Working as an English teacher...How is it?

[DoctorP]

I know that a lot of people live in Japan and Okinawa as English teachers. Not just Americans, but Canadians, Britons, Scots, Dutch, etc...

How do you like it? Did you always plan on doing this job?

To me it would be quite boring. I taught briefly (1 year) to kindergarden classes in Ishikawa and Gushikawa. I can not see doing that job long term. Some of you guys here...how do you do it?

[thistle]

Me, I am just doing it to make a living, and I think it is a pretty hard job to actually teach english. I know lots of people love it though and are very passionate about it.

Don't mean to be picky here, but if you say Britons, it includes the english, scots, and the welsh (where's the smiley signs gone?!)

[DoctorP]

Don't mean to be picky here, but if you say Britons, it includes the english, scots, and the welsh (where's the smiley signs gone?!)


I just wanted to clarify for everyone out there. Too many people (Americans) assume that only Americans teach English in Japan. Thank you for the correction though.

[dk]

I taught English for two years to 4th-6th graders at several elementary schools down in Naha. It was really great, and if I didn't enjoy programming so much I'd probably still be doing it to this day. And on top of the fun, it's great pay. It was Y300,000 a month back when I was doing it, which isn't bad at all for about the 2.5 hours per day of actual work that goes into it. The rest of the 8 hour day is spent preparing the next day's lesson and chatting it up with the Japanese staff. They enjoy the English interaction as well.

You really need a lot of energy to teach this age group. And you need to be perceived as an all-around fun person. Because once those kids stop paying attention, you've lost the battle.

It's a lot of fun and very challenging.

And man... the nomikais... Okinawan teachers can DRINK.

[DoctorP]

And man... the nomikais... Okinawan teachers can DRINK.


Hmmm?? this doesn't make me feel very good at all! Thanks for sharing this! :D

[dk]

Hmmm?? this doesn't make me feel very good at all! Thanks for sharing this! :D
They've got so much steam to blow at the end of the week. I can't blame them! Teaching is probably the most demanding job I've come across. Teaching english pales in comparrison to what the Okinawan teachers actually go through.

[DoctorP]

They've got so much steam to blow at the end of the week. I can't blame them! Teaching is probably the most demanding job I've come across. Teaching english pales in comparrison to what the Okinawan teachers actually go through.

ha ha! I'd love to go drinking with one of my kids teachers! She is HOT! Something like 26 years old, single, and could have easily been a model! Almost time to trade the wife in for a newer model! :eek:

[dk]

ha ha! I'd love to go drinking with one of my kids teachers! She is HOT! Something like 26 years old, single, and could have easily been a model! Almost time to trade the wife in for a newer model! :eek:
Oh man, yeah. Some of the teachers and assistant teachers I delt with where just... :eek:

They made the nomikais all the more fun.

[socalheart]

I've been wanting to teach English here, but don't know the requirements. What can y'all tell me about getting into teaching English part-time here? Thanks.

[dk]

I don't know about part-time, but if you ever want full-time, go to the Naha City Board of Education and ask about it. They do all the hiring. A bachelor's degree was the only requirement back then (3 years ago) and even that wasn't strictly enforced.

[DoctorP]

I don't know about part-time, but if you ever want full-time, go to the Naha City Board of Education and ask about it. They do all the hiring. A bachelor's degree was the only requirement back then (3 years ago) and even that wasn't strictly enforced.

I thought that all you needed was to be intelligent and have a pulse...intelligence is optional! :p

You can check the ads that run weekly...someone will pick you up if you are serious. Or...just place an ad to teach on your own...you will get students. I have friends that do that.

[dk]

I thought that all you needed was to be intelligent and have a pulse...intelligence is optional! :p

You can check the ads that run weekly...someone will pick you up if you are serious. Or...just place an ad to teach on your own...you will get students. I have friends that do that.
Actually, pretty much the only requirement is that you must be eccentric.

[tiffanyp]

I teach English full time off base and I love it. The children are well behaved and aren't disrespectful like the military children. I truly enjoy going to work everyday, if you haven't tried teaching off base then you should definetly try it soon. Even if you just volunteer. The schools are always looking for volunteers!

[thistle]

If you like teaching children and can work evening's there are a lot of opportunities out there, there are always ads in the JU classifieds, but you can always just look in the yellow pages for english schools.
I know of a few good schools (cram schools for kids) who are often looking for teacher's who can teach kindergarten age, daytime and evening.
Also there is the Hands-on place in Chatan, just near Yoshihachi sushi bar which is always advertising. I used to teach there just once a week, it is a great place to get practice and experience.

[DoctorP]

I teach English full time off base and I love it. The children are well behaved and aren't disrespectful like the military children. I truly enjoy going to work everyday, if you haven't tried teaching off base then you should definetly try it soon. Even if you just volunteer. The schools are always looking for volunteers!

Where do you teach? I would hope that you don't teach spelling! :p (j/k) Anyway, do you teach at a school? I found that when I was teaching that the Japanese kids are very unruly.

[coldnoodles]

I had a interview for one, last year, I was shocked how this ex-marine for a owner was ripping the Japanese off, the kids were memorizing everything, they didn't know anything when I asked them simple things.

Then my pay would be 1000 yen per hr. but the company would have to take out 20% to cover them from Japanese gov. If I could get a Japanese bank account they wouldn't take 20% out of my pay. Here I worked for 4hrs never got paid, and never got a call to come back! I guess he didn't like me asking the kids questions since it wasn't on their papers they had to memorize.

Since we first got here May 2005, I applied for some in the paper, but they never call back. In Dec. I got a call from some lady wanting me to teach some place near Itoman, pay was 1500 yen per hr, thats far from Kadena, turned out the place she was suppose to meet me she never showed up or answered her calls. Then recently she called me and told me she wanted me to be a subsitute for a school in midori district. Here I met her and everything. The pay is 4000 yen per hr. for a substitute teacher. Here I went for my 1st day and she told me she would teach the 1st hour and I would teach the 2nd hour. That never happend. She never told me anything about the kids. I asked her many questions and she told me she didn't know. I asked would it be the same class everyday or different kids? What are the ages? do any of them speak English? Do they understand English? Can I get something with their names on it? Basically she told me she didn't know how old the kids were, she said none of them understand or speak English *but she has been with them for 1yr), and there was no need to get any other their names! Here I was trying to figure out what was I doing there?

Class started and it was like church, it was non stop singing and dancing for 30 min. and 30 minutes of coloring w/ singing and dancing. Then she was mad at me cuz they finished 5 minutes early that the parents would be mad they didn't learn anything. With the same songs everyday for 1yr and coloring what are they learning? Then she told me I wouldn't get paid, cuz it wasn't 1hr and for the 2nd hour she basically left me hanging she walked me downstairs to the door and told me she is waiting for another person to teach the class. But here she told me I was going to be doing it, in emails and phone. 5pm came around, and she left, the school told me I was can go home. I got an email from the lady who I am subsituting for and she told me the she and the parents decided that I wasn't a happy singing and dancing person and she won't be needing me.

Now in the past 2 mo I have received many emails from here, asking me if I can sponsor the kids on base for field trips. I just got an email from the school wanting to visit Bob Hope for 50 kindergarten kids. Here she keeps telling me I need to plan things for the holidays coming up for the kids. Like Kinser base and other bases. I don't even know who to contact.

[DoctorP]

coldnoodles...are you a native English speaker? I've heard a lot of stories about private companies both here in Okinawa and in Mainland Japan. I wouldn't work for any American that has their own school, but many of the locals are not much better!

[thistle]

I agree, a lot of the local schools here do try to rip you off, nothing under 1,500yen per hour should be acceptable. Even that is very low, but this is Okinawa and unfortunately that is the norm. here. Some of the better schools offer 2-2,500yen per hour and a few even more.

[DoctorP]

I had a friend who used to teach in Kyushu. He made a killing there, but moved here for health reasons (allergies). He could barely get by here because of all the volunteer teaching going on. But I have another friend who makes a comfortable living running his own school in Uruma.

[coldnoodles]

coldnoodles...are you a native English speaker? I've heard a lot of stories about private companies both here in Okinawa and in Mainland Japan. I wouldn't work for any American that has their own school, but many of the locals are not much better!

I was told Native English speaker are the one's who are Japanese and speak English. But then others told me that means you are from USA.

I am from the US, I have been teaching people English since I was 13yrs old, taught all kinds of people from babies to eldery. I really never accepted money for it, but people paid me whatever they could. Mostly free food from the restaurants they worked at, or free stuff from where they worked at.

[Muku]

Then my pay would be 1000 yen per hr. but the company would have to take out 20% to cover them from Japanese gov. If I could get a Japanese bank account they wouldn't take 20% out of my pay.

First off question here for you. Are you saying they withheld 20% from your pay just because you dont have a Japanese bank account?

Oh btw, if they are taking 20% they are ripping you off, by Japanese law for the amount of money you were making per hour they would only take 10% off the top for taxes, plus they have to, by law, give you an earnings statement at the end of the year so you can file Japanese taxes and get a refund, directly deposited into your new Japanese bank account.:D If they are not doing this they are breaking the law.

You can get a Japanese bank account it isnt that hard, it really is simple and would save you some trouble it seems. Dont let the "language" be a barrier to stop you.

Now in the past 2 mo I have received many emails from here, asking me if I can sponsor the kids on base for field trips. I just got an email from the school wanting to visit Bob Hope for 50 kindergarten kids. Here she keeps telling me I need to plan things for the holidays coming up for the kids. Like Kinser base and other bases. I don't even know who to contact.
This woman screws you over and then expects you to do her a favor like this? Come on now, please dont have anything to do with this person, unless you enjoyed being made a fool of. She is taking advantage of you from the sound of what you are writing here.

[coldnoodles]

First off question here for you. Are you saying they withheld 20% from your pay just because you dont have a Japanese bank account?

Oh btw, if they are taking 20% they are ripping you off, by Japanese law for the amount of money you were making per hour they would only take 10% off the top for taxes, plus they have to, by law, give you an earnings statement at the end of the year so you can file Japanese taxes and get a refund, directly deposited into your new Japanese bank account.:D If they are not doing this they are breaking the law.

You can get a Japanese bank account it isnt that hard, it really is simple and would save you some trouble it seems. Dont let the "language" be a barrier to stop you.

This woman screws you over and then expects you to do her a favor like this? Come on now, please dont have anything to do with this person, unless you enjoyed being made a fool of. She is taking advantage of you from the sound of what you are writing here.

I never took the job, I told them I had was getting a Japanese bank account. I tried to get one but I was denied 11 times outside gate 2, bank on left 4 times. I had someone translate for me that was with me on some occasions, then I had them write it in Japanese for me. I still couldn't get a bank accout. Language Barrier doensn't stop me or bother me!

This guy is fraud, here he was telling he was a president at some company in Oregon, where they make the books, but to lower import costs the rest of the books are made here in Okinawa. I looked all over in Okinawa for this company he tells all the parents. The book is a big print cardboard paper with sentences for kids to memorize! These kids didn't even know enough words to make a sentence. The teachers kept talking to them in Japanese. Every month they memorize the same sentence and flashcards.

I felt bad for the kids and parents, wasting there time a money. From seeing that I was going to open English classes, I tried posting it in Japanese on JU, but I was told I had to pay a fee when I already had someone translate it. I was there for about 3hrs they were so called training me, they spoke in Japanese to the kids. The don't do any kinds of testing, this guy passes everyone, cuz if he didn't then people would stop paying.

[coldnoodles]

Here is my insights from my last offer...from the lady mentioned above!

First off, the one who called me for the job she doesn't talk, totally cold, ignores everything. Here I got there she kept bowing over and over again to everyone, never ending there. I bow one time to everyone, while she kept going. Finally we went upstairs, she didn't tell me anything really. We got to the class she really didn't introduce me, she just told the class I was sensei XXXXX and that was it. She started the class by singing head, shoulders, knees, and toes for a good 10min. I felt like I was in church, thinking that is crazy how she is yelling and dancing, thats not teaching English. Here she asked me to do the flash cards. wow that took 5min. Here I told this little girl that was close, to count again, and I told her good job she got them right before anyone else did, but the so called teacher had to make herself look good and kept having the kids yell the answers out, louder and louder, over and over again. I felt like I was in church! After the flash cards she got up to sing and dance with the kids, to songs I never heard of. Then she asked me to read the kids a story, I asked her if she wanted me to read the whole story or to pick the main objects out of the book like red strawberry, there are 5 strawberries and count them 1-5. She told me to read the whole story. Here I read the story, then she took the book from me and picked out the objects of the book. Everything was still yelling and repeating, then they had to stand up to sing and dance to another song. Here it was 4:25 she wanted the kids to color, here I passed everything out, she put in a CD and told the kids to sing along, she would try and dance with some kids. She kept talking to the kids in Japanese, there was no English just the kids repeating words.

I tried to ask her questions, she would completely ignore me. I tried to ask her if I could get the kids names, she walked off, I asked her several times and she said she doesn't know their names. Huh? You need to know their names to teach English to them. I asked her if they know how to write their names in English, she said NO, she teaches them English not writing. Uh...I thought this was an English class? Here I walked around the kids and helped the little girl get other crayons, I asked if I could color with her. Here I was coloring with this little girl, and I was told I am not suppose to do that!! I was told to stamp the papers, and to have the kids tell me what color of stamp they wanted. Then of course she had to do another singing and dancing song before they left. Here they leave, I cleaned up, thinking how gay that was! And she tells me the next class will be there shortly and we have to walk downstairs to get them.

Here I was told before that I would be working from 4-6pm. Here it was 5pm and she said she is waiting for her 5pm person to show up that she needs 2 people working as substitutes. Now she never told me this, she never told me she only wanted me there for 1hr. Here she said lets sit down and wait, so I was thinking maybe I was still going to do the next class, but she told me next time I need to pick the objects out of the book, the kids don't understand anything. Here she was upset that they finished minutes early, that the parents are going to be frowning on that. One thing that got on my nerves is not to interact with the kids. Here she got up and left while she was talking to me, telling me how I am not suppose to interact with the kids, be on time, dismiss the kids on time not early, and follow her routine. Here I asked if its always in the same room, and she got up and talked to another staff person, I waited and she came back and told me she will call me when she needs me, and she asked if I brought my resume?? I said NO you never responded to my email, she said the school would like one. Let me see here, that is why I emailed her and asked her, but she never responded.

I knew she wouldn't be calling, she was tooo "COLD" she doesn't communicate at all!!! Am I ever going to get paid, or is she fraud? If she can't answer my questions or even communicate with me, why should I bother? Here I got an email from her and it was like she is just using me to get the parents on base to make her look good. Here is her email:


Mrs. XXXXXX,
Thank you for coming to the Kindergarten. After assessment during the interview lesson, we felt that it would be better to involve you in fun activities. (who is we? interview lesson, I was told I would watch her from 4-5pm and from 5-6 I was to give lesson, never happend).Are you able to plan 5 cultural activities for this year at XXXX or on base? (for example Easter, Christmas, etc) This will include the students' moms (and dads maybe). What we need are topics/themes, venues/places of interest on base, budget/cost etc. (I can plan it, but all the action and fun things happen on Camp Foster and Kadena). Also, can you sign the students' mothers on base to eat at Camp Kinser's BURGER KING or SUBWAY this month? Camp Foster or Kadena may be a little far from the school. This will be done from 4-5:30pm on one of the Thursdays this month. Let me know so that I can make arrangements with the school. (Wouldn't it look weird - here I live on Kadena, sponsoring 15+ people/families on Camp Kinser to eat at Subway or Burger King. I always eat off base). I would also appreciate if you would bring some American snacks/candy/toys or little gifts to give away after the trip. You can bring a receipt and the school can issue a refund to you. (For example, I gave away pencils and erasers with the American flags on them the 1st day.) This is motivation. (Like my mom said she just ran out of ideas and is using me to get the parents to like her more, here she hasn't taught them food names, but wants them to start going to Camp Kinser and eating on base for a learning exercise, that means I have to sponsor the teacher, since she doesn't have base access). Thank you.

Since then the emails keep coming she wants me to sponsor kids on base for everything and parents to eat on base. I haven't responded to any of them.

[Muku]

Since then the emails keep coming she wants me to sponsor kids on base for everything and parents to eat on base. I haven't responded to any of them.
Smart .....but welcome to the world of English edutainment in Japan. What you experienced happens daily throughout this fine country, and not just to rugrats but even with Elementary School kids.

[socalheart]

Re: Japanese Withholding Tax
In my experience in payroll here, as a foreigner living in Japan and drawing income from a Japanese company, 20% of your gross pay is withheld. You can claim it on your US income tax though. It's best to verify it with a certified tax person.

Re: Opening A Japanese Bank Account
I tried to open an account at Bank of the Ryukyus when I was an Alien Resident. They said, I had to live on the island for at least six months consecutively. When my mother opened a personal account at the same bank (back in the day), she had to provide a whole box of paperwork proving income and resident status. They don't typically give SOFA members a Japanese account, if at all.

(I'm not meaning to contradict or repeat anything previously stated. I'm simply providing information on my own experiences in the matter. I hope it's useful. ) :)

[Muku]

Re: Japanese Withholding Tax
In my experience in payroll here, as a foreigner living in Japan and drawing income from a Japanese company, 20% of your gross pay is withheld. You can claim it on your US income tax though.


The 20% you are refering to is if the company is also paying for health insurance and retirement benefits as well. I should have clarified that earlier, thanks for the reminder.

Straight income tax, is 10% off the top, a portion of which is refundable at the end of the fiscal year. I have been working in and for Japanese businesses one one sort or another for over 20 years now.

This is legit business practice here;
The tax deducted by your employer from your part-time work wages is the national tax known as the income tax. Your employer pays the collected tax to the state (tax office) on your behalf. The taxation rate differs depending on the total amount of your wages. Normally, 10% of the total income (for those residing in Japan over 1 year) is deducted as withholding tax. For those in Japan for less than 1 year or those who receive more than 1-million yen in a single payment, 20% is deducted as a withholding tax. The municipal office in your area of residency receives notice of the total amount of income tax paid by you, and they then send you a separate request for payment of the local tax.

Although an income tax is deducted from your wages every time you are paid, the final amount to be paid is determined according to your total wages for the calendar year. In order to determine the final amount, you must declare your income to the local taxation office between February 16 and March 15 of the following year. In doing so, you will declare whether the tax on your income after deducting expenses is greater than or less than the tax already collected as withholding tax. This is known as the declaration of your final income tax return. If you file a final income tax return, any tax paid in excess will be returned to you.

File an income tax return at the tax office in your area of residency every year between February 16 and March 15
http://www.studyjapan.go.jp/common/parts/clear.gif
Your final income tax return is filed at the tax office that handles your area of residency. If you do not know where the tax office is, please inquire at the municipal office in your area. To file a return, go to the tax office to receive the final income tax return form, fill it in and submit it to the tax office. The tax office offers guidance to those who do not know how to fill out the form. Be sure to take the withholding tax statement (issued by your employer) to the tax office with you if you go there for consultation

How long one has been living here matters as well, however we are talking about companies and businesses that are following the law. The BS in the post in question instantly tells me that the business is screwing its employees out of their pay, that is black and white. I refer to this statement;

Then my pay would be 1000 yen per hr. but the company would have to take out 20% to cover them from Japanese gov. If I could get a Japanese bank account they wouldn't take 20% out of my pay.
This is a crock of BS, that simple.

I have to file my own taxes now because of the type of contract that I am under. Usually a business will take care of it for the employee. However in this case this "school" is ripping people off by taking 20%, they tell you what it is for but are actually screwing the employees lack of information or knowledge about the system here.

Not all businesses/schools are like this but unfortunately many are. People/teachers dont know their rights and just accept everything as so.



Alien Resident
Sounds funny and I am sure you didnt mean it this way, but the term is Resident Alien. Otherwise I would have been tempted to ask you what plantet you came from.:D

[Muku]

They don't typically give SOFA members a Japanese account, if at all.


This doesnt sound right because I know of people here that are on SOFA status that have bank accounts in Japanese banks. Plus many of the banks particularly around the bases have also installed English capable ATM's as well, and I am sure that isnt for the Japanese customers.

[coldnoodles]

This doesnt sound right because I know of people here that are on SOFA status that have bank accounts in Japanese banks. Plus many of the banks particularly around the bases have also installed English capable ATM's as well, and I am sure that isnt for the Japanese customers.

I was told by the banks if I lived off base, and had a ID card that showed my address or japanese license, inkus (?) and I would have to fill out tons of paperwork then I could get a bank acct. along with my passport, sofa license, military ID card.

I found the info the school gave me, he pays 1000yen, but 20% is for his lawyers - for no working visa, and 20% is for taxes. To make 1500yen per hr, would be fulltime with a japanese bank acct. and no money would be taken out. I read the whole thing, but it doesn't have the name of school or address on it, or phone # for that matter. He was too fishy! He told me he was operating 4 schools all over Okinawa. During my interview I spent 3hrs asking him many questions, cuz I had a bad feeling about him. I checked him out alot of things didn't add up!

Every once in awhile I have people call them to see how much classes are. I did call once and its based on how wealthy you are or not. Some people pay 5000yen per hr or more, their supply fee keeps changing but last time I called it was 10,000yen for 1yr that suppose to cover the cardboard that is made from his company in Oregon and then finished making here. He had other hidden fees. I haven't seen him posting any ads lately.

[coldnoodles]

Smart .....but welcome to the world of English edutainment in Japan. What you experienced happens daily throughout this fine country, and not just to rugrats but even with Elementary School kids.

I would understand it more if it was a japanese lady, but she isn't, not even american. I met many Japanese people that like to come on base to eat american food. I had no problem sponsoring them, dang I gave all of the kids small clothes to many Japanese people for free!

But when you have someone else telling you - you need to do this and this, buy this for kids, they are just using you. I got an email from her again and she said the school is expecting me to get them on base, and wants me to do set up things on Kinser. I told her I wasn't interested back in June, and she still emails me!

Once my husband is deployed I plan on teaching kids english again

[SNMP!]

I am wondering about good places to work as an English teacher. I am eager for the experience of teaching English in Japan. I want something that pays well of course. If anyone can give me a heads up on schools I should check out and maybe how to go about landing a good teaching job I would appreciate the advice. I am living up towards Hansen, but am totally willing to drive down to Foster area. I also have a friend living here from the states and she would like to teach here to. Wondering about private lessons as well, we are both interested in that, but dont know really how to begin.

[Muku]

Teachers Are Pedifiles In Japan
Dude you just hit my crap list......:cursing:

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

Teachers Are Pedifiles In Japan
Are you referring to the local public/private school teachers? I have heard rumors that some of the high school teachers have illicit relations with students. I have heard of numerous instances of high school teachers marrying former students.

As for English teachers from abroad, I have heard of a very few instances where they get involved with underage girls. It's not unheard of, but relatively rare when compared to what the locals seem to be doing.

[dk]

Okiprince is a useless poster. Ignore him. I've deleted his crap posts as they were only posted to use the arcade. If he keeps it up, I will just ban him from the arcade altogether.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Okiprince is a useless poster. Ignore him. I've deleted his crap posts as they were only posted to use the arcade. If he keeps it up, I will just ban him from the arcade altogether.

I think a_bjyrd is going the same route, too. We will see.

If these members want to post just so they can play games, there is a specific thread for that. I wish they would utilize it.

[dk]

Yeah, they're more than welcome to threadcrap in that other thread.

[okiprince07]

i kinds wnna be one too...tell me how, wat education u need?

[a_bjyrd]

ha ha! I'd love to go drinking with one of my kids teachers! She is HOT! Something like 26 years old, single, and could have easily been a model! Almost time to trade the wife in for a newer model! :eek:

"SMACK" (upside the head) for your wife!

[okisteve]

Are you referring to the local public/private school teachers? I have heard rumors that some of the high school teachers have illicit relations with students. I have heard of numerous instances of high school teachers marrying former students.

As for English teachers from abroad, I have heard of a very few instances where they get involved with underage girls. It's not unheard of, but relatively rare when compared to what the locals seem to be doing.

Happens in the US too. Happened to my parents... I was their first child!

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

Indeed Steve. Of the confirmed instances I have heard about, the couples seem very happy in their relationships.

[koralle]

I have also seen those ads looking for english teachers. I was thinking about it, but they always say native speaker. Well, I am not .... My native languages are german and french thanks to having a parent from each country and growing up 20 minutes from Germany in France. Anyone know, if there is market for those????

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

Yes, there is. Some companies and some school boards do hire those proficient in English, even though it is not their native language. You can also freelance.

[koralle]

Thank you! I am still wondering if there is any need for German or French too??? I have a german college degree and a french high school diploma....

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

You could try the Okinawa International Exchange & Human Resources Development Foundation - Language Center. They have offered French courses in the past (Spanish and English are the other European languages they offer).

They are located in Naha, Higashi-machi 1-1, Higashi-machi Kaikan 7F. Telephone (098) 941-6788. Homepage: http://www.oihf.or.jp

[koralle]

Thanks again. I will give a try!