Career Development in the Early Stages for Those Who Chose a Japanese Language Teacher as a Second Career

Abstract

This study conducted interviews focusing on middle-aged and older adults who chose Japanese language teacher as a second career. The aim was to clarify the promoting and inhibiting factors when they become Japanese language teachers and when they continue as Japanese language teachers in the early stages of their careers. The results showed that those who became Japanese language teachers were motivated by self-establishment and those who were motivated by utilizing the expertise of their first career. In continuing their careers, the former faced difficulties unique to Japanese language teaching, while the latter struggled with the difference between their expertise and that of their first career.