Intro: Turning the Lens Inward
There’s plenty of articles on the internet about frustrating things Japanese coworkers do. And it’s true – cultural differences create friction. It’s useful to understand where that friction comes from.
But that friction cuts both ways.
If you’re working as an ALT, there is a near-certainty that you are doing things that quietly annoy your coworkers. These behaviors often feel harmless, reasonable, or even principled from your perspective. From the JTE side of the desk, they can be exhausting.
This isn’t because you’re a bad person. It’s because good intentions don’t always translate well across cultures.
In this article, we’re going to look at the greatest hits of ALT behavior that rankles coworkers, but trust us – there are plenty of others!
1. Saying “That’s Not My Job”
In many Western workplaces, saying “that’s not my job” is a reasonable boundary. In Japanese workplaces, particularly in the teaching profession, that simply isn’t the case.
Your coworkers are constantly doing a million things that aren’t a part of their job description. When the ALT makes a fuss about doing one or two additional things, it looks incredibly bad.
What it looks like
- Refusing tasks that aren’t explicitly “teaching English”
- Pushing back on event prep, club activities, paperwork help, or grading support
- Treating the job description as a hard boundary rather than a starting point
- Refusing to lead classes because you’re an Assistant Language Teacher, then complaining about being underutilized
Why this is annoying
Japanese job descriptions are not viewed as fixed contracts. They are viewed more like living documents that evolve with the situation.
Japanese teachers routinely do large amounts of unpaid, unofficial work without complaint. When you refuse tasks, you aren’t just declining work, or even just signaling disengagement from the group. You’re also demonstrating a fundamental lack of understanding of the assignment you’ve accepted as a teacher in Japan.
What JTEs hear
- “I don’t care about anyone but myself.”
- “I’m too lazy to do the bare minimum.”
- “I’m not really a teacher.”
2. Not “Reading the Air”
The Japanese phrase 空気を読む (kuuki o yomu, to read the air) refers to noticing indirect cues, context, tone, timing, and silence. This is an essential part of Japanese culture. It’s the shared pattern recognition that allows Japanese society to function.
Even native speakers can struggle to “read the air” at times. As a non-native speaker, you’re dealing with both language gaps and cultural gaps, so it gets twice as hard.
What it looks like
- Missing indirect hints
- Continuing behavior after gentle signals
- Assuming silence means approval
- Assuming verbal “yes” means actual agreement
Why this is annoying
Japanese workplaces rely heavily on implicit communication. When people (native speakers or not) don’t pick up on it, it forces others into unpleasant situations. Repeating hints is emotionally draining. Direct confrontation embarrasses both parties.
One time this comes up is when ALTs make direct requests that JTEs want to decline. Asking your JTE directly if it’s okay to wear jeans or to skip a lesson puts them in a difficult situation.
It’s hard for them to say “no,” because they don’t want to directly decline your request. They may say “maybe” or even “yes” out of politeness, while also signaling discomfort through body language.
If you miss that signal, they’re frustrated for two reasons: once for being put on the spot, and once for not being understood.
What JTEs hear
- “I don’t care how other people feel.”
- “I need everything explained like I’m five.”
- “I can’t be trusted to understand anything.”
3. Insisting on “Heart-to-Hearts”
In western countries, we’re often taught that honest, direct conversation solves problems. If you have a problem with someone, you need to talk about it to their faces, not behind their backs. If you hide your feelings, everything will just get worse. If you talk it out, that often solves the problem.
Your coworkers were taught the opposite. The thought of having a heart-to-heart makes their skin crawl. They would rather suffer in silence for decades than have a 5 minute conversation to clear the air. To them, addressing the situation directly means that two distinct failures have occurred.
First, it means that they weren’t able to suppress their feelings and endure their suffering (我慢 gaman) with quiet nobility. The importance of gaman has been drilled into them since they were children; losing the fight against their emotions is a personal failure.
Second, it means that they were unable to resolve the situation with indirect (間接 kansetu) communication. While some of the responsibility is on you for failing to understand what they were trying to say, some of the responsibility is also on them for failing to convey their feelings successfully.
Whether you bring up the situation to them directly or they do, it’s literally no-win for them.
What it looks like
- Pushing for emotional discussions
- Wanting to “clear the air”
- Framing conflict as something that must be verbalized
Why this is annoying
For your colleagues, confrontation creates risk, not clarity. Problems should be resolved through non-verbal signaling, not conversation.
If a problem must be addressed explicitly, it’s usually handled through a third party such as a supervisor. A direct “heart-to-heart” puts enormous pressure on the other person.
What JTEs hear
- “I want to emotionally exhaust you.”
- “I don’t know how to act like a professional.”
- “My emotions are your responsibility.”
4. Being a Bad Role Model (Not Acting Like a Sensei)
In Japan, sensei (先生) doesn’t just mean “teacher.” The kanji characters for sensei are 先 (sen; before, ahead) and 生 (sei; live, life). It has the nuance of someone who has lived before others, and is therefore a moral and social model.
Teaching in Japan is considered more of a calling than a profession. It extends beyond your ability to convey knowledge to your ability to uphold community values. Teachers are highly respected because students, parents, and the community are watching.
While ALTs aren’t expected to know all the ins and outs of community values, they are expected to act like functional adults. Failing to meet even these lowered expectations makes you look even worse.
What it looks like
- Skipping formal greetings (aisatsu)
- Poor posture or disengagement during formal situations
- Public drunkenness or inappropriate behavior outside school
- Leaving early, avoiding school events, treating the job like a burden
Why this is annoying
Students observe everything. Parents know who you are. If you behave badly, complaints will be aimed at your schools. Since you represent the school, your coworkers will be held responsible for your behavior.
What JTEs hear
- “Being a sensei is your life’s calling. To me, it’s a joke.”
- “I’m less mature than my students.”
- “I’m a liability you have to manage.”
5. Refusing to Use Japanese (Or Overusing It)
These seem like opposites, but they’re the same problem wearing different clothes. Fundamentally, they reflect a person who is putting their own wants and needs before the group.
What it looks like
- Expecting all communication in English
- Relying on others to hold your hand outside of school
- Or using Japanese in class when it undermines instruction
Why this is annoying
In both cases, personal convenience is being prioritized over the group. If you refuse to learn even basic Japanese, to the point where you can’t take care of basic things like shopping or paying bills by yourself, your coworkers will have to pick up the slack. If you insist on using Japanese all the time, other people lose their chance to improve their English.
What JTEs hear
“My needs matter more than everyone else’s.”
“Please carry my burden.”
“I don’t think about the impact I have on others.”
6. Complaining About Japan (or Your Home Country)
Everyone vents. That’s normal. When you’re living in a foreign country, it’s healthy to let it out at times. But timing and audience matter.
What it looks like
- Constant complaints about rules, food, bureaucracy, housing
- Repeated “in my country” comparisons
- Alternatively, trash-talking your home country in public
Why this is annoying
Japanese people are sensitive to outside judgment. Being told that their culture is inferior to yours stings, even if you don’t intend it that way.
On the flip side, trashing your home country undermines your role as a cultural representative and kills student motivation. If your country is such a trash heap, why should they learn English?
What JTEs hear
- “Your country is bad and you should feel bad.”
- “I spit on your hospitality.”
- “I don’t understand my own job.”
Why JTEs Tolerate These Things
Tolerance and approval are two very different things. JTEs usually suffer this behavior in silence because:
- Confrontation threatens harmony
- ALTs are on short-term contracts
- Schools are under pressure to avoid disruption
- There’s anxiety about handling foreigners “incorrectly”
It’s usually easier to endure than to correct. After all, if it gets bad enough, they can always request a replacement.
Closing: What This Means for You
If no one corrects you, that doesn’t mean you’re doing well. Many problems surface only after trust is already damaged.
The good news is that none of your coworkers are expecting you to be perfect. They know that 99% of foreign people don’t understand this stuff and are trying their best to get along.
However, that doesn’t mean that good intentions are all that matters. With a little bit of education and self-awareness, you can make yourself much easier to work with.
What to Read Next
JTE Collaboration
How trust is built — and lost — in team-teaching relationships.
Life in the Japanese Workplace
Why harmony often matters more than honesty.
When to Use Japanese (And When Not To)
Navigating language choices without creating friction.
If you’re ready to become an ALT, you can learn everything from how to apply to how to interview in So You Want to Be an ALT.
ALT Roadmap 