Is it true that Japan will not accept TEFL teachers over the age of 30? 

I have a few friends teaching over there that are over the age of 30 - so I think this is a fable!!  Where did you hear that?

Hiya

It's absolutely not true that you cannot teach in Japan if you're over 30! Our partner in Japan has recruited people much older than that. You can visit our job placement page for more information

http://www.onlinetefl.com/tefl-jobs-abroad/tefl-japan.html

Thank you for the input.  The source of my concern had come from from the i-to-i site itself.  I was reading through the 'visa' tab which stated that the applicant had to be under 30.  I'm glad to hear, either this info was...or my interpretation was incorrect.  Regards

A-hah - I see where you've got the misconception from - the visa information on the page you're referring to is just for the working holiday visa (not your run-of-the-mill work visa) - I've updated it now to be more accurate.

Thanks for the heads up!

As an ALT working in Japan I started after I retired from the military at 45 + years of age. I think some factors why I was hired were my wife was Japanese, plus I looked like I was 25 and was in very good physical condition (IMO). Most who start by 30 something years of age can generally continue, but if you well into your 30's and show it I don't think you would be able to get a job in Japan.  

Phew! I'm 31 and planning to head back over next year... I'd like to think they'll take me a bit more seriously as a slightly older person actually! (I also taught English in Japan at the age of 22 and - as a young female - found I had to work harder to command the same respect afforded to some of the older male teachers.

Normally if a country has an age limit it is to do with the visa...

Generally most TEFLers are young because we are either fresh from college or uni without a clue of what job to do...i know i certainly didnt want to be stuck in a job in England that i didnt enjoy and now i get to work the other side of the world and essentially can travel and teach almost anywhere...i have no plans of settling down and starting a family just yet...

Most older people have a family or commitments which is why it seems like theres less "older" people teacher but in fact more and more people are doing it...especially as couples...and it is true, generally the older you are the more respect the teachers have for you

When I taught there the majority of the teachers I worked with were 25 to 50! I was surpirsed because I thought most of the teachers would be straight out of university. This was due to the American Navy Base close to where I lived that brought in a lot of American families who had spouses that wanted to work off base.

It's clear to me that there is significant age discrimination practised in Japan by a lot of the TEFL employers.

I've posted elsewhere about my experience, but suffice it to say that some employers there, includign Interac, have refused to even consider my job application and refused to specify any reason for ignoring it.  However, when I queried the lack of responses, Interac, among others acknowledged that I had a very good CV and qualifications, but that they are still rejecting my application.

When further challenged on it, they just say that they don't specify their reasons for refusing applications, "in accordance with normal Jpanese corporate practice", or some such phrase.  It 's very clear to me that my age is in fact, the reason (I'm 53), and I've had that confrimed by some TEFL teachers that I know personally in Japan.

It's very frustrating, and discrimination of those grounds would be absolutely unacceptable in Europe.

I have found that most people who are 50+ they struggle to get a job in japan - however i'm not sure if its a company policy, something to do with the government or to do with the visa process... i do know that people with a spouse visa dont have problems getting a job and many of the teachers in Japan and who work for interac as 'filler' - they cover possitions when someone has a long time off sick or an emergency placement is needed - is usually people older than 50+

as for interac not giving you a reason - this is the way japanese companies work and interac is a japanese company (it use to be american but not anymore)... in japan its rare to question the company - if you were japanese and you questioned you company you worked for, for an explanation or reason, you can run the risk of being fired - this is an extreme but does happen in japan

Hi All

Regarding age discrimination.  I would not say this is a uniquely Japanese thing.  Here in the UK you often here about people over 50 struggling to find jobs.

However, the JET programme which is the government run ALT scheme states that you must be under 40 to apply which seems to imply that age-discrimination is legal in Japan.  I guess younger workers will accept less pay and worse conditions than older workers.

Stuart