Enrich Your Career, Teach in Japan!

My son worked for Interact for three years and it was the absolute worst experience for our entire family. He lived impoverished the entire time. The salary was too low to make ends meet. We constantly had to send him money to cover his basic living expenses. They forced him to move to another city and pay for it out of his own pocket..and only PARTIALLY reimbursed him. Where was he supposed to find the additional money to move? He was supposed to have health insurance but had to pay out of pocket all the time and there was always an excuse why he couldn't get his full amount repaid. He rented a car with insurance. Once again, all repairs had to be paid out of pocket, nothing EVER was covered by the insurance that he was paying for. When he eventually found another job and quit. They stuck him with a car repair bill for damage that he had never seen before. The cost was almost $1000 while only paying him less than $200 for his final salary - you guessed it, quoting all sorts of charges and reasons why he couldn't' get his full pay. That money came more than a month after leaving the company. He had to cite Article 23 of Japanese Labor Laws and threaten legal action before he even got a response from payroll. This company has caused my son and our family so much stress. It is not worth it. They are wolves in sheep's clothing. Nothing they say is true. What a huge disappointment.

I worked for three other companies in Japan, and this was by far the best. I had ample training, a decent commute, and good support. It was the best experience as far as getting to actually be immersed in the culture, and I would have stayed longer if other circumstances hadn't prevented it.

Teaching in Japan was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life! I actually found Interac after applying for a few other positions and realizing they wouldn't be a good fit for me personally. I'm glad I went with Interac and wouldn't trade any of my time there. I worked for the Nagoya branch and had positive experiences with the staff, enjoyed the area, and loved the schools I was placed in. I think if you come to Japan with the right mindset, are open to new experiences, and don't get caught up in what you think it will be like then you'll enjoy your time over there. A lot of people complain about the salary, but you have to remember that you'll be in more suburban/rural areas, so your salary goes a lot farther than if you were in Tokyo. And speaking of Tokyo, it's an anomaly compared to the rest of Japan. If you are truly interested in experiencing Japanese culture, learning the language, and seeing what real daily life is like, then Tokyo is not where you want to be. Don't get too caught up on where you'll be, instead look forward to all the wonderful local things you'll encounter!

The company helps a lot for an easy transition into both teaching and into living in Japan. You're still expected to demonstrate a reasonable level of independence and good sense, but they can carry you through the rest. You should still take the initiative to research and understand what experiences you want to have during your time in the country. They give you a job so that you can support your own lifestyle in Japan, but you have to decide exactly what you want that lifestyle to be. In that case you should be fine.

I worked for Interac for close to a decade, and I was definitely stretched to my limits at times. I went into it as a newly graduated college student with high ideals and no experience. I came out an experienced professional with skills that I could use in other industries. Not only did I grow professionally, but also personally. Interac cares about what they do, and while they're not perfect, they will also do whatever they can the best that they can.

I came to Japan several years ago. Like many, I came to Japan with all the relevant information, yet not knowing what to expect. Yes, I had thought about the adventures, the excitement, the social life and work. The truth is that I came to Japan to work before with Interac. I went home and I wanted to come back! I had to come back. I could have chosen other companies to work for. However, I wanted to return and work for Interac again. Interac has been very professional in the way that they deal with their ALTs. They have good training programs and very qualified and friendly staff who are very supportive. They are very knowledge of their field and about living and working in Japan, along with how to navigate the social arena. From their positive track record over the years, they do take language training and their Jobs seriously. I can tell you that. The experiences for me in Japan have been mostly great. I have met and worked with some remarkable, talented and good people. Many people look for different things to define their experiences while living and working in Japan. I say: your experience and your job is what you make it to be. Working in the schools has been good, rewarding and enriching. Just to know that I am impacting children's' lives not just on a social level, but on an educational level, is what keeps me going. I have formed good and sustainable working relationships with both my schools and community. But what is important is that- I have Interac's support. As life shows, there are good days and bad days. I have had my fair share not so good days. I have had my challenges. The pendulum mostly swings to the good days, though. I can honestly say that. Having a positive attitude will take you far. I Especially when navigating in a different culture. Avoid the naysayers. Come and experience Japan for yourself! Have fun. But remember to make an impact! Japan is waiting for you. Come and be a part of it. Come and share.

I've worked for heart before working with interac and interac was literally heaven compared to what I had to deal with in terms of my rights and quality of life. I know all branches work differently but I loved my Yokohama branch. I was close with my coworkers, which I believe creates for a comfortable and exciting environment and in addition to that any issues or concerns I had were professionally dealt with and handled. The pay is good, it's comfortable. Where I needed a part time job when I was working with heart, I didn't need one with Interac. You have a lot of people at that office who really care about you, and I think it's often overlooked by the AET s. As cheesy as it sounds I felt like I had a family.

Learn how the Japanese lead simple yet admirable lives in these modern times. Time-tested values taught in public schools give outsiders an inside look at how they manage to maintain a robust economy and a peaceful society. There's no better way to experience it first hand than being an Interac ALT. Whether one is up for the thrill or for a life career to build, being an ALT is an exceptional opportunity. Throw Interac a message of inquiry to start your wonderful adventure in the Land of the Rising Sun.

I started working here in 2016 in August. The training was pretty intensive and definitely helped me prepare for the many different situations that could present themselves in schools. My fellow ALTs are a pleasure to work with, my Japanese colleagues are fun and helpful and the office staff are trying their best. Sometimes the office can be a little slow responding to request or general emails but they do usually answer, especially if it is an emergency. It is an entry level job so your're not gonna get rich, but if you don't go out drinking every night it not that bad. I do enjoy working for this company and with all the people within the company and my Japanese colleagues as well.

Interac is a large organization that has been helping teachers get to Japan, get set up in Japan, and live/work in Japan for over 45 years. They’re reliable and predictable so it’s easy to get here and get to work and enjoy the country. The flip side is that they’re not small and nimble. If you have a lot of specific needs/requests, it will be difficult for them to provide that ‘extra’ level of assistance because of the scale at which they’re operating. But if you’re relatively independent and you just need the normal level of assistance to get up and running, Interac is a good way to start your life in Japan.

Not many people know about the rich cultural history available in Kanazawa, Japan. Being roughly a two hour train ride from Japan's cultural capital Kyoto means that Kanazawa is often overlooked on the average tourist's Japanese must-see lists. I had lived in Japan for 9 years before being offered the posting by Interac, and it was a very interesting year. Kanazawa is home to some of the best dining in Japan, and if you are a fan of hot-springs and temples, you are in for a treat. Interac set up my apartment in Nonoichi, a suburb roughly 20 minutes bus ride from downtown Kanazawa and it's castle and temples. I had 3 elementary schools in my 1 year contract and the school staff and Interac were super helpful with the little issues that cropped up during my stay. The English programme itself is highly regarded in Nonoichi, as all the elementary schools are very focussed on working with the Interac teachers to achieve the best results and outcomes for their students. Even during the unusually heavy snow-season of 2017-18 (school was closed for four-days, I'd never experienced that before) the schools and the company were understanding and accommodating. All in all, great teaching experience, wonderful town and centrally located to all of the other touristy places Japan has to offer. Try it for yourself.

I joined Interac in 2015. Interac was really helpful for getting me set up in Japan with my apartment and the first few days, meeting my schools and BoE and so on. I was pretty far from the branch office, but they would keep in touch and they started to bolster their head teacher program to make sure that everybody had at least a fairly local person to get in contact with. I felt that my branch staff were very helpful and responsible, and when I needed a schedule emailed to me, they would take care of it. Sometimes you feel more part of the school than you do the company, but then again the company has a lot of materials for classes. The older stuff isn't so great but the more recent materials came in handy a lot. I used it as a starting off point for lessons. Like anywhere, your mileage will vary, but that will mostly be with the teachers in the classroom and that can change year to year.

Japan is a wonderful place to visit, and a great place to live. Beautiful temples, mountains and one of the greatest urban zones on the planet make Japan a must-see place in your lifetime. The food and cultural atmosphere is simply incredible. Living in Japan presents its challenges, with the language being very difficult, few resources available for non-native speakers for most services, and adjustment to a very different way of life and office environment. Cost of living is quite reasonable. Housing is affordable (~30% of your salary), if difficult to obtain as a foreigner. Many places simply won't rent to you, or may have additional fees. Interac will set you up with reasonable housing, although with a bit of hard work you can find much better on your own. As for working for Interac as a language instructor Pros +Low working hours +Teaching itself at schools is a very rewarding and challenging experience + Assistance with finding housing, setting up utilities, etc. +Some basic training in education +Salary is average for industry (no annual or performance based pay increases however) +All transportation costs paid Cons -Salary. Unless you're very thrifty, money can be very tight throughout the year. The company itself recommends getting additional part time work. -Contracts are renewed annually, giving you no job security/leverage for raises, etc. -No feedback on performance after a single assessment -Little relevant training given for JHS and HS teachers initially, more training on Japanese office survival would be helpful -Depending on your placement and school staff, you can have widely different experiences (industry issue) -Pay essentially decreases every year (first three years) with additional tax burdens with no raises/col adj, etc TLDR: great way to begin a life in Japan or experience a year in Japan. If you intend to stay in Japan for many years you'll probably want a more career focused job

I have been with Interac for a year and a half now. Living abroad has been the best experience of my life and I love teaching English! As for compensation and communication with Interac, it’s been very poor. Interac was very good with setting you up at the beginning of your first year, but after that, they are not relatable. With problems I’ve had and emailed about or asked for help in person, I’ve rarely gotten a response. What makes matters worse is that there is no HR department for ALTs, so if there is a problem with your MC or anyone above you, there is no one to turn to. I’ve heard horror stories of harassment and nothing being done about it. Granted, this does seem rare. What you’ll most see in these reviews is the salary. The salary remains the same every year, and with the taxes being raised exponentially, it’s hard to keep up with the cost of living. I have two other jobs in addition to my job with them. Though, they are better than other companies out there. TL;DR: For the going abroad experience for a year or two, Interac is okay. Any longer than that, you should look elsewhere (not only for companies, but fields. There is little money to be made in being an ALT).

Japan was wonderful, but due to our low wage and high cost of living, we couldn't really explore Japan at all. Interactive didn't compensate us well enough to live comfortably. As our taxes went up each year, our wages did not. There was no opportunity for a raise.

Stay for 1 or 2 years to experience Japan. Don't expect this job to give you bonuses. It gets more expensive to live in Japan as Interac does not pay NHI or Pension (which is mandatory, expect to pay 30,000¥ a month on your 3rd year). They keep you at 29.5 hours a week when you are school for 40 hours.

Your overall experience will depend A LOT on your expectations, make them realistic and the adjustment period won't sting as much. However, overall, social life, etc. is really dependent on where you get placed and that's a gamble we all take. And also what area you teach in, Elementary, JHS, or HS will drastically affect your workload. Each area has it's benefits. I teach high school which is subsequently a lot of work, and really not a lot of support. So I'm up to my own devices when creating lesson plans, so it can really exhausting. But HS also has a lot of holidays and is generally has a more relaxed classroom atmosphere. Living in Japan is not easy though, and can be quite isolating, you have to know what you want to do out here, and Interac company doesn't pay a whole lot, so saving money isn't really a reality one should expect.

Came to Japan after completing a degree with a teaching certification - was only planning on staying two years, ended up sticking around for at least one more. The school culture is very different to what it was back home, but the core culture of Japanese education makes for an incredibly warm, harmonious environment. Being with Interac has allowed me to experience a number of different schools while in an incredible part of the country. Living in Japan is not cheap, and the country is full of experiences sure to drain the wallet, so saving is hard - but I'm doing a lot better here than I would be back home, and wouldn't trade this experience for anything in the world.

If you have ever wanted to be able to travel but never been able to do so because of money then I highly recommend teaching abroad. Also if you are interested in teaching but not sure if you want to go through with the schooling yet it is a great way to see if teaching is right for you. I can't speak for any other companies but Interac has been great for me. They are really helpful not just in getting you here but continuing to help you through out your entire stay here. The working hours are great, teaching is so much fun and you get to live in and experience another country in a way that you could never do if you were to just visit. If you ever need help with anything Interac is just a phone call or an email away and are always willing to help you with what ever problem you are facing.

So, I'm 3 months in. And my word, what a three months it has been. It's cost an arm and a leg to get to where I am, but I most certainly don't regret it. If you're used to home comforts, or if you're shy, don't come. For your own sake, you will not enjoy it. The level of English in Japan is virtually non existent when doing anything really. But, if you're a genki person who's willing to get stuck in like myself, you'll enjoy it immensely. I don't want to go home. The pay could be better, as whilst it fine for now, after a year the health insurance quadruples, which I'm not looking forward to.