I personally loved the Japanese cooking lesson, it was very interactive and the teachers were very friendly. The tour guides were very insightful and kind. Being around so much nature was nice. Learning about Shinto customs was also very cool. - ITA Grad Sarah

HOW THE COURSE WORKS

Why Take The Japanese Culture Course for English Teachers?

Prepare for your transition to becoming an English teacher in Japan with ITA's exclusive 40-Hour (1-week) Japanese culture & language training course for English teachers, held in Nagoya, Japan

Tailored specifically for soon-to-be English teachers, this 40-hour week of in-person lessons, language lessons, and excursions will enhance your understanding and appreciation for your new home and make adjusting to the basics of daily life so much easier.

What will you get out of this course?

  • A week-long, interactive deep dive into Japanese culture & society, history, politics & geography.
  • Six hours of introductory Japanese language classes.
  • Excursions to Nagoya Castle, Tokugawa Art Museum, Shirotori Garden, Buddhist temples, and more!
  • Hands-on Japanese cooking class.
  • Get insider tips and insights into Japanese culture that will prepare you for working with your Japanese students & colleagues.
  • Meet and bond with fellow soon-to-be ESL teachers in Japan.
  • Accommodations, airport pickup, and entrance fees for cultural activities are included.
tefl students in nagoya, japan

Get Practical Tips & Insights from Local Experts

From making friends to eating Japanese food, get expert tips about all aspects of daily life in Japan from experienced English teachers & local experts. 

Delve Into Japan's Rich History & Culture

Japan is a modern and bustling country, but to understand the nation's people, it's essential to understand Japan's history and culture. Therefore, this program entails exclusive courses & excursions led by experts.

Learn Basic Japanese to Acclimate to Life in Japan

Learning basic Japanese will help you enjoy a seamless transition to your daily life in Japan. In addition, you will impress your Japanese colleagues, students & friends.

Join a Community of Teachers & Travelers

Build friendships with fellow teachers before embarking on your common journey as English teachers in Japan. Establishing these bonds will lessen your chances of suffering from loneliness and culture shock as you transition to life in Japan. 

COURSE FEATURES & DETAILS
Japanese Culture Course Structure

Japanese Culture Training Course Content

This Japanese Culture Course includes five modules based on topics:

  • Japanese History
  • Japanese Culture and Society
  • Japanese Politics
  • Working and Living in Japan
  • Japanese Language:
    A qualified Japanese Language teacher provides 6 hours of Korean language lessons to our participants. These are broken down into 3x 2-hour lessons and cover the fundamental aspects of the language and basic conversational skills. 
Cultural Excursions and Activities

Exclusive Excursions & Activities

During the week, you will gain practical experience exploring Japanese culture through the following exciting and informative excursions and activities included in the course:

Guided tour of Nagoya Castle

During the guided tour, participants will learn about the castle's rich history and cultural significance, and gain a deeper appreciation for Japan's architectural and engineering marvels. The tour is led by knowledgeable local guides who are passionate about sharing their knowledge of Nagoya Castle with visitors.

Nagoya Castle visit

Trip to Tokugawa Art Museum

Learn about Japan's rich cultural heritage and explore a vast collection of art, including samurai armor and weapons, ceramics, paintings, and calligraphy.

Japanese cooking class

Learn how to make traditional dishes and also learn about the history and cultural significance of Japanese cuisine. It is a great opportunity for participants to immerse themselves in the local culture and bring some new skills and recipes back home with them.

Shirotori Garden visit and traditional Japanese tea tasting

Shirotori Garden is a beautiful traditional Japanese garden in Nagoya where participants will enjoy a traditional Japanese tea-tasting session. They will learn about the history and significance of the tea ceremony in Japanese culture and gain insights into the art of tea making.

Shirotori Garden visit

Japanese calligraphy class

Be introduced to the tools, techniques, and strokes involved in creating beautiful Japanese characters. With guidance from experienced instructors, participants will practice writing basic kanji and hiragana characters, and eventually progress to more complex characters.

Trip to Local Market Osu Cannon, visit Shinto and Buddhist shrines and temples

  • The trip to the local market, Osu Cannon, is a great opportunity for participants to experience the bustling atmosphere of a traditional Japanese market. The market is known for its variety of food stalls, selling everything from fresh seafood to traditional sweets. Participants can explore the market, try local delicacies, and practice their Japanese language skills with the vendors.
  • The visit to Shinto and Buddhist shrines and temples offers participants the chance to learn more about the spiritual and cultural history of Japan. Participants will be able to witness the rituals and practices of both religions and appreciate the beauty and tranquility of the shrines and temples.

Local market visit

 

Accommodations & Other Included Features

Included Features

What’s Included:

  • Airport pickup
  • Housing for the week in a double occupancy room
  • Entrance fees for all cultural excursions
  • Transport to and from all cultural excursions
  • All lessons and cultural excursions listed
WHO IT'S FOR

Who Should Join This Japanese Cultural Course?

This 1-week course in Nagoya, Japan, is open to those planning to teach English in Japan who have earned an accredited TEFL / TESOL certification from International TEFL Academy (ITA) or another TEFL course provider (ITA approval required); or those with other advanced credentials such as a college or university degree in TESOL.

This orientation program is ideal for you if  you plan to teach in Japan and are looking to:

  • Gain a foundational understanding of Japanese culture, language, & etiquette before beginning your teaching position.
  • Experience a smooth transition to your new life as an English teacher in Japan with guidance from experienced teachers, guides & other experts.
  • Seek to join a community of fellow ESL teachers in Japan.
  • Gain the confidence to successfully manage the cultural differences teachers will face in day-to-day life and at work.
  • Maximize the cross-cultural experience of living and working as an English teacher in Japan.

NOTE: If you are enrolled in ITA's TEFL Course in Nagoya, Japan, or the Teaching English in Japan Job Placement Program, this week-long cultural orientation course is already included in your program.


BUNDLE A TEFL COURSE & SAVE

Bundle a TEFL Course & Save

If you’re not yet TEFL certified, consider bundling this in-person Japanese Culture Course with our 11-week part-time, 4-week full-time Online TEFL Certification Courses.

Standard Tuition for this course is $949 $849 if you bundle. 

Benefits of bundling include:

  • Save Money! When you register for both a TEFL course and the in-person Japan Culture Course, you’ll save an additional $100. Existing students and alumni will also enjoy a $50 alumni discount on this course.
  • Combine award-winning TEFL training to prepare you for teaching English classroom with this exclusive orientation course to prepare you for your daily life outside of the classroom
  • Learn from the Best: Our In-Person Japanese Culture Course is taught by a team of experts in the field of teaching in Japan and helps new teachers to navigate a truly cross-cultural experience.
  • If you take an ITA standard TEFL Certification Course, you will receive lifetime Job Search Guidance to help you gain employment teaching English in Japan and in 80 countries worldwide. 

Japanese Culture Course Cost Comparison

With International TEFL Academy’s In-person Japanese Culture Course in Nagoya, Japan, you can jump right into an expertly-curated introduction to Japanese culture. You don't need to worry about the planning and logistics - we take care of that - and you'll save time and money. We're offering up to a 53% discount for International TEFL Academy students off the total cost of the included accommodations, lessons, and excursions. See the breakdown below:

 

ITA Cultural Foundation Course

Do-It-Yourself Cost

Total Cost

$949

$2,024

Pre-arrival online culture course

Included

$299

Accommodations in Nagoya

Included

$300

In-Class Presentations 

   

Language

Included

$300

Culture & Politics

Included

$200

Placement

Included

$100

Road Safety

Included

$50

First Day of School

Included

$50

Diversity & Inclusion

Included

$50

Workshops

   

ESL Teaching

Included

$100

Navigating Culture Shock

Included

$75

Happy Teacher 

Included

$50

Cultural Activities, with Transport

   

Cooking Class

Included

$100

Shirotori Garden Visit and Traditional Japanese Tea Tasting

Included

$75

Japanese Calligraphy Class

Included

$100

Local Market Osu Cannon, visit Shinto and Buddhist Shrines & Temples

Included

$50

Guided Tour of Nagoya Castle

Included

$75

Welcome Dinner

Included

$50

Back To Top

Course Dates & Registration

IMPORTANT: Before enrolling, we strongly recommend that you are concurrently enrolled in an accredited TEFL certification, are already certified, or have experience teaching ESL. Not yet TEFL certified? Get in touch with us. You can bundle our TEFL certification course with this specialty course and save an additional $100. 

International TEFL Academy's Lifetime Job Guidance and support, access to our alumni community, and our high-quality accreditation are only available to students and alumni of our online and in-person standard TEFL certification courses.

We also invite you to read our registration procedure and terms & conditions. Note that all students will be charged a small processing fee per course/program purchased.

BUNDLE & SAVE: Get $100 OFF your culture course if you bundle with a standard TEFL course

 

The Preparation You Need to Succeed as an English Teacher in Japan

Even the most experienced teachers and travelers face challenges when moving to a new country, including culture shock and even loneliness. That's why ITA offers this exclusive 1-week cultural orientation course in Nagoya, Japan: to help you make the most of your teaching experience and to prepare you for a smooth transition to life in Japan. 

Gain the Tools You Need to Avoid Culture Shock

Learning basic Japanese, making a core group of friends, and gaining a foundational understanding of Japanese culture will help you avoid the culture shock many teachers experience when arriving in a new country. 

Learn from Experts

Our team has years of experience working in the Japanese education system & helping new English teachers successfully acclimate to life in Japan. In addition, you will learn about Japanese history, politics, culture, cuisine, and so much more.

Better Prepare Yourself for the Classroom

Taking a week to acclimate to life in Japan and gaining in-depth knowledge about Japanese culture, etiquette, language & values will help you relate to your students and better adjust to cultural differences you encounter in the classroom.

Ready Yourself for Daily Life in Japan

Going out for a meal. Shopping. Saying hello to your neighbor. Learning basic Japanese and spending a week getting tips from experienced locals will make your transition to daily life in Japan so much smoother.

Download Culture Course Guide

Ask ITA's Director of Academics

Sarah Kalert, Head of Academics at International TEFL Academy.
Sarah has a Master's in English - TEFL/TESL and has taught English abroad in Chile.

Where will I stay during this one-week cultural orientation course in Japan?

Accommodations for the week-long duration of this course are included. You will stay in a double occupancy room shared with another participant. 

What visa will I use to attend this course in Nagoya, Japan?

This course is primarily designed for TEFL-certified English teachers who have definitive plans to teach English in Japan. The vast majority of participants will have a work visa sponsored by their employer in Japan prior to arriving in Japan.

I didn't get my TEFL certification or my Japan teaching job from ITA - can I still enroll in this Japanese culture course?

YES. This 1-week course in Nagoya, Japan, is open to those planning to teach English in Japan who have earned an accredited TEFL / TESOL certification from another TEFL course provider (ITA approval required); or those with other advanced credentials such as a college or university degree in TESOL.

Can I join this course with my friend or partner?

Yes!  If you are both planning to teach English in Japan, you can definitely take this course with your friend(s) or partner/spouse.

Can I take this Japanese Cultural Orientation Course at any time of the year?

Yes.  The course is offered and operates throughout the year. 

How far in advance do I need to enroll & save a place for my desired course date?

For this course, you need to enroll at least 30 days in advance in order to save your spot.

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