Friends Club Teacher (Open to All Majors)

Department: Friends Club (OPEN TO ALL MAJORS)

Locations: Maruyama Campus, Takamori Campus

Reports To: Friends Club Program Director, Deputy Program Director

Job Summary: Teaches elementary aged Japanese children English as their second language using the GrapeSEED curriculum. Leads, manages and teaches two classes a day of approximately 20-25 children, per class. Works with fellow teachers for the planning and implementation of teaching techniques, special activities and programs. Creates an environment for the children, inside and outside the classroom, that is safe, fun and conducive to learning.

Qualifications:

• Applicant must have a two, or four-year degree, from an accredited college or university.
• Applicant has extensive experience working with elementary aged students in either a paid or volunteer capacity (camp counselor, Sunday school teacher, nanny, etc).
• Applicant has a strong hold of the English language; oral and written.
• Applicant must have English as their mother-tongue. Specifically, the applicant was raised in an all-English household or has lived in an all-English-speaking country for much of their life. English speakers coming from countries outside of North America will be required to use a North American accent. This is the standard that has been established for all phonemic learning at the school.
• Applicant is physically able to perform the job description to its fullest. Please see "Essential Functions" for those details.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Enjoys working with children and has had a great deal of experience working with them in a paid or volunteer capacity
• Honest, hardworking, flexible and dedicated individual
• Someone who has a warm, positive, energetic personality and loves to show it with a smile

Essential Functions:

• Memorizes and masters the GrapeSEED curriculum; which includes chants, songs and stories.
• Teaches children to listen, speak, read and write in English using the GrapeSEED standard teaching techniques. (training provided)
• Learns, tests, and implements teaching techniques provided by the GrapeSEED curriculum, or as requested by the training team, Head Teacher or Program Director.
• Intentionally cultivates relationships with the students by first learning each child’s name. Consistently interacts, both inside and outside the classroom, with each child.
• Leads children in singing and models correct melody, rhythm, and pronunciation.
• Maintains up-to-date and accurate records of class plans, student attendance, points and rewards.
• Prepares and distributes children’s materials and letters to parents.
• Prepares and mails birthday cards to all children. Celebrates birthdays for children on the appropriate class day.
• Evaluates students’ English progression based on the theme story as assigned by the Program Director or Head teacher.
• Participates in meetings by sharing knowledge, experiences, and ideas with their team.
• Maintains a clean classroom environment. Decorates walls and classroom appropriate to their children, current season, holiday and/or subject of study. Sweeps and cleans classroom daily.
• Plays actively and daily with children outside: running, using playground equipment, games, and balls. Other activities throughout the school year may also include hiking, boating, swimming, field games, camping and leading horses.
• Maintains a safe environment through constant visual supervision, intervenes physically in emergency situations, including, if necessary, carrying an injured child to a place of safety.
• Meets the buses and greets the children both upon their arrival and at their departure. Assists buses in backing up, and monitors sidewalk safety.
• Communicates frequently with Head Teacher and Program Director regarding children’s learning and classroom issues.
• Participates in team planning meetings for special events, camps and trips. Responsible for set-up and clean-up of each program. Leads and manages one's own class during each event and serves in a supportive capacity for fellow teachers’ events.
• Communicates with parents, as needed, regarding issues with their child.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Teaches Jr. High or High School classes as requested by the Program Director.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:

Monday ~ Friday 11:00AM to 7:30PM

*There are a few weekends throughout the year that we have events or special programs. This event time is compensated with hours off the week of the event or a compensation day off, depending on the event. 

During Christmas parties and summer camps the schedule is changed to accommodate all the events. During these times, a work and staffing schedule is given ahead of time so that our staff can plan accordingly. These types of activities also require extra meetings and preparation.

Daily Schedule (Example):

11:00AM Report to work - Learn curriculum / Prep time

12:00PM Lunch Break

1:00PM Lesson planning / Prep time

4:30PM Younger Students Arrive - Playtime

4:50PM Younger Students English Class 

5:50PM Younger Students Dismiss

6:00PM Older Students English Class

6:50PM Older Students Dismiss

7~7:30PM Send Off Students / Clean-up Classroom

Weekend Event Schedule: The schedule varies based on the event or program.

Compensation:
Annual Base Salary starting at 3,150,000 yen (https://fx-rate.net/JPY/USD/)
Monthly Break-down: 200,000 yen + 50,000 yen (housing subsidy) = 250,000 yen per month

Completion Bonus of 150,000 yen

Other Benefits:

• Annual completion bonuses and re-signing bonuses
• Fully furnished apartment
• One economy class round trip plane ticket per year
• Insurance & Pension - Enrollment into the Shigaku Kyosai (Private School Mutual Aid) system. This system includes health insurance (Kenko Hoken), National Pension (Kokumin Nenkin) and Employees' Pension (Kosei Nenkin) contributions.
• Paid training (February & March)
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Japanese national holidays (about 15 annually)
• Three extended vacations throughout year:
  • Spring (1 week)
  • Summer (2 weeks)
  • Winter (2 weeks)

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