Job Description

What's it like to work at the British Council as a Teacher?

Teacher's Success Story

Pay Band: Hourly Paid

No. of positions: 3

Country/Location Japan

Department English Teaching

Contract Type Fixed Term Contract Local- 1 year

Contract Hours: Depends on business requirement. The teacher will teach classes on weekday evenings and/or at weekends (Saturday and Sunday) at our centres in Iida Bashi and Musashi-Kosugi

Working location: Tokyo

Local restriction on employment These roles are only open to applicants who currently have permission to live and work in Japan. If your current working visa is under the ‘Other’ category (e.g. professor, Instructor, Artist) you will need to apply for permission to work under the category (Engineer / Specialist in humanities / International services).

Income tax and national insurance:

• Your salary is a gross salary and is subject to local taxes and statutory deductions. The British Council will make deductions from your salary at source in respect of tax and other sums due where appropriate.
• If the laws and regulations of Japan require you to account directly for any tax or other sums that are due in respect of your salary, it is your responsibility to properly account for such tax and other sums to the appropriate authorities. The British Council will make no additional payments to you in respect of any liability for tax or other sums that you may have.
• Any liability you may have for tax or other sums due in other jurisdictions will be your responsibility, save as set out in this contract. No additional payment will be made to you by the British Council in respect of such liabilities.

Closing Date 19th May 2026

Role Purpose:

Deliver a high-quality, engaging, and enriching English language learning experience that drives learner progress and achievement, while maintaining excellence in teaching standards and enabling effective learning outcomes. Contribute to the wider objectives of the British Council by supporting its cultural relations mission.

Main Accountabilities:

The British Council is seeking enthusiastic and committed Hourly Paid Teachers of English to join our teaching centres in Japan. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a global organisation at the forefront of English Language Teaching (ELT), delivering high-quality learning experiences while contributing to meaningful cultural exchange.

In this role, you will plan, prepare, and deliver engaging English language lessons that meet the needs of a diverse range of learners, taking into account individual learning styles and preferences. You will ensure that all teaching aligns with the British Council’s Global Teaching Standards, maintaining excellence in teaching quality while meeting organisational and learner expectations. Monitoring student progress, providing constructive feedback, and encouraging learner autonomy will be key aspects of your work. You will also actively engage in professional development and performance management activities to continuously enhance your teaching practice.

Beyond the classroom, you will support teaching centre activities and contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of courses, materials, and services. Working collaboratively with colleagues, you will participate in staff meetings and play an active role in shaping a high-quality learning environment. You will also assist in local marketing initiatives and contribute to delivering excellent customer service by effectively communicating with students and supporting their overall learning journey. Administrative responsibilities related to teaching will be carried out in line with required standards, while consistently demonstrating the British Council’s values and professional behaviours.

Building and maintaining strong relationships with students and colleagues will be essential. You will also play a role in promoting the British Council’s cultural relations mission by helping learners develop an understanding of the UK, its values, and encouraging intercultural interaction both inside and outside the classroom.

All work will be carried out in compliance with relevant policies and standards, including safeguarding, data protection, equality, diversity and inclusion, special educational needs and disability, and health and safety. As part of your teaching practice, you will demonstrate strong subject knowledge, effectively engage and motivate learners, create inclusive learning environments, deliver well-structured lessons, use assessment and feedback to support progress, and manage teaching resources efficiently, while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.

If you are passionate about teaching and eager to contribute to a dynamic, international environment, we would love to hear from you.

Qualifications

Essentials

• Undergraduate/University degree
• Cambridge CELTA or Trinity certificate TESOL

Desirables

• Recognised diploma in EFL i.e. DELTA/Trinity Dip TESOL

Language requirements

• High proficiency in English i.e. full mastery of English across all 4 skills equivalents to user (CEFR C2) IELTS Band 8/9 in each of 4 sections of the academic module

Work Experience

Essential

• 2 years post-certificate (i.e., CELTA/Trinity cert TESOL) experience.

Desirables

• Experience teaching Japanese learners/Young Learners

Salary & Benefits

• Salary:

• • 4,484 yen/hour for teachers with a CELTA or equivalent
  • 4,993 yen/hour for teachers with a DELTA or equivalent
  • Payment for preparation for lessons and marking is included in the hourly teaching rate and will not be paid separately.

Important Information

Possible Changes to Your Duties

You may be assigned to different duties designated by the British Council to meet operational demands.

Possible Changes to Your Place of Work

You may be transferred to a different workplace designated by the British Council to meet operational demands.

Renewal

Your employment is not renewable, and you shall resign from the British Council at the end of the employment term.

Right to Work: Applications are welcomed from candidates in Japan with a natural right to work. However, please note candidates must have a natural right to work in the country, on a permanent basis, as immigration clearance and/or on-going visa support is not provided by the British Council for this role. Relocation support is also not provided.