Pathways to Career Change Decisions and Factors Influencing These Decisions among Former Japanese Language Teachers

Abstract

This study aims to clarify the processes and underlying factors through which former Japanese language teachers chose to change careers. Interviews with two former Japanese language teachers were analyzed using the trajectory equifinality approach (TEA). Two pathways were identified: one involving a teacher who had built a career overseas but chose to return to Japan and change careers due to life events such as marriage, and another involving a teacher who developed interests in other fields through domestic teaching experience and proactively pursued a career change for career development. These findings highlight the diversity of pathways leading to career change among former Japanese language teachers.