I am from Bangladesh and a student of English linguistics and literature who is about to graduate (B.A. with honors) from a local university. It has been my dream to go to Japan and become a teacher. The history and culture and literature of Japan have always intrigued me.
So, I have been doing a lot of research on the Internet about the prospects of nonnative English speakers teaching in Japan. Most of the search results have been very depressing, as they point out how biased the local people are toward nonnative English teachers and how difficult it is for people of my kind to land a job teaching English in Japan.
The other day, though, I came across an article on The Japan Times website that questioned why English teachers must necessarily be native speakers. It was really a refreshing story.
I am humbly requesting that Japanese people lend me their friendship and knowledge so that I can achieve my dream and become a part of their country. Thank you so very much for your kindness and time.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.
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