Qualifications

Prepare yourself for a teaching career in Japan or elsewhere

These pages are primarily for people with little or no prior experience teaching English. Look to our ever-expanding list of partner schools for training options and give your future application an advantage. Select your region below for links to a TEFL/TESOL trainer nearby.

Given the unique nature of the teaching at Gaba and the thorough certification offered in house, prior teaching experience and accreditation are not strict requirements to apply. However, one or both is preferable to neither. If you have not taught English before, prior completion of a teacher training course will only boost the credibility of your application. The skills learned are an obvious benefit, but the initiative displayed in getting such training tells recruiters you are serious in your desire to teach English.

There are numerous options available for anyone seeking training. Courses can be completed in the span of a weekend or over several months in person or online. Be sure to research carefully before you choose your program. Quality varies and a reputable institution will naturally provide better training.

Common Abbreviations

Here is a list of acronyms that are common throughout the industry.

ESL – English as a Second Language
EFL – English as a Foreign Language
ELT – English Language Teaching
TESL – Teaching English as a Second Language
TEFL – Teaching English as a Foreign Language
TESOL – Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages
CELTA – Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults