Eikaiwa gakkō (英会話学校, Eikaiwa gakkō^?) ^[1] (or simply Eikaiwa (英会話, Eikaiwa^?)), are English conversation schools, usually privately operated, in Japan. It is a combination of the word eikaiwa (英会話, eikaiwa^? English language conversation) and gakkō (学校, gakkō^? school).

Although the Japanese public education system mandates that English is taught as part of the curriculum, the focus is generally on English grammar. Some students attend eikaiwa schools to supplement their school studies, to study a second language, to improve their business skills, as a hobby, to help socialize, or to prepare for travel.^[2] Many parents send their children to these schools in the hope of improving their child's hopes of higher education, or to encourage them to be at ease with foreigners. For the rules of English grammar, see English grammar and Disputes in English grammar. ...

Schools

Although there are many eikaiwa conversation schools in Japan, the most widely recognized ones are often referred to as the "Big Four" and are generally agreed to be; NOVA, GEOS, AEON, and ECC.^[3] In the past Berlitz was considered one of the Big Four, but its market share has declined in recent years and was replaced by ECC. These major chains of commercial language schools have branches in cities and towns throughout Japan as well as large number of smaller independent outfits. Foreign language instruction in Japan represents a 670 billion yen industry, of which the five largest chains (Nova, Geos, ECC, Aeon, and Berlitz) account for 25%.^[4] These operate extensive advertising campaigns in print and on television and sometimes feature Japanese or international celebrities in their promotions and have a very high profile and strong brand recognition.^[5][6] Several large eikaiwa chains offer instruction in other languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, German, Chinese and Korean. These languages are taught primarily at larger city branches or through videoconferencing.^[7] The Nova Group is the largest of the Big Four eikaiwa (or private English teaching companies) in Japan. ... GEOS ) is one of the big five [1] private eikaiwa, or English conversation teaching companies, in Japan. ... AEON (taken from the Latin word for a really long time) is one of the Big Four Japanese eikaiwa or English education companies. ... ECC Foreign Language Institute is one of the Big Four private English teaching companies or eikaiwa in Japan. ... Berlitz Language Schools, now known as Berlitz International, Inc, derive from an institution founded by Maximilian Berlitz in 1878, in Providence, Rhode Island. ...

Staff

Eikaiwa teachers are generally native English speakers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. According to The Japan Times, the Justice Ministry estimates that some 90 percent of foreign residents in Japan stay for three years or less. For eikaiwa teachers, however, that figure rises to between 96 and 97 percent.^[8] Very few instructors have a formal teaching qualification; most receive on-the-job training. Some companies offer teachers the ability to gain CELTA certification while teaching. Teachers coming from countries that do not have a working holiday visa agreement with Japan must have a university degree to obtain a Japanese work visa. The Japan Times is one of the few independent English newspapers published in Japan: it mainly competes with English editions of the major dailies, such as the Daily Yomiuri and the Mainichi Daily News, as well as the International Herald Tribune. ... In education, teachers are those who teach students or pupils, often a course of study or a practical skill. ... CELTA, the Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, (pronounced selta) is a professional qualification for teaching English as a foreign language. ... A working holiday visa is a travel permit which allows travellers to undertake employment in the country issuing the visa for the purpose of supplementing their travel funds. ... Entry visa valid in Schengen treaty countries. ...

Eikaiwa school managers generally do not have formal backgrounds in management, but some do have Japanese language skills that allow them to communicate with Japanese management. Some larger schools have unions, which are affiliated to the National Union of General Workers. The National Union of General Workers (NUGW) is the largest trade union for foreign workers in Japan with migrant worker organizers in its offices in Fukuoka, Osaka and Tokyo dealing mostly with English teachers working conditions in Japan. ...

See also

• Language education
• Education in Japan
• Teaching English as a foreign language
• Hagwon

Language education refers to the teaching and learning of a language. ... A typical classroom in Japan. ... TEFL or Teaching English as a foreign language refers to teaching English to students for whom it is not their mother tongue (see English language learning and teaching, which explains the distinctions between different kinds of teaching of English to non-native speakers). ... Cram schools are specialized schools that train their students to meet particular goals, most commonly to pass the entrance examinations of high schools or universities. ...

References

1. ^ McConnell, David (2000). Importing Diversity: Inside Japan's JET Program. University of California Press. ISBN 0520216369. 
2. ^ Ninnes, Peter (2004). Re-Imagining Comparative Education. Routledge, 118. ISBN 0415948177. 
3. ^ English Teaching Gets a Shake in Japan. Oh My News International (June 17, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-06-30.
4. ^ Insatiable thirst for English boosts language schools. The Japan Times (June 4, 2004). Retrieved on 2007-06-30.
5. ^ How U.S. stars sell Japan to the Japanese. Salon.com (June 29, 2000). Retrieved on 2007-06-30.
6. ^ Philip Seargeant, Seargeant (2005). "More English than England itself": the simulation of authenticity in foreign language practice in Japan. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 326–345. DOI:10.1111/j.1473-4192.2005.00094.x. 
7. ^ Japan - Education Videoconferencing Network Opens. Washington Post Newsweek Interactive via Newsbytes Network (June 29, 2000). Retrieved on 2007-08-12.
8. ^ English schools face huge insurance probe. The Japan Times (April 12, 2005). Retrieved on 2007-03-20.

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External links

• Ohayo Sensei. A great source of information about teaching positions in Japan.

• Greenlist of English Schools in Japan

• All About Teaching English in Japan. Information source for getting started teaching in Japan.

• Coverage of troubles facing Nova Group, Japan's largest eikaiwa gakko, and interviews with current employees