Teacher Vacancies in the Tamagawa Academy English Predominant (EP) Program

ABOUT TAMAGAWA ACADEMY
Tamagawa Academy was established in 1929 and built upon a balanced educational philosophy encapsulated in Zenjin (‘Whole person’) education.

Tamagawa Academy has been authorized as an International Baccalaureate World School since 2009 and currently offers the IB Middle Years and Diploma Programmes bilingually in English and Japanese. We do not offer the PYP, however, in 2016 the primary school (grades 1-5) started an optional English partial immersion program called the English Predominant (EP) programme. The EP programme streams into the IB MYP in grade 6, so it is designed to prepare children for the language and learning demands of the IB.

ABOUT THE EP PROGRAM
The EP program follows the Japanese National Curriculum and Tamagawa Academy’s unique approach to primary education. Approximately 60% of lessons are taught in English.

Subjects taught in English:
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[Taught by homeroom teacher]
*Grades 1 and 2
English
Math
Integrated Studies (a cross-curricular blend of art and craft, science and social science)
Moral Studies
Study Hall
*Grades 3-5
English
Math
Science
Moral Studies
Study Hall
[Taught/supported by specialists]
*Grades 1 and 2
PE, Music
*Grades 3-5
PE, Music, Art
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There are 53 teachers in the primary division, of whom 19 are non-Japanese teachers.

Each EP class has two homeroom teachers – one Japanese and one non-Japanese. Lessons are 45 minutes long and teachers have twenty lessons or fewer each week.

The vast majority of our children come from Japanese families and start grade 1 with little or no English. By the time the children graduate at the end of grade 5 they are expected to reach CEFR B1 level (intermediate level). Although they make rapid progress in English, teaching is far closer to TEFL than working in an international school, especially in the first few years of the program. Candidates with experience in Teaching English as a Foreign Language to young learners, especially in Japan, will be at an advantage. Candidates applying from international school teaching backgrounds or home country teaching backgrounds are welcome but need to be aware that Tamagawa Academy is a Japanese school.

JOB REQUIREMENTS
[Required]
Lower Grade EP Homeroom Teacher Job Requirements
- English at native level
- A valid teaching certificate for elementary school-aged children
- Qualifications and/or experience in Teaching EFL to Young Learners
- Experience teaching English and math
- Experience teaching children in grades 1 or 2
Upper Grade EP Homeroom Teacher Job Requirements
- English at native level
- A valid teaching certificate for elementary school-aged children
- Qualifications and/or Experience teaching EFL to young learners
- Experience teaching English, science and math

[Desirable]
Lower Grade EP Homeroom Teacher Job Requirements
- Understanding and/or experience of teaching CLIL
- Experience teaching synthetic phonics
- Experience living and working in Japan
- Ability to speak Japanese
Upper Grade EP Homeroom Teacher Job Requirements
- Experience teaching elementary school grades 3 and up
- Understanding and/or experience of teaching CLIL
- Experience teaching synthetic phonics
- Experience living and working in Japan
- Ability to speak Japanese

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
[Main Teaching Responsibilities]
- Teaching around 20 hours per week of classes
- Developing teaching materials that support high quality lessons and sharing these
- Being familiar with curriculum requirements and teaching in line with these
- Creating and/or updating unit plans using the format specified by the school and sharing these before units are taught
- Planning, teaching and developing resources for lessons in these subjects:
* For 1st and 2nd grade teachers: English, math and integrated studies
* For 3rd grade and above: English, math and science
- Marking and using formative assessment to ensure the needs of all learners are met
- Implementing strategies that support and scaffold language learning within lessons
- Ensuring that all students make good progress in line with school expectations
- Keeping accurate assessment records and preparing formal reports at designated times during the academic year that include comments on student progress against objectives

[General Responsibilities]
- Understanding the school’s education philosophy and ethos and implementing school policies and rules. Providing guidance to students on these when necessary
- Maintaining a high standard of professionalism at all times
- Communicating well with children, parents, colleagues and other staff
- Attending morning briefings and regular staff meetings
- Participating in professional development activities in line with school requirements
- Maintaining a safe, clean, tidy and healthy classroom environment that supports the physical, social and emotional well-being of all students
- Ensuring the health and safety of all pupils at all times
- Supervising children on their way to bus stops and the station at home time
- Supervising and actively participating in trips (including residentials in some grades)
- Participating in outdoor activities with children such as gardening and cleaning
- Occasionally working overtime when requested (overtime is paid separately)
- Occasionally attending events such as parent meetings or sports days on Saturdays and/or Sundays (a day of holiday is given in lieu of any Saturday or Sunday worked)

[Other Responsibilities may include]
- Cover for absent teachers
- Teaching JP course English classes
- Other duties as requested by the Director for K-5

GENERAL EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION
Number of openings: 1
Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30–16:30 or 8:00–17:00
Overtime: Occasionally when requested (paid separately and limited to 42 hours per month)
Salary: Approx. ¥6.6 million for a university graduate with 15 years of experience (Note: This is a guideline only. Final salary will be determined based on age, experience, and ability.)
Contract period: April 2026 – March 2028 (Initial contract only: 2 years. After this, contracts may be renewed annually for a further 3 years by mutual agreement (for a total employment period of five years).
※Depending on circumstances and performance, teachers may be offered tenure after the initial contract or at any other renewal point in the five-year period.
Holidays: Sundays, Saturdays, national holidays, August 1 to August 31 and winter vacation
Vacations: Annual paid vacations, congratulation or condolence leave, etc.
Personal information: Personal information submitted will be used only for the purpose of employment selection and will be handled appropriately in accordance with the school’s privacy policy.
Measures against passive smoking: No smoking indoors, separate smoking areas (outdoors)
Official Recruiter: Yoshiaki Obara, Tamagawa Gakuen Educational Corporation President

WHAT WE OFFER
- A generous salary and transportation allowance
- Private health insurance, pension, workers' accident insurance, unemployment insurance
- Subsidized tuition fees for the children of staff (roughly 50%)
- One-way economy class airfare for employees hired from outside Japan
- Relocation allowance for employees hired from outside Japan
- Sponsorship of Tokyo special teaching license for teachers who show commitment and potential
- A comprehensive in-house professional development program
- A beautiful campus less than 45 minutes from central Tokyo
- A friendly and relaxed work environment