Borderlink ALT Program
Launch your teaching career in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in a public school. Borderlink recruits, trains, and supports ALTs across Japan, making it one of the most established pathways for graduates looking to live and work in Japan while gaining international classroom experience
What this is
Borderlink is an ALT recruitment and placement company that hires Assistant Language Teachers to work in Japanese public elementary, junior high, and high schools across the country. As an ALT, you'll work alongside licensed Japanese teachers, helping deliver English lessons, leading speaking activities, encouraging classroom participation, and giving students opportunities to use English in real conversations.
Borderlink has been placing ALTs in Japan for more than 25 years and provides support well beyond recruitment. Eligible overseas applicants receive visa sponsorship, relocation assistance, paid training before starting work, and ongoing coordinator support throughout their contract. Most full-time contracts begin with the Japanese school year in April, although some immediate-start opportunities are available throughout the year.
Who it's for
- Graduates who want to live and work in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher
- First-time teachers looking for an accessible entry into English education
- Career changers interested in international work experience
- Travelers seeking a long-term cultural immersion instead of a short vacation
- Future educators wanting classroom experience before pursuing a teaching career
- English speakers who enjoy working with children and collaborating with Japanese teachers
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- Native-level English proficiency
- At least 12 years of education completed primarily in English
- Willingness to commit to a one-year contract, generally running April to March
- Applicants already living in Japan can apply for immediate-start positions; those applying from overseas follow a separate application track
What you get
- A monthly salary starting at 200,000 yen (daily salary from 10,000 yen), based on experience, language ability, and teaching skill
- Enrollment in social insurance, based on position type
- Paid holidays and paid training
- Full visa support, plus help setting up a bank account, mobile phone, and housing
- Relocation assistance and access to existing teaching materials and lesson plans
- Part-time work options during Japan's August summer break (summer camps, speech contest coaching, teacher training), even though standard contracts typically don't cover that month's salary
- Paid pre-departure and onboarding training
Why this is useful
Borderlink is one of Japan's longest-running ALT providers, making it a popular option for graduates who want a structured route into living and working in Japan. The company hires internationally, welcomes applicants without previous teaching experience, and provides practical support before and after arrival.
Unlike finding a teaching job independently, Borderlink guides applicants through recruitment, visa sponsorship, relocation, training, and life in Japan. With placements across multiple prefectures and long-standing relationships with public schools, it offers opportunities in a wide range of locations rather than focusing on a single city or region.