i havent graduated college, do i have a chance?

[Spencer]

Sorry, bad grammar. I post a lot while on my phone. Grammar suffers a bit I see. Yes I heard that some universities give scholarships to foreign English teachers. it was one of the top three biggest schools in Japan. The guy who told me was a jet alumni, and he said he went in and asked what scholarship opportunities were available and they offered him 75%. It may have even been Tokyo university. His program was even in English.

I agree with the posts about finding yourself in Japan or going because you love Japan. We should look at jet in a way that thinks, what can I give to them rather than what Japan or the Japanese can give to you. it's unfair to go there for selfish reasons. Unfair to your students and yourself. JET IS not tourism. It's about how you can positively impact Japan and the Japanese. All the positive impact you may or may not gain from jet is just a bonus.

[jim]

Sorry, bad grammar. I post a lot while on my phone. Grammar suffers a bit I see. Yes I heard that some universities give scholarships to foreign English teachers. it was one of the top three biggest schools in Japan. The guy who told me was a jet alumni, and he said he went in and asked what scholarship opportunities were available and they offered him 75%. It may have even been Tokyo university. His program was even in English.

I agree with the posts about finding yourself in Japan or going because you love Japan. We should look at jet in a way that thinks, what can I give to them rather than what Japan or the Japanese can give to you. it's unfair to go there for selfish reasons. Unfair to your students and yourself. JET IS not tourism. It's about how you can positively impact Japan and the Japanese. All the positive impact you may or may not gain from jet is just a bonus.

It's commendable that you plan on doing JET 100% for the benefit of others, but you may be setting yourself up for a fall when you get here and realise that many of the Japanese people view your efforts with utter indifference.

The missionary-style attitude may work if you're building a well or a school in an African village, but in one of the most advanced countries in the world. Giving off a vibe that "I'm here to help and change all your lives for the better" will only patronise and bewilder many locals who thought (correctly) that their lives were just fine before you came along.

Get involved in your school, make the kids enjoy learning about English and the world outside Japan, and look to make a similar impact with members of your local community, but don't expect to work miracles.

[Namisuke]

I think you should definitely come with a plan in mind of what you want to get from Japan (and maybe you will gain something surprising as well, like maybe you never knew you would join a taiko gorup or volunteer on the coast). It is the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme after all, not the Japan Give and Teach Programme...lol Part of the point is to bring back ideas, cultural heritage, customs, etc. back to your home country and build international bonds and understanding. Take as much as you can get! We should be honest and admit that we are all here for somewhat selfish reasons. Some want to gain teaching experience. Some want to experience life in Japan. Some want to enjoy their youth. Some want to learn Japanese. It is even a required element for your application to talk about what you want to get out of your experience in Japan. It is HUGELY important to have a well laid-out plan for what you want to do in Japan and hopefully how it can help you do your job. You definitely can come and change lives for the better (for example, VolunteerAKITA is raising money to send an orphan to university, which is pretty life-changing). The fact that ALTs are usually young recent grads kind of implies that there isn't much we can give besides zest for life and learning, which luckily is becoming part of the official Course of Study. The I'm-going-to-change-Japan idea will only run you into trouble and might reinforce the big-headed foreigner stereotype, even though I know your intentions are probably good and didn't come out right maybe because of wording. I think better wording is: people should come on the JET Programme because they love teaching and love Japan. JET is not a free ticket to Japan (Yay to histgirl). So yeah, don't waste tax dollars, but definitely soak up all the experiences and knowledge you can while you are here!

[Spencer]

Oh I have no doubt that there will be little impact in Japan because of me. I also have no doubt that most will look at me with indifference, and I donnt denny that I am offering a service that is more wanted then needed.
My point being, we are hired for a job, that students are paying for, we dont have a right to go there when our sole reason for going is something different than what we are supposed to be doing. For example, Lets take missionaries, I would say it is unfair to go to Japan FOR THE PURPOSE of pushing faith if you went under the pretense of an English teacher because your heart is focused on something else. in the same way, its unfair to go to Japan for the purpose of bettering yourself or gaining something under a pretense of an English teacher. your then only giving part of yourself to the Job that you are hired for.

We should give 100% of ourselves to the Job at hand, And let all the other stuff come as a bonus. Dont do JET for selfish reasons. At the same time, probably shouldnt do it if you have use for cultural knowledge, or are unwilling to adjust to a new culture. Even though Japan is a first world country, teaching English would still fall under international development.

Its all about where are heart is. If our heart is set on an area thats wrong, then we are going to face disappointment at the very least, because we are not going to love what we are doing and we will be just waiting for each day to end. We will spend minimum time on lesson plans, and we will negatively impact those around us.


I think the problem is that JET IS a free ticket to Japan for some. They think this is a prolonged tourist experience. Its just a trip to Japan, They will spend minimum amounts of time and energy on everything else and devote themselves to having fun. that is where I draw issue.

[jim]

Spencer

Well you'll have an issue with pretty much every single one of your fellow JETs then, as every single one I've met is looking to get from this experience as well as give. As you've not even been accepted yet I'm not sure you can reliably comment on whether or not others see it as a free ticket to Japan though. Considering the amount of organisation, commitment and risk it takes, plus the fact that the vast majority of JETs are placed in parts of Japan no foreigners would ever want to go to, I'd maybe disagree with you on that.

If you really are only in it to give to others, then maybe you would be better off volunteering in Africa, Southeast Asia or someplace else where total altruistic commitment is needed. It would be a 100% salary cut from JET but as you don't want to recieve anything back for your efforts I don't imagine that would be a problem to you.

[Gizmotech]

There is no type of person I hate more in Japan then the givers.

Self righteous, holier than though, for the sake of all but the self, brown nosing, morons. They insist that everyone must be there for the same reason they are, and proceed to demonize you if you express any idea which isn't for the good of everyone else. They insist that every weekend needs to be an altruistic event, and if for some reason you are otherwise busy (or genuinely disinterested) you must be something akin to the worst thing on earth. Their worst trait is often their close minded nature where they are unable, or unwilling, to consider the ideas of others or maintain a reasonable conversation or debate. They stick to their opinion with such utter devotion, that humans cannot exist for themselves,that they turn any event into them vs the rest.

/end rant/

[Spencer]

There is no type of person I hate more in Japan then the givers.

Self righteous, holier than though, for the sake of all but the self, brown nosing, morons. They insist that everyone must be there for the same reason they are, and proceed to demonize you if you express any idea which isn't for the good of everyone else. They insist that every weekend needs to be an altruistic event, and if for some reason you are otherwise busy (or genuinely disinterested) you must be something akin to the worst thing on earth. Their worst trait is often their close minded nature where they are unable, or unwilling, to consider the ideas of others or maintain a reasonable conversation or debate. They stick to their opinion with such utter devotion, that humans cannot exist for themselves,that they turn any event into them vs the rest.

/end rant/

I think its Thou...
But I digress. My only thing is that When your supposed to teach, it is all about the giving... in the sense that you shoudl be giving it your all, when you are teaching, because you are getting paid for it.
Not saying go volunteer your whoel time in Japan away(but some volunteer might be nnice) . Go have fun.... do what you want.... Just dont go there only because of that.


Jim.
Your right, havent been accepted, Going based on other comments in this thread, and what ive heard from other JETS...

"there are far too many ALT's bad at their job"

[merkypie]

The JET Program isn't about teaching and if you think the job is solely about teaching then you've obviously missed the entire purpose of the program. It's called the Japan Exchange Teaching Program, not the Japan English Teaching Program. The program is designed for young adults to learn from their experience as well as teach and have the community learn about them. It's not about a free ticket to party ville nor is about teaching and only doing just that.

If you just want to teach then there are other programs out there looking for people who want to turn it into their careers.

[Spencer]

The JET Program isn't about teaching and if you think the job is solely about teaching then you've obviously missed the entire purpose of the program. It's called the Japan Exchange Teaching Program, not the Japan English Teaching Program. The program is designed for young adults to learn from their experience as well as teach and have the community learn about them. It's not about a free ticket to party ville nor is about teaching and only doing just that.

If you just want to teach then there are other programs out there looking for people who want to turn it into their careers.

O...m...g
not what I was saying either.....
does no one get what Im trying to say....
Im saying give 100% to the task at hand when doing the task.... when teaching, dont be waiting till you can just get out of there... its about balance... but also being focused on the task while doing it...responsibility.....

[RoBot]

O...m...g
not what I was saying either.....
does no one get what Im trying to say....
Im saying give 100% to the task at hand when doing the task.... when teaching, dont be waiting till you can just get out of there... its about balance... but also being focused on the task while doing it...responsibility.....

Perhaps no one understands what you are saying because most of your comments contradict each other. The manner in which you come across is a self-righteous know it all. Just saying... But perhaps you should heed those who have more experience than you.

[Spencer]

O...m...g
not what I was saying either.....
does no one get what Im trying to say....
Im saying give 100% to the task at hand when doing the task.... when teaching, dont be waiting till you can just get out of there... its about balance... but also being focused on the task while doing it...responsibility.....

Perhaps no one understands what you are saying because most of your comments contradict each other. The manner in which you come across is a self-righteous know it all. Just saying... But perhaps you should heed those who have more experience than you.

Yea I think I agree


Let me rephrase all the statements I made... they can be summed up in
I have never done JET
I have an Idealistic view of JET.
I believe agree that a love of Japan and a love of teaching should be something people have when Applying for JET. Beyond that I Will not know until I actually participate in JET
I really just meant to say that each task should be done to each ones best capacity. Kinda like a Do your best type thing....Ill think better in the Morning

[RoBot]

O...m...g
not what I was saying either.....
does no one get what Im trying to say....
Im saying give 100% to the task at hand when doing the task.... when teaching, dont be waiting till you can just get out of there... its about balance... but also being focused on the task while doing it...responsibility.....

Perhaps no one understands what you are saying because most of your comments contradict each other. The manner in which you come across is a self-righteous know it all. Just saying... But perhaps you should heed those who have more experience than you.

Yea I think I agree


Let me rephrase all the statements I made... they can be summed up in
I have never done JET
I have an Idealistic view of JET.
I believe agree that a love of Japan and a love of teaching should be something people have when Applying for JET. Beyond that I Will not know until I actually participate in JET
I really just meant to say that each task should be done to each ones best capacity. Kinda like a Do your best type thing....Ill think better in the Morning

That makes a lot more sense lol

[mobiuschic42]

Oooookay...back to the OP's question:
If you still have school to finish up and your school has any kind of study abroad program in Japan, you might consider doing that. For me, studying in Japan for a semester was actually realistically less expensive than a semester at my school in the US. Granted this was back in 2007 when the exchange rate was something like $1 to 115 yen, but I just paid my school's regular tuition and that covered my tuition in Japan, as well as my flights there and back, as well as my rent (including heat, water, and electricity). I think I went with $5000 of food/spending money and came back with $1500, and I ate out a lot and brought back a lot of souvenirs and presents. I didn't do a ton of traveling, but I did go to Tokyo Disneyland and all over Tokyo in general.

Yes, my (private) university in the US was pretty expensive, but Japanese tuition is often much lower than US tuition, so you might come out slightly ahead like I did. Just a thought.

Oh, and as for working while studying - my school in Japan also said you could work a certain number of hours a week with permission (something more than 20 but less than 30 hours). And there were tons of flyers up of Japanese people looking for English tutors. I didn't pursue this, though I certainly had plenty of time.

I'm certain that studying abroad in Japan made me a much stronger JET applicant, and may well be why I got an interview.

[merkypie]

I'm certain that studying abroad in Japan made me a much stronger JET applicant, and may well be why I got an interview.

I don't believe that going to Japan is a guaranteed ticket to an interview. There are thousands of applicants that have went abroad, some even to Japan, and not earned interviews (case in point, look at the who's been to Japan thread and compare the responses to how many actually got an interview). I never went to Japan in my life and I got an interview. I think the theory that going to Japan = Interview really trips up a lot of potential applicants and perhaps deters a lot of people with strong potential in other areas from applying.

Having a strong SOP, strong references, and decent qualifications gets you an interview with the JET Program. Going to Japan is not the sole deciding factor.

[RoBot]

I'm certain that studying abroad in Japan made me a much stronger JET applicant, and may well be why I got an interview.

I don't believe that going to Japan is a guaranteed ticket to an interview. There are thousands of applicants that have went abroad, some even to Japan, and not earned interviews (case in point, look at the who's been to Japan thread and compare the responses to how many actually got an interview). I never went to Japan in my life and I got an interview. I think the theory that going to Japan = Interview really trips up a lot of potential applicants and perhaps deters a lot of people with strong potential in other areas from applying.

Having a strong SOP, strong references, and decent qualifications gets you an interview with the JET Program. Going to Japan is not the sole deciding factor.

I agree. I have never been to Japan and I got an interview. However Ido think that some form of international experience, be it holidays or living abroad is desirable but not essential.