My First Year as an ALT: Thoughts on My Job, Students, Teachers, and Company

These are my thoughts after teaching as an ALT in Fukuoka for 1 year!
00:00 Intro
00:19 Thoughts on my job
02:29 Thoughts on Japanese students
03:40 Thoughts on Japanese teachers and staff
05:38 Thoughts on my ALT dispatch company
Other things I forgot to mention in this video:
- I can't go to the shopping mall in peace because I keep hearing "Lisa-sensei!" from across the mall or from another floor, so definitely no privacy there but they're really cute so I guess it's fine 😂
- I wasn't able to explore different parts of Japan or at least explore nearby areas as much as I wanted because of money constraints, but it was nice experiencing the different seasons and the celebrations or festivals they do have in the area ☺️
Illustrations from irasutoya.com
BGM: Chill_Theater on Pixabay
Sound Effects: Pixabay Music
Outro Music: Music_Unlimited on Pixabay

[@Jack_to_Japan]

Great video!

[@LisaLostInJapan]

Aww thank you!! Made my day ☺️🌻

[@mayayoshihata6636]

Congratulations on your first year! Hopefully, more adventures await you in the future! I read the description, maybe it's cause you are a foreigner that you are more easily recognizable in the mall XD. Though I am certain, however bad sometimes times and conditions may be, teaching children and seeing them smile is always rewarding :D. At least I feel that way ^^ 優雅な立派な子供達に育ててね先生!

[@LisaLostInJapan]

Thank you so much!! I always appreciate your comments ☺️💕 I do think being a teacher is one of the more rewarding jobs. Previously, I was doing marketing and I just felt like I was brainstorming to make people spend more money unnecessarily haha so this is a welcome change 😆 Hope you have a great year too!!

[@veramoraa5609]

Hey I love your videos, thank you for the update. What company do you work with?

[@LisaLostInJapan]

Hi!! Your comment made me so happy 😭 I’m working with Borderlink!

[@user-xc4nc5gv3f]

all the best in your new year! how long do you see yourself as an alt in japan and do you plan on switching to another career in japan in the near future? also, do you get a salary increment with each year of teaching or is it stagnant throughout?

[@LisaLostInJapan]

Thank you so much! I don’t think I want to continue teaching as an ALT under a dispatch company, because the salary doesn’t increase at all 😭 I don’t have any background in IT so I’m pretty much stuck teaching English, but it’s a fun and rewarding job so moving forward I’m planning on looking for higher-paying jobs teaching English in Japan!

[@amineelamraoui3046]

Hope your 2nd year will be better .. Teaching English is so much fun but you deserve a better salary tbh. Try to look for other oportunities. Whats is the different btw ALT and homeroom teacher in terms of the position requirements?

[@LisaLostInJapan]

Yeah, I love teaching English but I definitely want to explore better paying jobs! ALTs just need a university degree, no teaching qualifications required, and they assist the homeroom teacher in English class, help plan activities, make materials… The homeroom teacher is Japanese, and they are certified to teach! In elementary schools, they teach almost every subject!

[@amineelamraoui3046]

@@LisaLostInJapan Got you. Wish you all the best, Lisa.

[@noobgodxen8661]

I have a question, why most of the ALTs are women.. do men not get selected that much?

[@LisaLostInJapan]

Hi 😁 I actually know a lot of male ALTs! During the the last training I attended, the ratio was about 40% male and 60% female! I think it’s just that male ALTs are less likely to put out content on KZbin. But male ALTs are definitely as welcome as female ALTs 👍🏻

[@noobgodxen8661]

@@LisaLostInJapan Thanks for replying, I dream of going to japan as an ALT and move there. I'm pursuing my BSC degree and I'm in my first year. What can I do to get selected after I'm done with my degree?

[@LisaLostInJapan]

@@noobgodxen8661 You don’t have to do anything special! When you’re in your last year and about to graduate, you can apply through any of the ALT dispatch company websites and start the process 😁 As long as you’ve had 12 years of education in English, and you’re cheerful and eager to teach Japanese kids, you’ll probably get the position!

[@noobgodxen8661]

@@LisaLostInJapan should I not learn Japanese or get some experience of ESL?

[@LisaLostInJapan]

@@noobgodxen8661 It’s definitely a plus point to learn ESL as well as Japanese! Gives you an advantage, though there are a lot of ALTs who can’t speak Japanese or who didn’t get any teaching certificates. The most important thing is whether you’re able to handle working in Japan!