifenote1943]

I really liked this video, he talked about something that usually boils down to “weebs get out” and gave a really interesting and inspirational view.

[@lifenote1943]

@@Madhattersinjeans bruh that adds nothing be quiet.

[@johnmegow8102]

This video actually makes me feel very good about my reasoning for wanting to teach English in Japan. I'm a Linguistics major, so I have a passion for learning and teaching languages. My priority for the years after I graduate is to see a part of the world that is different from where I come from and to partake in exchanging language. I know a lot of people talk about how terrible the experience can be, so this explanation makes me more confident that I have an outlook that will help me be more successful. Thank you!

[@amarug]

I must say, my journey to "Japanophily" was a bit different. I never cared for anime, manga, or ever had any preference for a specific "ethnicity" of women. I didn't even like sushi (I even hated it). I had traveled the world quite a bit already but never got "hooked" on a place that I just HAD to revisit. Then, in 2008 a friend asked me to randomly go to Japan with him and I had nothing to do then so I was like "why not". I went there with basically no research or expectations. But after oh wow.... Everything there resonated with me, the non-sushi parts of the food, the smells, the people, the culture with this insane juxtaposition of high-tech next to old wooden temples and shrines and everything is cleaned to shine. I could not get over it how much I liked the vibe and atmosphere there. Fast forward a few years and meanwhile, I had gotten married and I tried to get my wife to join me. She basically hated everything she heard about Japan and it was really nowhere on her list of "places to visit". After a few years she caved and joined me.... 48h after we had landed there, with almost tears in her eyes, she said "this is the best place I've ever visited". And ever since we go back and will do so for the rest of our lives, its real holiday love. Yet, I already knew 10 years ago, that I would not want to live there, Switzerland is still the best place for me to be "parked". I just thought I'd share the story, as it is really coming from another end than most, and perhaps if you dont expect ANYTHING from it and don't get some fake picture via anime or so what it might be like, it, after all, is a properly amazing place.

[@user-rs1wc9qs3n]

Captain Nemo any time I see high tech in reference to Japan I laugh in office fax machines and still burning things on cds, only just now getting smart boards in classrooms in 2020 for the first time. The honeymoon phase is real.

[@sskbkbys]

Thanks for sharing the story! Love from Japan.

[@Hopppp]

I live in Switzerland :DDD I‘m glad you like it here, it‘s a beautiful country

[@philipdavis7521]

Thanks for this - I've no doubt that Dogans description matches many thousands of foreigners in Japan (mostly, it should be said, Americans, I think many Europeans have a different 'route' to Japan), but it doesn't match me or many others. Most of the Japanophiles I know have little to no interest in anime or cosplay (maybe its my age). Part of my love for visiting Japan is simply that I'm an introvert, and I find the type of social pattern that extroverts hate about Japan suits me - talking to a few other Japanophiles, this is a recurring theme. Put simply, the Japanese are friendly and helpful, but leave you alone when you clearly want to be alone.

[@NiñoVincenFernandez]

Damn I thought I was the only person who hated sushi

[@joelkang9550]

I believe teaching is a very honorable career. To teach well would have to include the skill to encourage learning and curiosity, more than just knowledge because the students are involved in the process.

[@artboy598]

Teaching is honorable. All the more reason you shouldn’t do it unless you actually care about it or your students.

[@joelkang9550]

@@artboy598 ye

[@UnderMySkin17]

I agree, and it's also one of the most important jobs in my opinion. We would be nothing without education. You know, knowledge is power.

[@joelkang9550]

@@UnderMySkin17 totally agree with you

[@atlas4733]

that is if you're actually interested in reaching though

[@DengueBurger]

Inspiring, thanks dad

[@lgmsampaio]

This is something I noticed since I arrived in Japan. So many "English teachers" here, yet just few Japanese can speak English. Something is really wrong on this equation. Someone is not doing their job.

[@CorneliusTalmadge]

The fact they don't speak it doesn't necessarily mean they can't understand it.

[@lindavel43]

@@CorneliusTalmadge My family from Mexico is the same. They understand more by reading it. But the teachers were bad...My cousin grew up in the States and she said the teacher wasn't really fluent...

[@khaoscero]

most English teachers suck but also most English teaching is done with super young kids. as they get older, English education quality only goes down. Japanese just don't value it, parents don't care, schools don't care.

[@XianKai]

The teaching of English in the public schools is used merely for passing school exams. Also, at least with the JET Programme, the use of the assistant language tearchers is severely limited. They can't do much because they aren't allowed to do much. Being trained as a teacher in university then trying to teach ESL...you'll want to tear your hair out. Just with how regimented their English courses are for grade school alone it is frustrating. I feel the Japanese get in their own way and prohibit themselves from excelling in English. English and Japanese are two different language animals but the crutch of katakana is the bane and preventer of the full crossover to being more proficent in English among other things of course--societal traits and whatnot. The Japanese are an amazing set of people. They can do anything. Learning and being proficient in English though...this is an invisible barrier and it needs to be broken.

[@nebunezz_r]

English teacher can be suck, I understand more English by changing my online ecosystem to English than actually learning it in school, though my high school teacher really make that thought leave.

[@hangedone]

This is actually such a nice message that a lot of people need to hear! The phrasing was clear and non-condescending, as it could’ve easily been. Awesome 👏🏼 Also, the war on cockroaches part was way too real 😭

[@cazudon436]

来日直後、日本の知らなかった様々な暗い面の壁に、誰だって頭をぶつけたことがある。 しかし、来日をして自分の妄想に惑わされ、残るために抗ったあげく母語を教えようとする、または適当な仕事を選ぶ人は日本を去るのが紛れもない事実です。 海外での生活は基本的に困難だらけだから、好きなことをしなきゃ意味がないです😌

[@lizjohnson3440]

This is good advice for everyone, even if you stay in your hometown.

[@Leila-dz3ln]

What I learned from this video: I can’t live in Japan cause I’m too scared of cockroaches

[@tsu417]

don't they exist in your country!?

[@Leila-dz3ln]

@@tsu417 luckily I've never seen one

[@tsu417]

@@Leila-dz3ln Whoa I wanna live in there

[@wildmoonchild8210]

where i am (northeast usa) no cockroaches at all

[@reigee2869]

They’re such a problem during summer. No matter how clean you try to keep your place. You basically have to protect your doorways and drains because that’s where they come in from. It’s awful. And they’re freakin huge. Never had I seen such big roaches prior to moving here.

[@12isaac00]

What I got from this is to do what one enjoys doing for a living, and I really can't disagree with that.

[@luisadoamaral]

I'm a non-native English teacher in Brazil and, even though I'm a student of Korean, I follow your channel to hear from various teaching sources and improve my own thoughts about language teaching. This was a great watch. I actually have a degree in Architecture but I'm extremely passionate about languages and I love being a teacher so much that it bothers me deeply when I see people using "teaching English" as a free-pass to live abroad. Teaching is such a big responsibility. Especially when it comes to adults, many of them already feel like they're behind because they're learning English in their late 20s or early 30s... Anyway, this video resonated with me in a rather odd way but I'm grateful for it. Keep up the good work ^^

[@lychitrash]

I have a friend like this, and I pray for him.

[@TakumiJoyconBoyz]

Send them this video.

[@hakuOTR]

he is me

[@pennylessz]

@@hakuOTR Keep going, I'm rooting for you!

[@hakuOTR]

@@pennylessz thank you >~

[@dingorino]

ur friend to cool!

[@Chinintoo16]

now we finally get to hear dogen himself say it, though his friend had a pleasant voice too

[@Dogen]

Honestly Chris has a better voice

[@stnhndg]

Everything sounds more convicting when being said with british accent ))

[@In.New.York.I.Milly.Rock.]

Dogen's writing is so underrated. The pacing, the subversion of a sentences tone in the following phrase as a means to string ideas together, the conciseness... Based af

[@Mr_Mellowz]

Hopefully his wiring doesn't short circuit

[@Meimoons]

I think you mean to say he's articulate.

[@natalybasora9769]

As the daughter of a Spanish teacher, and having teachers in my family and having my future husband wanting to be a college professor, I can tell you from experience that teaching is not easy, and I think it would definitely be harder to do so in another country, no matter how beautiful it is. If you want to teach, you should have a passion for it.

[@alice_atari]

While in general this is solid advice, I think a lot of people don't have a "dream job" and would like to experience certain things despite this. Also, certain professions just aren't gonna get you a visa very easily... If you are a trades person, and don't have a 4 year degree for example. Except if you're from SEA and go for the notorious training program...

[@TreeFrogOnATree]

I want to teach Japan to English.

[@liberator48]

In Japan?

[@Meimoons]

@@liberator48 Probably not.

[@joshmaroney9913]

The answer to your question is this: I wanted to become a teacher long before I wanted to go to Japan. The only difference is that I now want to be a teacher in Japan. Admittedly, my Pikachu profile picture may not be very reassuring...

[@stnhndg]

Just keep telling them that it's rare British Yellow Squirrel )

[@DanielK1213th]

Yeah sure kid

[@rsmith02]

You don't have to be an English teacher. Though it's a place to start.

[@aj3851]

僕は英語文法のオタクだけど日本の学校はたいてい芸能人みたいな先生だけ欲しがる。文法のオタクもburn outする。

[@anyanyausagi]

個人的な意見ですけど、おもしろい先生というのは芸能人のようなところがあると思います。おもしろく教えるというのはパフォーマンスをすることでもあるではないかなと。だから英語文法オタクだけでうまく先生ができるわけではないと思います。

[@aj3851]

確かに。でも、元気すぎるにならないで面白い授業を教えるのができる。日本に「MAX元気」だけ欲しがる学校が多い。若い子のクラスに大丈夫ですけど中学生や高校生や大人はそんなに不誠実な顔を見たくない。生徒は面白くて真面目に勉強できる授業が欲しがる。ピエロの先生はヤダ。

[@anyanyausagi]

@@aj3851 確かにそうですね。私もピエロの先生の真似するのがすごく嫌で気持ちが大変分かります。たぶんここは落ち着いている先生でも受けてくれる学校を探さないといけないですね。私の場合はオンラインで教えていますが、ピエロほど元気な先生を求めているような生徒がいましたが、ほとんどの生徒が大人のかげでだからなのか、元気が足りない文句がないです。AJさんもいい学校に巡り合いますように願っています ☺︎

[@kryskross9027]

Ah, see, for me, the desire to teach English in Japan is simply to live in Japan for a year. I don’t intend to move to Japan permanently, as much as I love it there, because my family is very close and being so far away from them is hard for me. I would be one to leave after a year. I studied abroad in Japan for a semester and it was a very good experience, I miss Japan a lot.

[@xxalucard66xx]

This was an interesting watch. I've been teaching in Morocco now for years (I'm in my 5th year now) and what you've said holds true for anyone considering teaching as a method of travel. It works for a bit, but if you're not interested in teaching, or develop an interest in it, you're going to get burned out in a year or two and leave. For me I felt the burnout during my 2nd year, but managed to find a genuine passion for it. My students and their families have come to me saying "If you leave, there will never be another person that can replace you." Hearing these words and many other kind words from the people here is what got me to stay with renewed vigor. If you want to go overseas and succeed you have to have passion in everything you do. Don't go to Japan, or Morocco, or anywhere and think of the teaching as just a job. Make it an integral part of your life, make plans for each class, anticipate what questions the students will ask, get to know everyone during their break period. If you make the job just as important an aspect of your life as the travel experience you'll definitely stick around longer. You'll also be liked much more, and remembered by everyone who gets to know you as you get to know them. And to think, I found this channel through your joke videos!

[@japaneseteachermorris]

勉強になります。I think living in Japan is difficult even for Japanese people who have no particular motivation to live in Japan too. Motivation or goals are very important indeed. いつも良いビデオありがとうございます😊

[@Teriell]

If you focus on the mic, it looks like as if the mic is edited into the vid xD Also whoa.. this is the fastest I have ever clicked on a Video

[@MMenyan]

camera focus

[@jdzspace33]

It's weird because I had never thought of those who want to go to Japan to teach English as ending up as poor teachers. It's strange because in America you have to have the passion to teach, and get a lot of enjoyment out of it to be good and put the work in. It's kind of a disservice to Japanese students to half-ass the teaching thing just so you can live out some fantasy where your students are window dressing and not the genuine focus. I'm glad I decided that if I can find a job in Japan with my degree then I will move there. Instead of my former goal to move there and "figure it out".,

[@peytonbergman5860]

What would you think about someone who wants to teach in their home country but also wants to teach in Japan even if it was for a couple years

[@jdzspace33]

@@peytonbergman5860 -that's the kind of teacher Japan needs. From what I understand a lot of the reasons foreigners get a bad rap with some Japanese is because they don't offer anything of value to Japan. So if that's your passion then I don't think anyone can say anything to you imho.

[@JTu8925]

@@jdzspace33 The thing is that all teachers whether they are great or average are treated the same. These companies are revolving doors, they recruit foreigners all the time.

[@phantajee]

Although I think the intention of this video was maybe to redirect some people who like the idea of teaching in japan for the japan part, it made me even more confident that it is something I'm interested in! Thinking about getting to spend my time explaining sentence structures seems really like a dream come true, and living in japan would probably make it that much better. So thank you for such thoughtful content once again!

[@nessrinetle]

"It's not terribly difficult to become an English teacher in non-English speaking countries." *laughs in German where you have to go through seven years of university and teacher training in order to teach* All jokes aside, I totally agree with your statement. Many people see teaching as like a side thing rather than as their full time job. As someone who is becoming an English and biology teacher, I have encountered many people who becoming teachers because "the job pays well", "you only teach 25 hours a week" or because "I can be a teacher wherever I go". What people fail to realise is that teaching isn't easy. It's not something you should do half-heartedly. Not to say there aren't teachers Iike that, there are plenty, but the job isn't what people think it is. Yes, you might think you have more free time but all the preparing lessons and correcting papers will soon have you stay up late on a regular. Not to mention the responsibility you have. Your students depend on you, you're their gateway to knowledge and competences and your teaching can make or break them. For some students you might even be the only adult role model they have so you better be a good one. Many people drop out of the education programme the moment things get real. The moment you have to stand in front of a class and actually teach. The thing is, you can learn how to prepare a lesson and how to grade but you can never learn how to be a teacher.

[@리주민]

25 hours a week??? Where can I apply? 40 hours in the classroom, another 20 hours on my own time doing lesson planning and activities creation.

[@jannepeltonen2036]

I disagree, you absolutely *can* learn that. I've seen teachers who've really sucked at it at first finding their motivation and actually becoming way better at it.

[@jannepeltonen2036]

@Denise C It does require less money, but you do need those extra years of university and training. All teaching occupations require that. In most Nordic countries at least.

[@woltti]

I didn't really realise before but I actually dream of the "being an English teacher" part in "being an English teacher in Japan" more than the past time activities the location makes possible lol

[@riss803]

I long for the days where I will correct Japanese children’s English grammar, secretly laughing to myself at how horribly wrong it sounds.

[@woltti]

@@riss803Living in a non-English speaking country I've gotten used to hearing English with really poor grammar. It was quite funny at first but now I'm just numb. Oh the pain of being extraordinarily talented.

[@louisantonio2462]

Ohhh so there are two versions of this video now, neat!

[@3burns14]

I want to help teach English in Japan to become fluent in Japanese. I plan on eventually working in a Japanese museum as an international collaborator on paleontological research

[@Mwoods2272]

Why?

[@3burns14]

@@Mwoods2272 because I want to go into the museum field for paleontology and I want to use what I've learned and continue to learn Japanese

[@duncan279]

@@3burns14 isn’t this video great advice for you, then? become a collaborator on paleontological research in your home country, first!

[@TheLAexplorer]

いいじゃん！As someone who has a KZbin channel about cosplay and is planning to move to Japan this year to teach English, I feel like you are speaking directly to me!

[@korlack7276]

As someone who was a teacher in Japan for 3 years (So some would probably say I fall under this category to some degree) I disagree with Dogen on this, though he does bring up a few good points in this video. 1: There's an assumption that there's nothing to be gained from the experience when, as a younger person (They tend to prefer people in their 20's for these jobs) there's a lot to be gained from going overseas and experiencing a different culture. Sure, you may end up not enjoying teaching, or you might think teaching will be the worst part and you end up loving it. Part of your path to adulthood is trying different experiences and seeing what they teach you, and moving overseas to someplace like Japan is a great way to gain some valuable life experience. 2: There's nothing wrong with teaching for 3 years and moving on. This is actually reflective in the Japanese career model as well, where teachers don't stay at a particular school for their entire career and instead tend to "shuffle around" in the school district. With that in mind, going to Japan for 3 years to teach and then moving on to something else is perfectly fine. I'm not sure what the expectation is here as an alternative? For foreigners to move to Japan and stay there teaching for their entire career? Frankly the Japanese system isn't really designed for "career paths" for foreigners to begin with. 3: I'll agree with Dogen that if you're coming to Japan because you really want to date a Japanese girl, then you're going for the wrong reasons. Wanting to experience the culture is fine, wanting to dip your toes into teaching and get some experience is fine, but that singular reason isn't a great reason to move to Japan. For context I'm coming at this as someone who does have an education background and a degree in English Literature, so while I certainly did go to Japan because of my love of the culture, I also went with the skills and experience needed to back up the job, which I was good at. Also, I never really experienced what Dogen talks about, the moments of clarity, but that's largely because I've always been good at measuring my expectations. Also, I only really left Japan because my father was diagnosed with 4th stage cancer and I moved back to America to be at his side during that time. Had that not happened, I likely would have remained in Japan.

[@Ej_Love]

Absolutely and amazingly valid point. I’ve been weighing my options during covid for what I wanted to do since I just graduated this summer and I definitely thought of teaching overseas. But I’ve taught English online to kids in China years ago and guess what? Not a fan. So yes. I want to visit and experience Japan but English is NOT one of my majors. So ya. Hard pass and thanks for the reminder.

[@martinmj94]

Watching this as I'm burning through tutorial after tutorial self teaching, trying to get the qualifications to be a freelance programmer so I can live comfortably in Japan (once the boarders open up again) ... Thank you for the extra motivational push!

[@yojumba]

Good luck 👍

[@Catssonova]

I'm going to teach English in Japan and thank God I already had a plan for a different career in the future. I plan to return to graduate school to continue my studies of religion and teach at a Japanese University. There is no way teaching English in Japan is sustainable for anyone besides enthusiasts of English teaching considering the salary is roughly $30k a year.

[@tnatstrat7495]

Not that different than an elementary school teacher back in my home State.

[@megansalt]

One can live very well off 30k/year in Japan, Korea, W. and S. Europe, New Zealand, Latin America..... (I've lived abroad a lot.) In many countries you don't have all those car and health insurance and education expenses. Keep your mind open.

[@Pipe0481]

$30k a year... is that supposed to be low?

[@Catssonova]

@@Pipe0481 I'm making more just doing my merchandising job in America. If financial success is your goal, then I'd go somewhere else than Japan.

[@jackson5345]

いい事言うなー。田舎から東京に出てきた人間にも響く。身につまされるわ

[@Hiro-ql4dt]

ドーゲンさん、ほんとにその通りです！ 日本にはアニメ以外にも良いところがたくさんあります。ありがとうございます！

[@tankerbruja]

Interesting. Whenever I imagine if I lived in Japan, it is often not about how I would work there, but in how much I would fall in love with the monotony of every day life. I'm not sure why, but nearly every place I see in Japan seems like somewhere I wouldn't mind spending most days, going to the same places, doing the same things, I even sometimes think of simply working in labour/retail jobs(even if they are underpaid), though I feel that's not realistic as Japan will want to save those jobs for native Japanese people. But no matter the place there is a draw, and it's not usually the culture, though I think the things that intrigue me have been built the way they are because the culture has evolved the way it did. No matter if it's countryside, or city life, I love the way the streets are laid out, city planning, architecture. The language. The vehicles. So far, no other place on the planet that I've seen has as much allure to me. I don't watch anime, or really consume much Japanese media at all to be honest. So I can't really explain the allure. I've looked extensively into many countries, in Asia, Europe, even places like Australia. I think I am definitely an outlier. I definitely love to explore new places. But nowhere has made me want to explore the way seeing Japan does. And I have never been able to explain it, because most people have specific things they can point to, like, some anime, that made them want to see Japan. Has anyone else felt this way? Please let me know if I'm not alone.

[@hanstans7309]

I feel like Japan has a certain ambiance to it. I often fall into rabbit holes researching obscure towns and villages. There is so much mundane beauty that I’m a bit disappointed I’ll never get to see all of it. I’ve watched a few anime and a drama or two, but I didn’t get into Japan for that as much as how I liked it when I did an exchange for two weeks last year. Of course that was Tokyo, which isn’t the most representative of Japan as a whole, but it made me realize there was a whole other world over there. City planning!! Architecture!! Japanese as a language is so interesting and I love how it sounds. You’re very much not alone!

[@carsonmaster4638]

I have definitely felt what you are feeling. I have always had a thing for Japan. Everything about it seems so nice. The streets, the layout of neighbourhoods and cities, the way of life, the people, the culture, the food, and just the overall vibe is what really intrigues me. I have never watched any kind of anime either. I hope to see more of the world around me. But nothing compares to the vibe of Japan. So I do feel for you. I wouldn’t mine spending the days in a quiet area or in a rural town in Japan. So I can understand your perspective for sure!

[@gilliantoh4658]

The cockroach thing sounds like it comes from personal experience

[@KL-uv3ts]

Almost anyone who's lived in an apartment in Asia has had that experience. :/

[@TheRiordane]

It is real mate... it is real

[@gilliantoh4658]

Lmao i live in Asia and this usually happens to bad rented apartments, i know it happens.

[@sasuberu]

The important thing to know is Never to Kill The Spiders. You always find out too late that it was they who protected you from the gokiburi all along 😭

[@gilliantoh4658]

@@sasuberu probably depends where you live because here the roaches are larger than the spiders. Lizards are a better bet.

[@aquarocket8165]

The sao kept killing me. Didnt expect it to appear more than once

[@kiyona8497]

Dogenさんのチャンネル最近見つけたんですけど、目を瞑ってビデオ聴いてたら日本人かと思いました。 私よりもたくさん語彙を知っていて、尊敬です。

[@GhostOfLorelei]

Your ability to produce interesting insights never ceases to amaze me.

[@illien_3915]

the subtitles this time is more different than the nihongo than usual hmm でも確かにそうだ、妥協して付き合った相手との恋愛が長続きしない、仕事も同じ

[@mesieurt2]

Yeah i noticed the subtitles didnt quite match up this time

[@BurgerSliderMan]

I came here randomly, with no purpose other than to help a family member move here. And I ended up staying. Maybe the problem with those folks also is, too many expectations. Japan is like this Disneyland before they come, where all they have to do is sell a bit of their soul to get to be near it. I could never imagine myself staying here longer than a year. Now I cant imagine myself anywhere else after being here on my 4th year. I don't work as an English teacher, I'm an engineer, which is what I did back in the US. So Im doing what I love doing, in a country I just so happened to fall in love with. Dogen speaks truths on the work thing. Because life here is great if you are in that side of things vs doing work you dont want to do. I know of factory workers who came to Japan and theyre just trying to pay off debts. They dont enjoy a single thing about Japan other than the higher paycheck. They barely get to enjoy anything outside of there.

[@TheLaughingPanda]

Hi! I'm going to graduate soon with an engineering degree, and I'd love to hear how you got a job in engineering in Japan, since I'm looking to do the same thing.

[@fabr1cated]

@@TheLaughingPanda there's foreign companies in japan that do not conduct in japanese I don't know much about getting into them, but you can try searching info based on it

[@TOUFien]

Them: Teaching is a fun activity to do! We can do it, easy-peasy! Teacher and Educator: *laughing inside the classroom with unfinished paper to grade and probably a major headache given by the student* (I've experience teaching in school so I know how energy-consuming both for the mind and body if you are not 100% into teaching)

[@htethlyanpyae7217]

素晴らしい説明です。

[@Smile936]

Watching the video normally, watching the hand gestures and body language without sound, and listening to the audio without watching are three wildly different experiences...I guess that’s what makes Dogen’s videos so fascinating I keep watching them when they show up.

[@jnnschnll9008]

I can honestly say, I do in fact enjoy reading English phonetic journals.

[@Nick-wc7ov]

Interesting video as I've already considered this myself, I often keep my interest of "teaching English in Japan" to myself for the very reason of being perceived as deluded. It may not be my dream job but frankly I don't have one. Of all the careers out there I've always thought teaching to be a rewarding one and have at the very least a mild interest in pursuing it. Coincidentally I also have a desire to live in Japan for at least a few years. I don't necessarily have to to teach English, but I do have a desire to teach in Japan. Nonetheless, this video made me reexamine my thoughts on making a semi-permanent journey to Japan. Appreciated.

[@chiniche8020]

どげんさんよく言った！（とてもアニメっぽいのセリフですけど😂）。 Dogen san you really hit the key issue here. Countless people, especially from Europe and North America, have decided that their dream is to live in Japan, because they just want to live in the "perfect" world they think Japan is, and follow their passion for anime and manga. Therefore for many people teaching English is just the means to arrive and stay in the "promised land", it was never the main goal at all. That's why when things get tough, and life becomes way different from the one they expected to be, their entire world might crumble down, and the, literally, destruction of what we thought were certainties is a terrible blow to someone's motivation.

[@mya8737]

If you can find good Japanese friends, I think life in Japan will be dramatically more enjoyable. Because they know how to live wisely in Tokyo.