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Tokyo is the venue for the tefl international course in japan. An incredible city on the edge of the Orient, Tokyo is the last great conurbation before the Pacific Ocean, and is one of the world's most fascinating cities.

Take a step back from the big city bustle and the frenetic main roads and you'll find yourself in a world of tranquil backstreets, where wooden houses are fronted by neatly clipped bonsai trees; wander beyond the high-tech department stores, and you'll find ancient temples and shrines. In this city of 24-hour shops and vending machines, a festival is held virtually every day of the year, with the locals regularly visiting their local shrine or temple and scrupulously observing the passing seasons. At the centre of it all is the mysterious green void of the Imperial Palace, home to the emperor and a tangible link to the past.

In so many ways Tokyo is something of a modern-day utopia. Trains run on time; the crime rate is virtually non existent; shops and vending machines provide everything you could need (along with many things you never thought you needed) 24 hours a day. The people simply have to wear the coolest fashions, eat in fabulous restaurants and party in the hippest clubs. It's almost impossible to be bored here and first-time visitors should be prepared for a major assault on the senses; just walking the streets of this hyperactive city can be an energizing experience.

TEFL course participants will also be pleasantly surprised how affordable many things are. Cheap-and-cheerful izakaya (bars that serve food) and noodle shacks far outnumber the big-ticket French restaurants and high-class ryotei, where geisha serve minimalist Japanese cuisine. Day tickets for a traditional sumo tournament or a Kabuki play can be bought for the price of a few drinks.

Either before or after your TEFL course you may want to explore other parts of Japan. Tokyo is the major transport hub for Japan. Every day, scores of Shinkansen (bullet trains) speed up to the far north of Honsho or south to Kyushu, while flights, buses and ferries connect Tokyo to the far-flung corners and islands of the Japanese archipelago.

Tokyo can be fairly warm in the height of summer, when visitors enjoy the plentiful air-conditioning. October and November, by contrast, are great months to take in the spectacularly coloured autumn leaves in Tokyo's parks and gardens. Temperatures dip to freezing in the winter months, though the crisp blue skies are rarely interrupted by rain or snow showers. April is the month when locals party beneath the flurries of falling cherry blossoms – perhaps one of the most picturesque months to visit Tokyo. Carrying an umbrella is a good idea during the rainy season in June and September, when typhoons occasionally strike the coast.

Legend has it that a giant catfish sleeps beneath Tokyo Bay, and its movements can be felt in the hundreds of small, harmless tremors that rumble the capital each year. There is a long-running, half-hearted debate about moving the Diet and main government offices out of Tokyo, away from danger. Yet, despite the fact that the city is well overdue for the Big One, talk of relocating the capital always comes to nothing. Now, more than ever before, Tokyo is the centre of Japan, and nobody wants to leave and miss any of the action.

Tokyo is the place to be – an ideal location for your TEFL course.

The School

The TEFL International training centre in Tokyo is a 15 minute walk from JR Kanamachi Station or Keisei Kanamachi Station. Buses are also available from the north side of the station (JR); take the “Togasaki Soushajyou iki” Keisei bus or the “Obagawa Suimon iki” Keisei bus to “Mizumoto Koen Mae”; from the south side (Keisei) take the “Togasaki Soushajyou iki” Keisei bus to “Mizumoto Koen Mae”.

Subway transportation to every part of Tokyo is close to the TEFL training center building; the Tokyo Station will whisk you away to the glitz and glamour of the Ginza Strip, or to the wonders and silence of the world-famed Shinto Pagoda.

On weekends you can take the famed Bullet Train out of the city and into the quiet dignity of the Japanese countryside in less than two hours. When your spirit is refreshed you can head back to the where the action is – TEFL International, Tokyo!>

Accommodation

There are a number of accommodation options available to you during your TEFL course in Tokyo. The Tokyo TEFL training centre staff are able to help applicants arrange housing for the duration of the TEFL course, although you are free to make your own arrangements if you would prefer.

Your Tokyo accommodation options include:

• Guest House: 42,000 - 120,000 yen per month.
• Shared Room: 39,000 yen per month. This is based on two or three trainees sharing a guest house room. Male/Female rooms divided.
• Dormitory: 37,000 yen per month, based on four or more people sharing a large room. Again, male and female rooms are divided.

Course dates

Course fees

The total price is divided into: deposit and balance.

The deposit may be paid via a) credit card b) Paypal c) wire transfer d) Western Union.

The balance of the course fee must be paid by cash, PayPal or bank transfer directly to the training center on the first day of the course.

Accomodation Fees

The accommodation fees are not part of the course price and you are free to choose whichever accommodation option you prefer.

If you choose to use our accommodation, it should be paid for in cash directly to the school at the start of the course.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are my payment options?

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  Course deposits must be paid to our administrative center. Credit/debit card payments are the fastest and cheapest way to pay, but we also accept payments via Western Union, Pay Pal and bank transfer. While there are no deadlines for a deposit, courses can fill up quickly and your seat will only be reserved after the deposit has been paid.

  Once you make your deposit, you will receive an email with an informational packet that provides detailed information about the course and Tokyo itself.

  The balance of course fees is payable on the first day via credit card, or two weeks in advance via bank transfer. Please note that cash payments are not accepted.

  Course fees are all-inclusive so you won’t be asked to pay additional costs for course related materials or services. This also includes course moderation, accreditation fees and lifetime job assistance.

• What are my accommodation options?

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  Course Residence (¥ 70,000): Private rooms are available in the training center residence located just minutes from the school. Additional nights can be added at the rate of ¥ 3,000 per night.

  A variety of hostels and hotels are also available, although prices for these options do vary considerably.

• What travel documents will I need for Japan?

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  All visitors to Japan are required to carry a passport valid for at least six months after their arrival date.

  Passport holders from the UK, the US, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand wishing to enter Japan are generally granted a ‘Landing Permission’ at any airport in Japan.

  * As this information is subject to change at any time, we advise everyone to contact your local consulate for current travel regulations prior to planning your trip.

• What is the course schedule?

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  There are input sessions every morning from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. when trainees learn classroom management, grammar, language and culture and other practical aspects of the course. Lunch is from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. From 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. trainees prepare their lessons and then teach them to Japanese students. These lessons are followed by immediate feedback from the instructors. You will not be teaching every afternoon, we aim to provide six to eight hours of observed teaching practice over the four-week course. In addition to these hours, there is also time that must be spent preparing materials and completing various assignments.

  During the course, you will have the experience of being a learner of an unknown language using the same techniques as you will use to teach English. This is so trainees get to experience the problems that students will face from their perspective. We advise against taking any additional language classes during the course as the program is very intensive and you simply won't have the time!

• What can I expect during teaching practice?

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  We use local Japanese students for the trainees’ teaching practice. Japanese students are very keen and enthusiastic and classes are a very positive experience. You will receive the aid of your course trainer throughout lesson planning and receive immediate feedback on your lesson after it’s been delivered. Practicum is assessed and a satisfactory assessment is required to earn your TEFL/TESOL certificate.

• Who usually attends the course?

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  On average we have around five to twelve trainees enrolled on each course, although this number does vary throughout the year. Most of the participants are American, British, Canadian or Australian, although we do accept non-native speakers of English who have a high proficiency in the language.

• Is there a dress code?

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  For all input and tutorial sessions at the training location, there are no specific dress requirements. We simply ask that you are mindful of your peers and respectful of the fact that you are a visitor in another country.

• What should I bring for course studies?

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  Please be sure to arrive on the first day of the course with a notebook and a pen. We also encourage you to bring a laptop as we have Wi-Fi at the training center. We will provide all course materials for you so there is no need to bring anything else for the course itself.