I dont think i passed interview....

[Siyris]

I've actually noticed a trend of putting people who can speak Japanese with ES kids more than rural situations.
It's a selection that schools can make. So it's more if your school wants a Japanese speaker or not. Some BOEs want no Japanese in their ALTs and some want a certain level of Japanese ability. They don't always get what they want but I think it's more about your COs wants and needs than what would benefit the ALT. I think this is a truth a lot of new ALTs have to come to grips with or they will be very upset/shocked when they get their placement.

Actually, I've noticed the exact same thing... of the people who came the same year as me and have absolutely NO Japanese, all but one ended up teaching at SHS, and the one left over is teaching at JHS exclusively... which seems to be a pretty rare thing in my prefecture. Also, one of those people who ended up SHS said that he was told by a panelist (after he got his placement) that a fairly large part of why he ended up at that particular school was because he had said he didn't have any Japanese language knowledge. That and the fact he was a male.... so it's certainly not unheard of for little-to-no Japanese ALTs to end up teaching the older students.... makes a lot of sense when I think about it.... both from the point of view of the schools, and the ALT.... if I couldn't communicate in Japanese, ES would be a NIGHTMARE.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Eh, I came with no Japanese and have a shogakko with no English speakers. You get by, though it's definitely gotten easier as I've learnt a bit of the language.

[Spencer]

Sigh, April....come sooner.

1.5 more months.... .... .... ....

wish it was April now

[Mark_KyotoPA]

Sigh, April....come sooner.

1.5 more months.... .... .... ....

wish it was April now

Don't worry guys, I got this.

Hey Spencer, I'll bite.
How did this +1 to your post count work out? Still good? Good. Keep at it.

[histgirl]

Sigh, April....come sooner.

1.5 more months.... .... .... ....

wish it was April now

Don't worry guys, I got this.

Hey Spencer, I'll bite.
How did this +1 to your post count work out? Still good? Good. Keep at it.

Ha.


THINGS MORE WORTH YOUR TIME THAN MOPING ON THESE FORUMS


GET A PLAN B - Jet is not the be-all-end-all. There are plenty of other companies you can work for if you want to teach in Japan or Asia.... Interac (Japan), EPIK (Korea), CIEE for China and Southeast Asia... just to name a few. Many deadlines for next fall are in March so you could apply right now. Or companies like Interac, have April-start dates so you would come to Japan a year from now later if JET doesn't work out instead of 18+ months later.

POST-JET PREPARATION - If you want to do graduate school after Japan, take the GRE BEFORE you come. It is much more hassle to take it in Japan and most schools accept scores that are up to 5 years old. For that matter, visit graduate schools and do info interviews with potential employers. Seriously think about the years after JET. I know too many people that hated their job but stayed in Japan only because it was *easier* than going home for work/school.

GET A REAL JOB - Especially if you are in your last year of college, prepare to get a job just as if you are already rejected. Too many people get the dreaded "waitlist" and then dink around till August (till December...) hoping for that upgrade call that never comes, that's like wasting six months you could be building your career. Another reason to work, the people that come here after 1-3 years of work experience are far more mature with the transition, better at their job, and frankly less *risky* to JET. The difference between a 22 year-old and a 24 year-old was never to stark before I came here.

SAVE MONEY - The number one thing to bring to Japan is MONEY. For any start-up costs (cars, cell phones, parties...), you will want good resources before you get that first paycheck. Would you have $3000 six months from now?

I just spent 2 years in a province 3000 KM away from my hometown, finishing school. Do not really have a lot of friends left back in my hometown. Spending a couple years in the middle of nowhere Canada is not good for friendships. I have some, but, most of them got married, or are busy. My life is pretty bland.... HAHA

If being in Korea and rural Canada are the reasons you don't have more friends, coming to Japan won't help. It is just as easy to be asocial here as it is anymore... more in fact, without the language ability. The people that thrive in JET are the ones that have fun and outgoing despite being the the most rural-po-dunk part of Japan. And that doesn't happen by striving to reach the next "rank" level on the JET forums. That's seriously not an achievement to brag about.

[AVN]

Ha.


THINGS MORE WORTH YOUR TIME THAN MOPING ON THESE FORUMS


GET A PLAN B - Jet is not the be-all-end-all. There are plenty of other companies you can work for if you want to teach in Japan or Asia.... Interac (Japan), EPIK (Korea), CIEE for China and Southeast Asia... just to name a few. Many deadlines for next fall are in March so you could apply right now. Or companies like Interac, have April-start dates so you would come to Japan a year from now later if JET doesn't work out instead of 18+ months later.

POST-JET PREPARATION - If you want to do graduate school after Japan, take the GRE BEFORE you come. It is much more hassle to take it in Japan and most schools accept scores that are up to 5 years old. For that matter, visit graduate schools and do info interviews with potential employers. Seriously think about the years after JET. I know too many people that hated their job but stayed in Japan only because it was *easier* than going home for work/school.

GET A REAL JOB - Especially if you are in your last year of college, prepare to get a job just as if you are already rejected. Too many people get the dreaded "waitlist" and then dink around till August (till December...) hoping for that upgrade call that never comes, that's like wasting six months you could be building your career. Another reason to work, the people that come here after 1-3 years of work experience are far more mature with the transition, better at their job, and frankly less *risky* to JET. The difference between a 22 year-old and a 24 year-old was never to stark before I came here.

SAVE MONEY - The number one thing to bring to Japan is MONEY. For any start-up costs (cars, cell phones, parties...), you will want good resources before you get that first paycheck. Would you have $3000 six months from now?

I just spent 2 years in a province 3000 KM away from my hometown, finishing school. Do not really have a lot of friends left back in my hometown. Spending a couple years in the middle of nowhere Canada is not good for friendships. I have some, but, most of them got married, or are busy. My life is pretty bland.... HAHA

If being in Korea and rural Canada are the reasons you don't have more friends, coming to Japan won't help. It is just as easy to be asocial here as it is anymore... more in fact, without the language ability. The people that thrive in JET are the ones that have fun and outgoing despite being the the most rural-po-dunk part of Japan. And that doesn't happen by striving to reach the next "rank" level on the JET forums. That's seriously not an achievement to brag about.

A++ on all of the above!

Especially on the last part.
What does moving out of province have to do with having no friends??? You make friends in your new place and maintain friendships with those who really mattered back home.

[Spencer]

Sigh, April....come sooner.

1.5 more months.... .... .... ....

wish it was April now

Don't worry guys, I got this.

Hey Spencer, I'll bite.
How did this +1 to your post count work out? Still good? Good. Keep at it.

Ha.


THINGS MORE WORTH YOUR TIME THAN MOPING ON THESE FORUMS


GET A PLAN B - Jet is not the be-all-end-all. There are plenty of other companies you can work for if you want to teach in Japan or Asia.... Interac (Japan), EPIK (Korea), CIEE for China and Southeast Asia... just to name a few. Many deadlines for next fall are in March so you could apply right now. Or companies like Interac, have April-start dates so you would come to Japan a year from now later if JET doesn't work out instead of 18+ months later.

POST-JET PREPARATION - If you want to do graduate school after Japan, take the GRE BEFORE you come. It is much more hassle to take it in Japan and most schools accept scores that are up to 5 years old. For that matter, visit graduate schools and do info interviews with potential employers. Seriously think about the years after JET. I know too many people that hated their job but stayed in Japan only because it was *easier* than going home for work/school.

GET A REAL JOB - Especially if you are in your last year of college, prepare to get a job just as if you are already rejected. Too many people get the dreaded "waitlist" and then dink around till August (till December...) hoping for that upgrade call that never comes, that's like wasting six months you could be building your career. Another reason to work, the people that come here after 1-3 years of work experience are far more mature with the transition, better at their job, and frankly less *risky* to JET. The difference between a 22 year-old and a 24 year-old was never to stark before I came here.

SAVE MONEY - The number one thing to bring to Japan is MONEY. For any start-up costs (cars, cell phones, parties...), you will want good resources before you get that first paycheck. Would you have $3000 six months from now?

I just spent 2 years in a province 3000 KM away from my hometown, finishing school. Do not really have a lot of friends left back in my hometown. Spending a couple years in the middle of nowhere Canada is not good for friendships. I have some, but, most of them got married, or are busy. My life is pretty bland.... HAHA

If being in Korea and rural Canada are the reasons you don't have more friends, coming to Japan won't help. It is just as easy to be asocial here as it is anymore... more in fact, without the language ability. The people that thrive in JET are the ones that have fun and outgoing despite being the the most rural-po-dunk part of Japan. And that doesn't happen by striving to reach the next "rank" level on the JET forums. That's seriously not an achievement to brag about.

LOL@ the people who are taking my posts about reaching a new post ranking as anything other than a joke. Jeez people, come on....gotta stop being so serious.

What does moving out of province have to do with having no friends??? You make friends in your new place and maintain friendships with those who really mattered back home.

OK, moving out of province means all other friendships that don't matter, end as you have no contact with them for a few years apart from FB. I have tons of friends in Rural Manitoba, I guess. And still have the few really close friends that I had when I left. But just the same, not held back here by any means....

I find it funny that I haven't posted in the forums in over a week, and I make a couple posts and automatically I'm moping in the forums.... Of course, by all the current Jets, that post in the Aspiring jets forums nonstop because...........??? They are the experts of JET because they've done it for a year or two? The Current JET pages are too boring?


JET is something I'm holding out for. I've already turned down a Job offer in Indonesia, due to holding out for JET. It's not the be all and end all, but its the way I want to start my ESL teaching career, followed by a few other places.


Have a real Job, thanks for the tip. Have money, thanks for the tip.


Seriously guys, All the Aspiring JET's are pretty much waiting until April. If it pisses you guys off so much, you may want to go check out the Current JET forum board, they may be more suited for you guys!

[AVN]

If we Current JETs didn't post in the Applying JETs threads what would be the point of having the threads?
We're giving you all advice. Unless you have concrete concerns/questions (for example the discussion of drivers licenses etc are good uses of time) then our best advice is get off the forums and keep busy. Come April feel free to come back and flood the forums. Posting with no purpose is just going to drive you nuts.

So you have friends but you're not going to be sad to leave them? Either you're phrasing it badly or they're not very good friends at all.

I knew I was going even though I was leaving behind friends. This doesn't mean leaving them wasn't hard. It also doesn't mean I don't still miss them and look forward to seeing them when I visit home or they come here.
Are you saying you won't miss your friends/don't have any worth worrying about? or are you saying (which I'm thinking is what you meant to say in the first place) that though you have friends, you are really passionate about coming to Japan and thus willing to leave them even if it might be hard.

[histgirl]

Seriously guys, All the Aspiring JET's are pretty much waiting until April. If it pisses you guys off so much, you may want to go check out the Current JET forum board, they may be more suited for you guys!

HAHA!

Also, Spencer, I understand you're flattered, but the bulk of my post was for the general audience. And just like the forums are venting spots for Aspiring JETs to post the same conversations for years... its a venting spot for Current JETs bored at work... Most of the advice is based on the hundreds of JETs that get rejected every year as well as the dozens of JETs who stay here longer than they want because they don't have an exit strategy... Yes, I am a know-it-all.


THINGS MORE WORTH YOUR TIME THAN BEING A KNOW-IT-ALL ON THESE FORUMS
!!!!CURRENT JET VERSION!!!!
- Studying Japanese
- Facebook
- Drinking

[Namisuke]

Of course, by all the current Jets, that post in the Aspiring jets forums nonstop because...........??? They are the experts of JET because they've done it for a year or two?

I am confused by this as you have asked current JETs questions in the Aspiring JET forum. Are those redundant then? I'm just wondering if we should continue to spend time responding to your questions and concerns if you weren't looking for it. The forum-lurking current JETs are probably the best resource you have to learning about life and work in the JET Programme. It is a good idea to keep good relations with them.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Have a real Job, thanks for the tip. Have money, thanks for the tip.

Seriously guys, All the Aspiring JET's are pretty much waiting until April. If it pisses you guys off so much, you may want to go check out the Current JET forum board, they may be more suited for you guys!

Good for you! Here's another tip: don't burn your bridges, especially before you've crossed them.
And here's a far more useful tip: start working on growing a thicker skin. To a fair few of the locals here you're going to be subhuman and they'll have no problems treating you as such, and blowing your fuse is kinda frowned upon.
On the boards it's just funny and a little pathetic, but when you're actually here it can potentially get you in trouble.

I find it funny that I haven't posted in the forums in over a week, and I make a couple posts and automatically I'm moping in the forums.... Of course, by all the current Jets, that post in the Aspiring jets forums nonstop because...........??? They are the experts of JET because they've done it for a year or two? The Current JET pages are too boring?

Alternately, we could be trying to offer advice from the perspective of people who've successfully made it through the application process and are currently in the job. Experts we may not all be, but we are 'on the ground' which kind of helps us get an idea of what it's like and how to get through it.
Personally, a lot of why I try to help out is 'cos at least one of you Aspiring types is possibly going to be my new coworker next year, and the less problems you have the less I have to hear about it and the less our collective supervisor gets hassled about it.

And just like the forums are venting spots for Aspiring JETs to post the same conversations for years... its a venting spot for Current JETs bored at work... Most of the advice is based on the hundreds of JETs that get rejected every year as well as the dozens of JETs who stay here longer than they want because they don't have an exit strategy... Yes, I am a know-it-all.


THINGS MORE WORTH YOUR TIME THAN BEING A KNOW-IT-ALL ON THESE FORUMS
!!!!CURRENT JET VERSION!!!!
- Studying Japanese
- Facebook
- Drinking

Damn, my schools don't let me drink when I've got downtime at work.

[Spencer]

Of course, by all the current Jets, that post in the Aspiring jets forums nonstop because...........??? They are the experts of JET because they've done it for a year or two?

I am confused by this as you have asked current JETs questions in the Aspiring JET forum. Are those redundant then? I'm just wondering if we should continue to spend time responding to your questions and concerns if you weren't looking for it. The forum-lurking current JETs are probably the best resource you have to learning about life and work in the JET Programme. It is a good idea to keep good relations with them.

Wow I wore a whole post out and it got deleted. I'll respond in brief. Namisuke, I agree, current jets ate a very good resource for answering questions, but I didn't ask a question in this instance and got several responses. There are several places I can go to get criticized. Current jets criticizing me for venting a bit about the job I am waiting for, not on list of priorities. Recently I haven't gotten much more than useless flaming. Maybe if current jets were a bit easier to keep good relations with..lol anyways, some people on here like you actually do mix in write a few useful answers while others simply seem to be posting for the sake of being confrontational. Didn't think that was my idea when I.posted in aspiring jets. Yes offer advice by all means, but this thing happens year after year, don't get mad and flame people out because they are supporting jets spring to be a jet participant.

[Spencer]

Sorry for the grammar and spelling errors my internet is not up and running yet, and my phone is not user friendly to this forum apparently. I can't see what I'm typing, as this is not a mobile site....

[Mark_KyotoPA]

Sorry for the grammar and spelling errors my internet is not up and running yet, and my phone is not user friendly to this forum apparently. I can't see what I'm typing, as this is not a mobile site....

cool story bro

This disclaimer makes everything better. On your way now. Double-posting isn't going to make what you have to say interesting.

Although saying that, this is a classic.

<snip>

LOL@ the people who are taking my posts about reaching a new post ranking as anything other than a joke. Jeez people, come on....gotta stop being so serious.

<snip>

At least I'm forward and open about my trolling.

[hawkharness]

Quick question!

Since the powers-that-be had said they were aiming for mid-January for interview announcements which actually came out early February, would it be accurate to assume that aiming for interview results in mid-April might actually mean early May?



Also. Silly forum drama is one reason why I've retreated into my lurker-cave. This is getting ridiculous. [/uselessinput]