Many Have Raved about the JET ProgramThe JET Program is an official Japanese government program that some suggest is designed to increase cultural exchange, more than to teach English.
Every year JET recruits thousands of new teachers to teach English in Japan. Some become ALTs or Assistant Language Teachers and teach in elementary, or junior and senior high schools throughout Japan. What did/do you think of the JET Program?
This site is BY teachers FOR teachers, your opinions
Others become coordinators for international relations or CIRs. They work in various communities all over Japan and organize international exchange activities.
Still others are employed as Sports Exchange Advisors or SEAs. They promote international exchange through sports.
To apply for the JET Program:
To apply contact the Embassy of Japan in your country of nationality to apply.
Pictured: Ikumi Kishiya in a kimono CNN reports on young Americans going abroad on the JET Program See our videos of life in Japan and teaching English The upper age limit for JET applicants wanting to teach English in Japan is under 39 years of age at the time of departure. JET applicants must speak standard English and be generally interested in Japan and teaching. Applicants must hold a bachelor`s degree or equivalent by the time they start their contract in Japan. Former JETs can reapply. But applicants cannot have lived in Japan for more than 3 years of the last 8.
Orientation and Training for the JET Program
There is a pre-departure orientation for all JET participants before leaving for Japan. Where: They are conducted at the Japanese Embassies and consulates in your country of nationality.
After arriving in Tokyo you will attend a post-arrival orientation. A further seminar will be held mid-year in your prefecture.
Specialized training of Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs) is provided by CLAIR, while MEXT provides guidance and specialized training to Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs), as well as counseling in education-related matters throughout the year. Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs) are trained by CLAIR. ALTs are trained by MEXT. MEXT also provides counseling in education-related matters. Are there Negatives to the JET Program?
Indeed there are. According to an employee of JET, a very reliable source, one problem that seems to crop up sometimes is sexual assault. There have been allegations that a few JET teachers have been sexually assaulted by city employees here and there over the years. Then again, bad things can happen anywhere right?
Another sometimes mentioned problem is simply as follows:
One thing that can happen when you are asked to work as an Assistant Language Teacher, is what you are told, is sometimes not the reality of your working situation.
One JET participant had the following experience as told by her husband:
"The real shock came when my wife and I were coming back from the capital city in her supervisor's van. She asked, "When can I see the shogakos (elementary schools) I'll be working at?" He replied, "Oh, you don't work in the schools. You'll work in the prefectural education center. You will only go to shogako once a week." Every situation is different, but this was a shock. My wife had been told from the very beginning that she would be teaching. Up until that very moment we both assumed that is what she'd be doing for the next year.
Nope. In fact, her job consisted of activities that a first year JET should never have to do. She was to prepare presentations for the other JETS in the prefecture on how to teach in their schools. Let me repeat that: She was supposed to prepare presentations.....on how to teach.....in school. The paradox of her duties left her feeling confused and a little frustrated. How do you tell your peers how to do a job that you've never done before?"
--posted by Kumanoki at www.bigdaikon.com
The Big Daikon is a site full of stories by JET participants current and former. participants and their experiences, both good and bad. CLAIR is in charge of counselling JETs and other programs. Check them out. 
Pictured: My wife and friend Mike Kee at Lake Ashi, Hakone.Kevin talks about his experiences on JET
Aaron and Kevin, interview a couple of JET teachers
Read about one man`s experience as an Assistant Language Teacher in Japan (ALT).
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