The English Village offers three types of General English class.

1-1 Classes

For students wishing to attend the most intensive type of class.

2-1 Classes

For two friends or members of the same family with the same level of English who wish to study together.

3～4-1 Classes 　

For students who wish to study in a small group.

In addition to General English classes, we offer the following supplementary classes.

Chat Room

A free conversation class designed to help you improve your fluency and put into practice the things you have learnt in your main class.

Pronunciation Class

A class which concentrates on the English sounds and sound patterns which are difficult for Japanese learners.

You can attend General English classes once, twice or four times a week in the case of Stage 2 classes and above, and once or twice a week in the case of Foundation classes. In addition to these classes, you can attend the free conversation class (Chat Room) and the pronunciation class whenever you like. 　 　 　

You can choose a regular class time for your General English classes. If it is impossible for you to attend at your regular time on one particular occasion, you can change to another time during that week or attend another class in a later week. Some English Language schools allow you to attend a class whenever you like (five classes one week, none the next, two the following week, one the week after that), and we could easily offer the same arrangement, take your money and sit back and smile. However, in the light of our long experience of teaching English, we feel strongly that you cannot make satisfactory progress under such a system, since you would end up taking a random series of classes with no connection between them. Learning a language requires continuity, stability and a steady progression from one point to another. Your studies need to be systematic and regular, and your teacher needs to know where you are coming from and where you are going to in your learning. Since we are committed to the pursuit of excellence, we continually strive to put your interests as a learner first, and it is for this reason that we offer a system which is both flexible and educationally sound.

Our modular syllabus (operating at Stage 2 and above) has been carefully designed to offer a combination of flexibility and the continuity which is so important to successful language learning.

If you take one General English class a week, you will generally find a connection between last week's class, this week's class and next week's class. If you attend two or four General English classes a week, you will generally find a connection not only between last week's classes, this week's classes and next week's classes, but also between the classes you attend in the same week. The way the modular system operates is illustrated in the diagram below.

 

Our?teachers are carefully selected, and we take pride in them, just as they take pride in their teaching, their students, and the school. Clearly, everyone is different, but all our teachers have certain things in common. The are all British, and they all speak Standard English. They all have university degrees and are fully-qualified to teach English as a Foreign Language. Beyond this, they share a love of the English language and a passion for teaching. They are enthusiastic, approachable, flexible and kind. They believe strongly in student-centred learning and take an interest in their students as unique individuals. They want you to succeed in your English studies and will do all that they can to help you. They have a professional approach to their work and are committed to excellence.

 

We use a tried and tested method of teaching English which has been developed in England over the last thirty years. It is designed to help you speak English fluently and confidently in real situations. We understand that Japanese people know a lot of English grammar and vocabulary, but sometimes have difficulty in turning their knowledge into real communication. Our lessons are designed to 'bridge the gap' between knowledge and communication in a way which is both systematic and enjoyable. A typical lesson consists of the following stages.

Warm-up

An opportunity for you to speak freely about real things in your life.

Presentation

Presentation of the language you need to communicate in real situations.

Controlled Practice

Practice in using the language you need to communicate in real situations.

Language focus

An opportunity reflect on what you have learnt.

Free Practice

Practice in using the language you have learnt in a freer, more personalised way.

Our teaching material has been written by the founder of the school with the needs of Japanese learners kept firmly in mind. Like our teaching method, it is designed to help you speak English fluently and confidently in real situations. It offers you an abundance of speaking practice which will help you turn knowledge into real communication in an organised and stimulating way. In addition to classroom activities, most units also contain supplementary listening and language consolidation material intended for self-study use at home.

 

Classes are available at the following levels:

• Foundation1 24Units For beginners or false beginners
• Foundation2 24Units For near beginners
• Stage 2 48Units For elementary level students
• Stage 3 96Units For lower-intermediate level students
• Stage 4 96Units For intermediate level students
• Stage 5 96Units For upper-intermediate level students
• Stage 6 96Unit For advanced level students
• Stage 7 96Units For post-advanced level students

If you are interested in joining The English Village or would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact us. We currently have branches in Kinshicho (Tokyo) and Funabashi (Chiba). In both cases, the telephone number is:03-3624-3300

Anyone interested in joining the school is offered a free level check test, placement interview, and twenty-minute taster lesson. The level check test, placement interview and taster lesson are used to help us make an assessment of your level of English and advise you on the level of class you need. They are also your opportunity to find out anything you would like to know about the school and to ask for advice on your English language learning and needs. If you decide to join the school, we will always be both ready and available to offer you any further advice you feel you may need on any aspect of your language learning, including opportunities to study English in Britain.

 

Job Opportunities for EFL teachers

Are you interested in teaching English in Japan? Have you got a university degree (any discipline) and the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate CELTA qualification (or equivalent)? Why not apply for a teaching post with The English Village? The English Village is a serious and reputable English language teaching organisation with branches in the Kinshicho area of Tokyo and the city of Funabashi in Chiba prefecture.

It specialises in the teaching of British English to motivated adult learners. Its founder acquired thirteen years' EFL experience in Britain as a teacher, teacher trainer, director of studies and school deputy principal before moving to Japan to set up a company with his wife, a former teacher of Japanese in Britain.

He is therefore very familiar with the world of EFL from the teacher's point of view. His aim is to provide students with first-rate teaching, whilst at the same time offering teachers the highest possible level of support. New teachers are given a period of thorough training before they start teaching and continuing in-service training and as much help and advice as they would like after that. The English Village regularly recruits new teachers and, for applicants with the right experience and qualifications, there may also be opportunities for team leaders and teacher trainers.

 

To anyone interested in experiencing a new culture and broadening their knowledge of the world, Japan offers a rich and fascinating combination of the traditional and the modern, where ancient Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples can be found nestling between futuristic high-rise buildings.

This juxtaposition says a lot about life in Japan today, where a modern lifestyle blends with the traditional values of politeness, consideration towards others and mutual respect.

The English Village provides subsidised apartments for all its teachers so that the cost of accommodation is no more expensive than it would be back in Britain. Beyond that, it is difficult to make a general comparison between the cost of living in Britain and Japan, partly because such a comparison depends on the prevailing exchange rate between the yen and the pound, and partly because the difference varies from commodity to commodity.

Some items in Japan cost more than their counterparts in Britain, whilst others cost less. (One striking example of this lies in the fact that fresh vegetables are more expensive in Japan than they are in England, whereas a mixed salad - and food in general - in a family restaurant costs far less. Indeed, eating out can be astonishingly cheap in Japan.)

However, the salary and completion bonus undoubtedly make it possible for teachers to save a substantial amount of money during their time in Japan. Obviously, the precise amount saved will depend on the lifestyle and inclination of the individual teacher, but the bottom line is that teachers earn significantly more than they need to live on. For those prepared to embrace a different culture, Japan is not a difficult place to live in. You do not need to be able to speak Japanese, but if you would like to learn, there are ample opportunities for you to do so.

Even in the vast, sprawling metropolis of Tokyo, getting around is easy, thanks to the low-cost travel provided by the amazingly efficient and extensive railway network. There are endless opportunities for you to meet and get to know Japanese people, and if from time to time you feel the need for a more familiar environment, there are numerous English-speaking bars and British 'pubs' for you to choose from.

Perhaps the most important quality you need to live happily in a foreign country is the willingness to be a 'cross-culturalist'. If you expect the rest of the world to resemble Britain, you'll be sadly disappointed! If you enjoy and value the differences between cultures, you'll have a great time!

 

Full-time and part-time opportunities for native EFL teachers resident in Japan.

Applicants must hold a university degree and the UCLES CELTA or equivalent. Valid visa essential. CV and covering letter to Neil Pearson at The English Village, 4-2-1-113 Taihei, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0013. Tel: 03-3624-3300.