I just accepted an offer to be an ALT (mainly due to how little free time I had to do anything as an Eikaiwa teacher and wanting to invest serious time into my Japanese). I’ve seen many ALT teachers say they have a lot of time to work on Japanese etc. However, upon checking my employee manual it seems very strict in this (no using phone; no reading Japanese books or manga etc.; no using laptop etc.).
What are your experiences regarding this? I want to be an ALT for the reduction in working hours but some time at the schools also would be great.
Your actual boss/other people in your company will never be there to observe you in your downtime at the schools.
So it would take someone at the school to specifically notice, call up your company, and complain. Unless they hate you for other reasons, I can’t see that ever happening. Even lot of the Japanese teachers use their phone at least a little bit in their downtime.
And honestly if you actually do read Japanese books/manga you’ll probably receive tons of compliments from the staff, because in general they don’t expect foreigners to be able to read Japanese
Edit: honestly maybe go like a week max without using your phone or anything to make a good first impression. but after that just do whatever. the worst thing that could happen is you get a warning from your company. but it’ll probably never come to that. foreigners have a longer leash for stuff like this, so I really think the only way someone complains is if they do it out of spite for something else
Depends entirely on the individual school. It’s good to follow the rules and get a feel for your school, get to know the teachers, perform well, etc before doing whatever. I didn’t look at my phone once during my first semester, but after I didn’t care
But it’s def a risk. A school that seems laid back could complain if you were to try something outside of the expected role
Also adding: My chill school never got upset with me for using my phone. The first year I did whatever but by the final semester of the second year my workload increased and whenever I had free time the teachers would ask me to sit in on their classes or do some other activity. If a school really accepts you, the longer you’re there, the more they’ll treat you like a teacher which will mean less down time, and refusing isn’t really an option if you’re asked directly. Double edged sword.
Is it Altia? I remember that rule, they wanted you to always be lesson planning even though theres only so much you can do. Or they wanted people to make English boards etc.
What are your experiences regarding this?
It depends. Some people get a sweet gig where they can study Japanese, go out for a walk, talk with Friends…etc (lotsa JETs get really good at Japanese because they can sit around practicing kanji & chatting with people).
Others will be locked up in a room, told to shut up and given a whole heap of passive-aggressive mannerisms (or a stern berating) if they aren’t ‘working’.
Not always but the above can depend on whether or not you can be trusted. For example I had a pretty sweet time because I built up that trust relationship over time (and gradually earned more freedom). Whereas the dude who replaced me had people timing his toilet usage and stuff because he was always browsing dating websites and stuff at work (then bragging to Japanese staff about ‘dates’ he had lined up).
Again, you don’t always have to earn it (some systems are way more relaxed than others). However, in a lot of cases I find people are micro-managed because they’re always lazy/off-task when they are not.
Studying Japanese during free time is allowed by my municipal BoE and schools. The BoE see it as part of your duties to try and communicate better with students and staff. I did JLPT study in my free time and the teachers would ALWAYS be snooping through my books and reacting to the grammar haha.
When I first arrived I was more careful about what the teachers could see me doing on my phone/PC but I’m nearly 4 years here now and I do things like cycle home to pick up a package or go to the post office during a free period. You earn trust and privileges over time 
Other than that I think its like any other job? Just have common sense and don’t be blatantly obvious?
If it’s your downtime (you’re only being paid for a set number of teaching hours), you should be able to do what you want. If they are making you work during your “downtime”, kindly ask your company how you should submit your new hours log so you can get paid correctly.
I think a lot of it comes down to what school you are assigned to and where.
I have had schools where they have had no phones and no laptops policy, they were mostly in the city at bigger schools.
My current job l am in the sticks and l could literally bring and elephant to school and leave it in the car park for a week.
Depends on the school. In my first year I had 5 schools, there was very little downtime and I didn’t know what I was teaching until the morning (even though I was T1). However there are lots of test days if you work JHS where there are literally no lessoms. Generally you’ll find a lot of the rules your told are to cover their arses.ost schools will let you use your phone in the staffroom (as long as it’s not affecting work). I’m lucky enough to have a laptop at my desk which gives me a bit more freedom. You’ll find the teachers will be super excited to see you learning Japanese. The line the companies say is to be “preparing” but often there isn’t anything to do, especially in schools where you have no say in the lesson plan. Most schools tell you the plan and you have some say in itq,but the broad strokes are the t1s. Most Japanese workplaces aren’t super happy about going out in your lunch hour or going home if there are no lessons so don’t fall into that way of thinking. I’ve known some teachers to regularly join other lessons in their of time,this hasn’t been offer to me so much but it has happened (they had me teach a special cooking lesson in English once).
In short, study, basic lesson prep and talking to the teachers is the minimum you can expect. After most schools will allow some mobile phone use and joining in with school activitiesa. However, on days with no lessons, the boredom is real so be prepared for that.
Edit: as others mentioned, you should probably follow the rules very strictly at first and ease into the rule bending.
I agree with everything that everyone else is saying, but in the off chance that your company complains… most contracts have a very long period of break time thrown into the contracts to keep you a part time worker (under 30 hours) so they don’t have to give you benefits. Use that to your advantage.
My contract specifically says I get 111 minutes of break time. If anyone ever complained to the company then I would just say I was taking my ridiculously long unpaid break time.
At least LOOK busy when you aren’t. Keep a notebook out with something English related on the pages. Its preferably that it actually be lesson related for those extra YES I’M NOT PUTZING AROUND points.
It depends on if you’re working for one of those dispatch companies that expects you to be at your school for forty hours a week (including lunch breaks), but is paying you for only 29.5 hours in order to skirt the law requiring you to be enrolled in the health and pension system (shakai hoken). If so, then you have your lunch hour plus another hour and six minutes each day during the work week to do whatever you want: read a book, study Japanese, take a walk, go out for lunch, have a snack, play with your phone, etc. You’re not being paid for that time, so you’re free to do what you want.
I’m glued to my phone for several hours everyday. Not just browsing, but also texting and shit. No one has ever said anything.
My advice is to be really careful your first year. every day suit and tie. Look like your busy working on school stuff ( you can be studying japanese or reading something that does not look like a book or manga)
Believe me when i say this the staff is watching you. They will take mental notes on what your doing. If they find you are not goofing off the first year or so. The next year you can take more liberties.
Most dispatch companies specifically tell the schools that the ALT has to use their phone for work related purposes (looking up lesson plans, ect). But it will always look bad if your on your phone, all the time. In this case, I would use the school computers.
Some schools are more strict because of bad experience with past ALTs. Many big schools with 20+ staff will forget you are even there. It really depends on your environment.
Ultimately, what is the impression do you want to give? Do you really care about your job? Do you really need to look at reddit at work like me?
Obviously in your manual it will say don’t use your phone or play with Nintendo switch lmao. Nah just put your feet up on the desk and watch Netflix.
It depends on the school and teachers. Some don’t give a fuck and some will insta report you. However if you are generally liked you prob wont be reported.
You will have more downtime compared to eikaiwa work, yes. As for"doing what you like", that depends. There was a thread about this just a few days ago - you should check it out.
My schools haven’t said a word to me about getting my laptop out between classes if I have no meetings or anything. I even tether to my phone so I have internet access; I never asked for permission, but since I’m just minding my own business and not connecting to a school network or anything, no one minds. I use it to study Japanese and do my daily reviews, but once those are done, I just browse reddit on subs that don’t have any pictures/videos.
Depends on your schools, ESID.
Just from my personal point of view (direct hire ALT):
I wouldn’t read manga, but studying Japanese should normally not fall foul of any rules. Similarly, if you read an English book, I’m pretty sure you’ll be okay in most cases as they can’t read what you’re reading. Your mileage may vary, though.
Concerning laptops, normally you wouldn’t be allowed to bring your own, both for privacy and liability reasons. If you do want to bring your own, you really should ask for permission and have a really convincing reason. I’ve once managed to get permission for a junior colleague to bring their laptop, but that was literally because they’d have been unable to do any work otherwise (especially since we were making online lesson materials at the time and had no regular classes).
As for phones, it really depends on the school. One of my schools is a bit stricter about it, and teachers aren’t allowed to have their phones out in front of the students. At another one, I’ve literally spotted a vice principal laughing at something on his phone while standing right next to some students. Just see what the regular Japanese teachers do and follow their example.
A bit of extra advice: make sure to make a good first impression. If people like you and trust you, they’ll be a lot more forgiving. It also helps to do things gradually. If starting the second week you’re constantly looking at your phone, people will complain.