Jamaica to Japan: A Reflective Comparison of Classrooms and Cultures

If you are considering leaving Jamaica to teach English in Japan, then this book is a must-read. Information about Japanese culture and work life is easily googleable, but if you want some insight into Japan from the perspective of a Jamaican, then this book is your best bet. In this book, reflective comparisons between living in both countries are framed by the narrative of my personal experiences. While no two Jamaicans will have the same exact experience living in Japan, most or all of what you will read in this book will serve to prepare you to make the big transition.

I used to teach at the York Castle High School in Brown’s Town, St. Ann, so I have some experience in the Jamaican classroom. Here, I have made concise yet substantive comparisons between both teaching environments. If you are currently teaching in Jamaica, or are weighing your mind as to whether to teach here or there, this book will offer some guidance.

There are two major types of English-teaching jobs in Japan. You can work in an Eikaiwa, which is a private English conversation school, or you can work as an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) in a public junior high or elementary school. These jobs have several critical differences, and understanding them will be important in guiding you into making an informed decision. I used to work in an Eikaiwa, and now I am an ALT. I have provided some detailed comparisons between these two teaching jobs.

Not only does this book take you through years of my life in Japan (both inside and outside of the classroom), but it breaks down the process of getting a job in Japan and assimilating into this different world.