Questions to pass the time while we wait.

[Scout2012]

These are just a few questions to pass the time as we wait for the results.
Feel free to add your own questions.

- What is a typical schedule for an ALT?

- What are some tips you have for the JET interview?

- Can you speak Japanese?

- What interests you most about Japan and the JET program?

- What do you plan to do after JET?

[EhimeDave]

These are just a few questions to pass the time as we wait for the results.
Feel free to add your own questions.

- What is a typical schedule for an ALT?

- What are some tips you have for the JET interview?

- Can you speak Japanese?

- What interests you most about Japan and the JET program?

- What do you plan to do after JET?

1. Mine was 830-430 with anywhere from 0-5 classes. 0 days sucked but it really helped me study for 3.
2. Be personable and dress extremely professionally. Be as diplomatic as possible with your answers and if they ask you what you would do if (insert horrible student situation here), the correct answer is to let the Japanese people handle it.
3. I went over with only knowing hiragana and katakana and within three years on JET I got fairly fluent (JLPT N1 level). I had a whole lot of free time on my hands...
4. I had always planned on entering an Asian-focused MBA program after JET and that's exactly what I did.

[Scout2012]

1. Mine was 830-430 with anywhere from 0-5 classes. 0 days sucked but it really helped me study for 3.
2. Be personable and dress extremely professionally. Be as diplomatic as possible with your answers and if they ask you what you would do if (insert horrible student situation here), the correct answer is to let the Japanese people handle it.
3. I went over with only knowing hiragana and katakana and within three years on JET I got fairly fluent (JLPT N1 level). I had a whole lot of free time on my hands...
4. I had always planned on entering an Asian-focused MBA program after JET and that's exactly what I did.

About 2 and 4:

2: What types of questions did they ask you? Also, would saying that, "I would tell my coordinator" suffice as a response to such questions? Should I answer the exact same way you did? (let the Japanese people handle it.)

4: That sounds great, are you going to continue teaching or will you take your MBA and use it for another profession?

[Siyris]

- What is a typical schedule for an ALT?
For me, I work 8:10-4:10 Monday through Friday, with some exceptions (like special event days such as Sports day or School Festival day). I can have anywhere between 0-5 classes per day but usually end up with 2 or 3 with the rest of the time to use for study, class prep, English Board creation, or reading (note that not all schools are okay with you reading in your off time).

- What are some tips you have for the JET interview?
Be yourself. Be professional and wear business clothing (suits for guys, pants, blouse and blazer for girls), but don't be so formal that your personality doesn't show. Go in with some ideas about how you're going to teach and what you can bring to the table. Take a deep breath before and after to calm nerves. Also, if they ask 'are you willing to stay late after work?' your best bet for an answer is one that involves "yes" and if they ask why... well... make sure you have an answer for it.

- Can you speak Japanese?
Yes, but I know a lot of ALTs that can't and they are doing just fine. I will say that being in a super rural placement like mine, I would go completely insane if I couldn't speak Japanese -- though my supervisor has said that at least for my BoE, he tries to only place people with some Japanese language ability in the really rural schools. At the very minimum, learn hiragana and katakana, and bring a dictionary (or better yet, get a smart phone with an electronic dictionary or just buy a denshijisho).

- What interests you most about Japan and the JET program?
The thing that really drew me to JET was the opportunity to teach.... and share my culture. Don't forget that JET isn't only about language -- yes that is a big part of it, but it is also about cultural exchange.

- What do you plan to do after JET?
I haven't decided yet... .playing with the idea of going back to school for a MFA or Teaching licence. Or seeking a job as a translator or interpreter. I suppose I see where that road takes me once I get there.

Hope that helps.

[Namisuke]

- What is a typical schedule for an ALT?

Mine is from 8:30-4:15. I can teach anywhere from 0-7 classes a day, but the most I have had is 5 so far. I usually teach around 30-something classes per month with my busiest month having 64. I teach only HS, and there are a lot of exam periods and breaks. September to December seems to be my busiest time.

- What are some tips you have for the JET interview?

The interview is given a number score. Because of this, I would suggest keeping your answers very much to the point and give as many ideas as you can without causing a tangent. I went with a list-as-many-things-as-you-can approach for questions that required ideas or solutions to problems. I was told that I got an almost perfect score after all was said and done, so I can only assumed that tactic worked. I also prepared for my interview like CRAZY, listing answers to questions and brushing up on Japanese news. Read over your SOP as well as they will ask you questions about it. Have an idea for a tiny demo lesson if they ask you to do one on the spot.

An ALT I know managed to sneak a peak at his score card and it said he would be a good candidate but that he was too serious. He was made an alternate and upgraded later. Therefore, be friendly and genki in the interview.

- Can you speak Japanese?

I can understand a lot of spoken Japanese, but I have no fluency when it comes to giving answers because I am shy when it comes to practicing my Japanese with people. My goal is to go to izakayas and pubs more to talk to random people, forcing myself into a situation where I need to use it. You would be surprised how long you can go in Japan without knowing ANY Japanese.

- What interests you most about Japan and the JET program?

A huge benefit for me personally is the chance to work in classes where behaviour issues are close to non-existant for me. I have time to plan cool lessons and have classes that participate to test them on. Now I will have a nice stock of stuff for when I teach again back home and can focus more of my time on classroom management. My #1 goal was to develop professionally as a teacher. Some teachers complain about not feeling challenged, but I am good at keeping myself busy.

- What do you plan to do after JET?

I have no real plan after. I might travel and teach more, or go back home to attempt to find a job (they are rare these days).

[Kewne]

To interrupt; I wanted to add a question to the original poster's.

Why did you choose Japan, rather than another country? Was it just that it pays more or were there some special reasons?

[Siyris]

To interrupt; I wanted to add a question to the original poster's.

Why did you choose Japan, rather than another country? Was it just that it pays more or were there some special reasons?

I chose Japan because, frankly, I didn't have an interest in another country. With that said however, I DID have a job lined up to teach in S. Korea if I didn't get on JET but I only applied for that one because my older brother had worked for the same Korean company for 18 months before hand and I needed a job pretty desperately.

For me it boils down to the fact that I have an interest in Japan, I had been here before, I had a support network (in the form of a former host family, and a family friend who lives near Tokyo), and that I speak Japanese. I didn't relish the idea of moving to a country to work in which I couldn't speak the language and as Namisuke said... jobs back home are pretty rare right now.

[Scout2012]

Why did you choose Japan, rather than another country? Was it just that it pays more or were there some special reasons?

I met my best friend in JHS, and he was infatuated with all things Japanese. The more time that I spent hanging out with him, the more I was introduced to "Japan". He and I had both made plans to go visit Japan. However, I took it a step further because I'm the type of person that wants to know more of the intimate nature of the subjects that interest me rather than just enjoy its outward appearance.

[Melrudin]

- What is a typical schedule for an ALT?
It REALLY depends. It`s the whole ESID answer again. I can tell you my schedule, though. I have 3 schools. My main school (the middle school in my town) is Monday-Wednesday, my town`s elementary school is every Thursday and (except in winter), Friday is my little mountain school. It`s a 30-40-minute drive further up into the mountains and it has 11 students (and that`s with it being a combined elementary and middle school!). For middle school, I normally have 3-4 classes a day and elementary school I have 4-5. My work day is 8-4:30.

- What are some tips you have for the JET interview?
Dress professionally.
Be energetic and show them the enthusiasm you`ll bring to the classroom as an ALT.
Show them that you are friendly and can get along well with people.
Show them that you can be flexible. (i.e. show them that you don`t NEED your placement requests to be happy on JET and that you aren`t going to go into school on your first day thinking that you know everything and that your way is best)

- Can you speak Japanese?
Yeah, well enough at least. It was my major in college and I studied abroad for a semester.

- What interests you most about Japan and the JET program?
I`ve always been interested in Japan and, as I said, I majored in Japanese in college. I really wanted to come to Japan to improve my Japanese ability and because I always thought being an ALT sounded like a great opportunity to learn more about Japan. I chose the JET Program because it seemed to me to be the best program for what I wanted out of living in Japan, I had friends who did/are on JET and love it and I`ve known about it for a while and knew a lot about it.

- What do you plan to do after JET?
I`m not sure yet. I may go to France and teach English for 7-months with this program I found (if they accept me) or I`ll just go back to the US and either teach French/Japanese (I completed all the requirements for teacher licensure in French and all of them minus one test for teacher licensure in Japanese) or go to grad school... I`m not sure yet...

[Cytrix]

What is a typical schedule for an ALT?
Really we need to all get an ESID stamp to stamp on everythinggggg. My schedule goes as following...I'm contracted to be at school from 8:20am until 4pm. However I like to be at school from 8am and rarely leave before 4:30/45. I teach at 4 schools so I do a LOT of driving. Mondays and Thursdays I drive for 50 minutes to school to teach 3 periods. I rarely get back home until 6pm. Tuesdays and Fridays I teach at my base school, which varies from 0 classes up to 5 classes. Wednesdays I drive alternate weeks to my other two schools. It's about 1 hour, 20 minutes driving to get to both and I only teach 1 class on these days.

- What are some tips you have for the JET interview?
As echoed be yourself, and REMEMBER YOUR SOP! They WILL ask you questions based on it, they may even get you to correct spelling and grammar mistakes you left by accident in your SOP/Application. I know a lot of people get terribly anal-retentive about what to wear, but as long as you look professional it will be fine. I went in a black suit with a bright red lacey top underneath, with visible earrings as well and dark red shoes. I got in (I was also using the subtle mind-trick of wearing colours associated with the company/goods to an interview to make them favour you instantly).

- Can you speak Japanese?
Not very well. I came over knowing very little and rarely find the time now to study. However, I pick up on new phrases every day and my listening ability is MUCH better than it used to be after just 5 months. Last night I went to the local bar with the two teachers who live downstairs in my apartment block and managed to understand a lot of what they were saying AND asked them questions in Japanese as well.

- What interests you most about Japan and the JET program?
For me it was largely seeing a different educational system in practice (being a trained teacher back at home). I had also visited Japan back with high school for three weeks and found the culture very relaxing and peaceful so I knew I wanted to return. Plus I love giving myself challenges, so I figure what bigger challenge than moving to another country and having to learn a different language?

- What do you plan to do after JET?
I'm returning home to continue teaching, with the hopes of picking up TESL and even junior Japanese.

[darlo]

- What is a typical schedule for an ALT?

I have 13 schools (3 junior high and 10 elementary) so every day and every week is very different. The earliest I've started was 7:50 (not my favourite day as it involved me leaving the house at 6:30), and my latest finish is 5pm. I teach between 0 and 6 classes a day, I'd say my average being 5 a day. I normally don't get to hang with students during lunch times as that's the time I spend travelling between schools.

- What are some tips you have for the JET interview?

Just what everyone else has said. Punctual & Presentable.

- Can you speak Japanese?

I studied Japanese at University but still need to actively study. Many people will tell you that being located in the countryside is a fast ticket to language acquisition, but for me that's simply not the case .

- What do you plan to do after JET?

Nothing certain yet, still have time to think about it. I've been keeping a list of possible companies I might like to work for (both within Japan and back in the UK), but would I be content with returning to a factory job? ... you know what, maybe.

[SakuraHoshi]

- What is a typical schedule for an ALT?

I have 13 schools (3 junior high and 10 elementary) so every day and every week is very different. The earliest I've started was 7:50 (not my favourite day as it involved me leaving the house at 6:30), and my latest finish is 5pm. I teach between 0 and 6 classes a day, I'd say my average being 5 a day. I normally don't get to hang with students during lunch times as that's the time I spend travelling between schools.

- What are some tips you have for the JET interview?

Just what everyone else has said. Punctual & Presentable.

- Can you speak Japanese?

I studied Japanese at University but still need to actively study. Many people will tell you that being located in the countryside is a fast ticket to language acquisition, but for me that's simply not the case .

- What do you plan to do after JET?

Nothing certain yet, still have time to think about it. I've been keeping a list of possible companies I might like to work for (both within Japan and back in the UK), but would I be content with returning to a factory job? ... you know what, maybe.

Can I ask you a question? Does JET cover any of your travel expenses? I was thinking that if you have to travel regularly to 13 different schools, that would rack up a pretty big bill in bus/train fares. I've noticed in my research of JET alternatives that some companies reimburse all work-related travel expenses.

[Chez1986]

Hi everyone I am not 100% sure that this is the right thread for this question. But I read somewhere that some schools don't like you to wear black clothing when teaching and that (female JETS) if you have to wear nailvarnish it has to be a really nude shade or just natural. Trivial question I Know but is this true? Because in thinking if it was what would they say to you turning up in a suit of bright orange or blue to me it would feel kinda easyjetish? - I have a lot of time on my hands at the moment untill I start my course but the mind does wonder...

[Scout2012]

Q1: What types of exercises/lessons do you have prepared just in case you are asked to do a class exercise for your JET interview?

Q2(Not really a question): Introduce yourself. (just as you would for your JET interview).

[hydroflames]

A typical day for me is 8:15-4:45. This is for my base school which I go to 3 days a week.
I also have a mountain school which I go to generally every friday. As the buses are limited, I'm at my desk by 7:30am but I get a bus home around 4:15 so it's not too bad.
One day a week, generally wednesdays, I go to my BOE. I only have to be there for 3 hours, from 8:30 till 11:30am and then we're free to go home! This is pretty unusual as far as I'm aware and we're pretty lucky! This also applies during the seasonal vacations. We only have to be at the BOE for 3 hours a day. Not too bad for being in a small city!

I usually teach between 0-6 classes a day when I'm at school. I get incredibly bored when I'm not in the classroom, and i power through marking/extra curricular stuff quickly so I generally ask if I can help out with classes not on my schedule. My teachers have caught on that I'm happy to be busy so most days now I teach 4-6 classes a day! ALTs often complain about losing their free time but I really like having a full day of classes, with other things to do before/after school. It makes the day go really quick!