Does anyone agree with me that you should be fluent in their language to teach your language?

Because you may be teaching English, but you’ll still have to communicate it Japanese also. Whenever you explain something, or why something is the way it is, you’d need to use the language that’s easiest for the student. That would be their native language.

An English-speaking person teaching English in Japan should speak fluent Japanese. Not because they’re teaching English, but because they’re living in Japan.

If a Japanese student comes to an English-speaking country, then no, there is no reason for the teacher to learn Japanese. They would also have to become fluent in the native tongue of every other student that they come across.

When in Rome, speak as the Romans do. ;o)

Actually for Japan, they prefer that you can’t speak any Japanese, much less be fluent. The education department feels that if you can speak Japanese, you’ll use it in English class, instead of just asking as an English language model for the class.

It would be helpful, but it’s not a necessity. My wife currently teaches English to adult immigrant students and has had several different languages in her classroom. On any given day, her class may have students who are native speakers or Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Tagalog, French, Portuguese, or other languages. Her mission is to teach them English, and she does so without referring to their native language. The students work together so the stronger help the weaker in a mutual support network. That is the standard method of teaching in an ESL class here in California.

In Japan, one would need to know what is expected in their educational system.

By the way, my teacher in kindergarten didn’t know my native language when I arrived that September morn, many years ago. I guess I’ve managed to get the hang of English pretty well.

I do not agree with that at all. I am ESL certified and am trained to teach to students with limited English skills. If someone has full inclusion in a language, they will reach fluency within 6 months. Make sure to make the distinction between academic and social language. Use a lot of collaborative projects and mix your groups as much as possible between high and low levels of comprehension.

From what I’ve seen in the postings for English Teachers abroad, you only need to be fluent in English, since you are there to polish English-speaking skills. I have taught ESL with Berlitz & never had to be able to use the primary language of the client.

Well, those who will go to your class will not understand you so it will be easier for you to explain the basics of the English language in Japanese. As lessons progress, then you limit your use of Japanese. I took Spanish lessons and while the teacher can speak Spanish fluently, she started all the lessons in English. By the 3rd week, we were expected to speak the greetings in Spanish and only the new lessons were in English.

Hope this helps.

u need 2 translate 2 them in japanese 2 explain d words u teach in englisgh 4 them 2 understand.

cuz lets say my name is molly and urs is bob. i speek japanese, and u do not yet u r teaching me english.

molly: gulg er balderdash molly? (how do u say my name is molly?)

bob: good day to you too.

or if u r saying like for instance

bob: this is a lamp! (pointing to a lamp)

nobody knows what u r saying!

well you need to be able to understand what the other people are saying, but other than that not really.