Teaching English in Japan: A Phenomenological Inquiry on the Lived Experiences of Migrant Filipino English Teachers
Keywords:
Lived Experiences, Migrant teachers in Japan, Migrant Filipino English teachers, acculturation, language barrier, microaggressions, English teachersAbstract
This phenomenological study aimed to explore the lived experiences of migrant Filipino English teachers teaching in Japan. Data were collected from six (6) participants through a semi-structured interview using open-ended questions. The interviews were recorded via Zoom and were transcribed. Colaizzi’s method was applied for data analysis. After a thorough analysis of the transcripts, the following three (3) themes emerged, capturing the migrant Filipino teachers’ lived experience: 1) Living the Dream Life; 2) Teaching Encounters in a Foreign Setting; and 3) Teaching in Japan as a Pursuit and a Calling. The study concluded that the lived experience of migrant Filipino English teachers in Japan is captivating and distinct despite the numerous challenges, such as acculturation, classroom management, racialized microaggressions, loneliness, and language barrier the teachers encountered. The study also found that the teachers continue to pursue teaching in Japan as they see it as a dream life, a pursuit, and a calling.
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