I am by no means a pro within the JET Program...I just barely started! I arrived in my designated city on July 28th, 2010, and didn't teach my first class until September 3rd, 2010. But this page is designed to help people who have never heard of the JET Program or are interested in learning more about JET to use as a reference and source for some information. I'll post my experience through the JET Program along the way and key milestones.
Thanks for checking this out! :)
JET Program
The JET Program is the Japan Exchange Teaching Program. This is designed to bring native English speakers to Japan to facilitate not only the teaching of English in public schools, but also culture. The key word in "JET" is "Exchange." This is the exchange of language, culture, perspective, and experiences from around the world. This is the cool thing about the JET Program, since it doesn't solely focus on the English language. While it's a priority, it is also designed to help the youth of Japan to understand what other parts of the world are like and to give them perspective on real world applications of the world.
Background
The JET Program started in 1987 and has been bringing in college graduates from around the world every year since then. The majority of people applying and doing the JET Program are from the United States, however as stated above, people from nations around the world are represented. At the height of the program, there may have been as many as 6,000 foreigners participating, but the number of participants has dropped to around 4,000-4,500 people.
Positions
There are three different positions in the JET Program. They are: ALT (Assistant Language Teacher), CIR (Coordinator of International Relations), and SEA (Sports Exchange Advisor). The majority of people employed through the JET Program are ALTs (Around 90% or more).
For more detailed information, please visit the link below.
http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/JET/jobs2010.html
Eligibility
There are a few requirements that an applicant must meet in order to apply for the JET Program. (These are taken from the JET website and application packet)
- Be interested in Japan and be willing to continue to learn more about Japan after arrival to the country
- Be both mentally and physically healthy
- Have the ability to adapt to living and working conditions in Japan, which may be significantly different from those conditions in your home country
- Obey all Japanese Laws
- Be a citizen of the United States the prior year for which you are applying (ie. If you are applying for 2011, then you must have been a citizen for 2010 - for US Candidates). Check your country's consulate for more specific information if you are not applying from the US.
- Be less than 40 years old as of April of the next year. The reason the JET Program wants people under the age of 40 is because it's an exchange between the youth of Japan and the youth of the applicant's country.
- Have excellent English language, pronunciation, grammatical, and writing skills
- Not have declined a position with the JET Program in the last program year after receiving notification of placement
- Agree to reside in Japan
- As of November 25, 2009, not have lived in Japan for a total of 3 or more years since 2001
- Be interested in the Japanese education system and the Japanese ways of teaching English
- Be interested in working actively with students
- Hold at least a Bachelor's degree (or obtain one) by the next summer for which you are applying. You must obtain the bachelor's degree prior to departure to Japan
Application Process/Timeline
The application process can be a lengthy and time consuming process. However, it's well worth it in the end! I will outline the application process for me. I applied to be an ALT in the fall of 2009 for the 2010-2011 JET Program year.
10/5/2009
Official JET Application became available
10/10/2009
Asked my references for the application to write the letters of reference
11/24/2009
Application due to Washington D.C.
1/26/2010
Received e-mail notification for an interview for the JET Program
2/19/2010
JET Interview in Chicago
4/8/2010
Received notification from Chicago Consulate JET Coordinator that I’d been accepted as a JET Candidate
4/30/2010
Deadline to turn in many different forms to the Chicago Consulate (Acceptance Form, Medical Form health check, applications for various background checks)
5/17/2010
Received JET Placement
6/10/2010
My Contracting Organization contacted me and welcomed me to my new job. A few days later, information such as my contract and other placement details arrived in the mail.
6/12/2010-6/13/2010
Pre-Departure Q&A Orientation in Chicago
7/7/2010
Received Flight Information
7/9/2010
Visa Application due to Chicago Consulate
7/23/2010
Pre-Departure Orientation in Chicago
7/24/2010
Depart from Chicago to Narita!
7/25/2010-7/27/2010
Tokyo Orientation
7/28/2010
Arrive in designated city
As you can see from my personal timeline, the entire process is around 10 months long! As I said before, it's a long process of applying, work, and being patient. But in the end it's all worth it!
Placement
Placement in the JET Program can be stressful but is an exciting time. While the JET Program asks the applicants and participants for a preference on placement, no placement is guaranteed, and you may not necessarily get your requested city/prefecture/region in Japan. There are limited positions around the country, and there is no guarantee that a spot right next to downtown Tokyo is available for teaching positions. In fact, most placements for JETs are those that are in less populated and more rural areas. This is because highly urbanized areas and highly developed cities already attract enough teachers from around the world. The aim of the JET Program is to bring in teachers and employees to less urbanized areas to help and teach. Since it is a government organized program, they want to help benefit those lesser known areas.
Placement information does not come out for a new applicant until AFTER he/she agrees to participate as a JET and sends in the official acceptance form. As well, if one accepts a position with JET and then decides to withdraw from the program after finding out placement information, they are not allowed to apply for the program the next year. This is true for two main reasons:
- The JET Program does not want people to go to Japan just because they want to live in Tokyo/Osaka/other big city. They want people who truly want to go to Japan. They have had too many people in the past who only wanted to do the JET program if they were in or close to a large city.
- The JET Program does not want people who are applying to know where they are going and decide to back out of doing the JET Program because of their placement. That applicant could be taking the spot of another applicant who may potentially be on the waiting list but really is interested in going anywhere in Japan.
Living Conditions/Situation
The living conditions and standards for most JETs are very comfortable, affordable, and reasonable. The Contracting Organization (Your Employer) is responsible for finding an apartment or house for the JET. Typically, they will subsidize the rent to help make it affordable. For every JET, it is a different situation, so just because two JETs may be in the same city or prefecture, they could be in very different residences with very different rent rates. As well, the Contracting Organization will furnish most of the basic needs and furniture. In most cases, a JET will have had a predecessor for whom the new JET is taking over. If the predecessor is nice, they will usually leave everything they've acquired or purchased for the next JET, or sell a few items for a good deal to the next JET. However, all furnishing, moving expenses (besides airfare to Japan), and other items (such as a vehicle or mode of transportation) are at the expense of the JET.
Although Japan is known for its efficient public transportation system, many JETs end up purchasing or leasing a car while in Japan. Because many JETs are in rural areas, the public transportation is not as efficient in these parts and a car is necessary to get around to the different schools, offices, or for running errands. I will personally need a car as well in order to get to all the different schools that I will be teaching at. Some JETs are able to get away with using only a bicycle as their main mode of transportation as well. If this is possible, it is a great alternative as owning a vehicle in Japan can become expensive and a hassle if you ever move to a larger city later on.
I have summarized as much about the JET Program as I feel appropriate on this page. There is a lot of information on the internet in regards to the JET Program. I have used the below links as references for this page. If you have any questions, please reference the links below or feel free to shoot me an e-mail to ask any questions. Thanks!
http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/JET/index.html
http://www.jetprogramme.org/
