Jet Programme

ibbie

Hi

I am thinking of applying for the Jet Programme and was wondering if anyone has done this and would they recommend it?

Thanks

lena-bell

I was on the JET Programme for 3 years. It was amazing. There are loads of testimonials on the Embassy of Japan's webpage. http://www.ie.emb-japan.go.jp/JET+Reports.htm so you can read how others got on.

It's a great programme because it is really organised, flights are paid for, pay is great, you work in government schools and you are an assistant teacher so you team teach with a Japanese English teacher.

You can E-mail JET at jet@embjp.ie

clartharlear

I wasn't a JET, but I was teaching in Japan and knew others on the programme. They're cutting their budget now, I think, so it may be harder to get a place (which is not easy anyway!) but definitely go for it. Especially when you're younger, it's a marvellous thing to do.
There tends to be a shortfall of females too, so there's a slight bias, as schools prefer female JETS (sadly, some of the males are creepy)

The economic crisis is worse in Japan than here, and they're paying foreigners to go home and never come back, but if you actually got in on a government programme, you'd be pretty safe.

Good luck!

kraggy

I remember getting a brochure on this when I was in St Pat's Drumcondra.

I think we automatically qualify (being primary teachers).

Does everyone who goes over work as an assistant or can you work as a teacher?

ibbie

All you need is a degree to be qualified but for this programme you would only be a TA. didn't realise things are so bad over there, I was thinking of taking a Japanese language course during the summer so hopefully this will give me brownie points in the interview

DeadMoney

Hey, I am in my second final year of college and I was considering applying for the JET programme this time next year for when I finish college. I hear that it is tough to get in to alrite but I am hoping my "charm" and the fact that I have already travelled lots will help my chances. I met some people last summer when I was in Asia who were teachers in Japan and South Korea. Somebody even remarked to me recently that Korea was the place to go rather than Japan. I have always wanted to go to Tokyo but would be pretty much open to going anywhere that has a thriving scene. I'm young so want to have lots of fun as well as gain some great life experience and live in new cultures. Just want to go somewhere completely different than your traditional Canada or Australia (not that there is anything wrong with these) Can you apply to work in some of these Asian countries without having to be on the JET programme in case it didn't work out?
Would really appreciate some advice.
Thanks

clartharlear

DeadMoney wrote: »

Can you apply to work in some of these Asian countries without having to be on the JET programme in case it didn't work out?
Would really appreciate some advice.
Thanks

My advice is finding out what JET stands for, as a first step.

DeadMoney

clartharlear wrote: »

My advice is finding out what JET stands for, as a first step.

Lol, ok sorry just heard of JET the other day when I told a careers counsellor that I would like to go and teach in Japan. So would there be different programmes available for places like Korea I assume. Basically I am just trying to find out where are the most popular places people go to work/teach in Asia. JET programme sounds great but I would like to try and have a few different options in case in didnt work out.

DeadMoney

Now that I look at the JET website, I am not sure if the particular people I met were actually on this programme. AFAIK they just went over and applied for jobs after college but it was a requirement that you have attained a degree from anything.

clartharlear

I wouldn't recommend going anywhere in Asia on spec, without having a job set up, unless you are fluent in the local language.

JET is more likely to take you to a rural area in Japan. AFAIK, times have been tough for TEFL in Japan lately, so perhaps Korea might be a better bet in one way. But why would you go so far and spend so much time (most places will expect a year commitment, which is eminently reasonable) unless there was a place you genuinely want to be in? Some place you actually had a real interest in?

http://www.tigerenglish.com/

I worked for these guys:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interac_(Japan)

and loved my time in Japan.

DeadMoney

clartharlear wrote: »

I wouldn't recommend going anywhere in Asia on spec, without having a job set up, unless you are fluent in the local language.

JET is more likely to take you to a rural area in Japan. AFAIK, times have been tough for TEFL in Japan lately, so perhaps Korea might be a better bet in one way. But why would you go so far and spend so much time (most places will expect a year commitment, which is eminently reasonable) unless there was a place you genuinely want to be in? Some place you actually had a real interest in?

http://www.tigerenglish.com/

I worked for these guys:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interac_(Japan)

and loved my time in Japan.

Yeah I understand what you mean by travelling that far without having a genuine interest in the place. I found this web site which gives a run through of the different teaching schools and stuff outside of JET. http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0209/live_learn_teach_japan.shtml

Personally I would like to head to Tokyo before anywhere, at least for a start and then see what happens from there. I would certainly be looking to have lined myself up with a teaching job/course first before moving over there. Tokyo is a very expensive city to live in and the people I met who worked there lived about 30mins on a train outside of the city. According to the above website a past english teacher said that you would have a great life style in Tokyo teaching but save no money unless you lived away from the city and didn't go out too much in it. Again I am just researching some ideas for when I graduate and Japan seems very appealing. Living in a place like Tokyo would be an experience I would live to gain. But like you said, finding one of these teaching jobs in a english school could be a lot harder than it seems.

Tristram

Japan is an amazing country. JET is a phenomenal way to get to know it

cavanmaniac

Just wondering if anyone has heard from the JET people about this year's applications and interviews etc.?

just-joe

Just searched JET to see if anyone was talking about it, and got this thread.

I have a place on JET, going in July!! Quite excited/scared/etc..

Does anyone else have a place/know someone who is going?