Aspiring JETs Singapore edition 2012

[miffychan]

thanks to soulsensei for the detailed post!

all right, everyone, it starts tomorrow. good luck!

edit to add: anyone else who is second-guessing their interview, feel free to pm me! we can agonise over how bad our answers were together *pass around alcohol*

[dtwn]

Hey folks,

hope the interviews are going nicely.

Like Soulsensei, I'm also a first year JET. I haven't been checking on the forums very often, but if you have any last minute questions, PM me and I"ll try to answer before your interview.

And as he mentioned, READ UP on your SOP. You will very possibly get questioned on it.

Those of you with teaching experience should also expect at least one question about the classroom. It can include your past experiences or how you may deal with hypothetical issues. This can include classroom management methods, staff interaction in and out of the classroom and other details. If you have to, pause for a second to consider your answer.

I found my interviewers, a Japanese staff member of the consulate and an American (ex-JET presumably), to be somewhat cordial but distant. Most of the questions were posed by the American, with only one or two questions from the Japanese staff member.

I can't remember all of my questions, but several revolved around classroom management and prior classroom experiences. I was also questioned on my SOP as I had mentioned that one of the reasons for embarking on JET was its stellar reputation. The American looked rather dubious when he read that and asked me to elaborate. My answer was about how JET is one of the largest scale exchange programs that has been ongoing for more than two decades. I was rather worried that I had flubbed the question, but he seemed satisfied.

In addition, I'd like to point out that while JET has a great reputation internationally, its domestic reputation is rather spotty.

Don't be worried if you're a fresh graduate, lack teaching experience or a basic command of Japanese. While my batch had a large proportion of educators, we also had a number of fresh graduates, people without classroom teaching experience and Japanese manglers. I belonged to the third group. In all honesty, I still do.

[galore]

thanks soulsensei and dtwn! you guys are awesome

to the rest, how were your interviews?!

[Tomereader]

Hello!

I'm from the same batch as sousensei and dtwn. Ex-educator here, and I wrote in my SOP that I had lost a little passion for teaching and hoped that JET would help me get it back haha.

1) Of course I got asked about it. But it only gave me a chance to talk about the benefits of cultural exchange - i.e, I could go back to tell my students about Japan etc.

2) Yes I have gotten it back. Yay! Can't wait to go back to start teaching again! But I'm staying on for another year to learn more before I go back. I miss my students though.

I didn't bring any barang-barang to talk about Singapore; I brought souvenirs that I got from Japan on my previous trip to talk about which parts of Japan I like.

Also, the ang moh (sorry, a little undiplomatic haha, but I call myself gaijin too) interviewer asked me if I was willing to go to some ulu place to teach. This was after I talked about technology as one of the ways to engage students in class. LOL. Please do a nice save like I did (actually not really heh) and talk about how chalk/talk and board is the bread and butter of all educators and going back to basics is also great for students.

I wore a shirt, pants and tie (I'm female) so don't get stressed up about what to wear.

It's snowing now and it's lovely in Japan. Have fun at the interview and go show them what we've got! Gambatte kudasai!!

[egrzx925]

thanks to soulsensei for the detailed post!

all right, everyone, it starts tomorrow. good luck!

edit to add: anyone else who is second-guessing their interview, feel free to pm me! we can agonise over how bad our answers were together *pass around alcohol*

i think my mind was blank when i went in. But the moment i stepped out, it was filled with the answers

My guess is they probably learnt that people have been sharing about what was covered in interviews..cause i don't seem to get any of the questions that people got

Best is try to relax

[koosleem]

It's already APRIL!

I wonder when we will get the outcome of the application...

[jayceeee]

saw that some people on the US threads have received their notifications!

wonder how long more we'll have to wait!

[koosleem]

From last year's forum, seems that results will be out late april....

I just want to know the outcome so that I can stop waiting!!!

[egrzx925]

From last year's forum, seems that results will be out late april....

I just want to know the outcome so that I can stop waiting!!!

me too.....

[koosleem]

Let's keep one another updated if we get informed, shall we?

*jitters*

[eversenses]

results are out!!!

shortlisted!! :D:D:D

yoroshiku ne!

[miyabi]

Shortlisted!!~ Yoroshiku! m( _ _)m

[koosleem]

Me too! Congrats to all

[starstruck]

I got in too! Yay!!!

[rinforest]

thank goodness it finally came! i've been unable to breathe for the past week

i wonder why they took so long this year. i don't think we used to be one of the last embassies to receive results...