Aspiring JETs Singapore edition 2012

[soulsensei]

Ohayo gozaimasu!

Hearty greetings from Kumamoto! Just wanted to welcome all of you ichinenseis (first-yrs) onboard.

You will find a lot of useful advice on the 'Aspiring JETs Singapore edition 2011' but I wanted to welcome the one thing that I wished someone had told me when I was in your shoes last year. And here it goes:

Showcase your interests in and out of the classroom.

What do I mean by that? Well, currently I work at 3 elementary schools and 1 junior high (secondary school), so I only get to see my elementary kids once a month because their schools are small and hence, don't get as much ALT time as their bigger counterparts. It's difficult to build bonds in this case since I am just a guest star in their lives, ya know (I know, I know, I am shameless). Anyway, since April was the start of the new school year, I decided that I couldn't just go with the flow anymore and hence, taught all my fifth and sixth graders how to sign the alphabet in my first class (I learnt sign language at the Singapore Association for the Deaf in uni).

Already, I can feel myself building a more personal connection with some of my kids as they will stop to finger-spell their names when they pass me in the corridor. Much more encouraging than the perfunctory 'Konnichiwa!!' greeting. I taught all of them how to sign 'Hi!'; relationships can only improve from now on. www. I kinda wish I have thought of teaching them sign language last year but there you go--some life lessons must be learned via experience. And you guys benefit from my experience.

I don't mean to suggest that you all should scramble to take up last-minute sign language classes. But rather, in your packing process, think about how you can use your interests to teach English in the classroom. Balloon sculpturing? Origami? Playing a musical instrument? Or even wearing your favourite soccer jersey (elementary schools are generally more lax about attire). It is true: I am, for the most part, a glorified tape recorder in the junior high. But the possibilities are endless in the elementary classroom. So just come here and enjoy the ride lar.

Gotta run. Gonna be late for sch lor. Chim jia lat. haha

Omedetou once again!
ah le

[jayceeee]

looks like i'll be joining some people on the waiting list for the results! was hoping that they were going by alphabetical order but what are the chances..

[eversenses]

Somehow, I don't think the shortlisted are notified first this time. I heard people have received rejection emails today too.

It's a personalised email so I think it takes time to attach the right files and send. I think more emails (shortlisted/alternate) are on the way, so don't lose hope till the email comes!

strangely, we have not heard from anyone who is an alternate. there are definitely people lurking around. I did too until I received my email.

Hi there, just curious, where did you get your source of info about people receiving rejection emails today? It gives me that teeny weeny bit of hope seeing this, but i guess i won't know till tomorrow morning.

hello onigiri_chan. I know somebody who was notified rejected yesterday and thus, my reasoning. maybe alphabetical order? Both of us are quite high up on the alphabet list.

But, everyone should know today so I wish those still waiting all the very very best!!

[janetyh]

yeah, i'm shortlisted today too

just wondering, are there any fresh grads or non-teachers here?

all the best for those who are still waiting!

Me! Are you fresh out of school?

Edit: Hey, I have received your pm but I am not allowed to do pm-ing yet. Hopefully you can pm me with your email address?

[onigiri_chan]

Somehow, I don't think the shortlisted are notified first this time. I heard people have received rejection emails today too.

It's a personalised email so I think it takes time to attach the right files and send. I think more emails (shortlisted/alternate) are on the way, so don't lose hope till the email comes!

strangely, we have not heard from anyone who is an alternate. there are definitely people lurking around. I did too until I received my email.

Hi there, just curious, where did you get your source of info about people receiving rejection emails today? It gives me that teeny weeny bit of hope seeing this, but i guess i won't know till tomorrow morning.

hello onigiri_chan. I know somebody who was notified rejected yesterday and thus, my reasoning. maybe alphabetical order? Both of us are quite high up on the alphabet list.

But, everyone should know today so I wish those still waiting all the very very best!!

Hello, thanks but I just received the notification that I'm on the alternate list. For those who were not short-listed, do they all end up on the alternate list?

[jayceeee]

onigiri-chan! im on the alternate list... lotsa waiting to do again!

[rinforest]

Hello, thanks but I just received the notification that I'm on the alternate list. For those who were not short-listed, do they all end up on the alternate list?

i think someone's friend didn't pass the interview and was rejected, right? eversenses' friend, i think

[trea]

Hi guys.. Lurker here. I'm on the alternate list too.. Oh dear.. now I'm not sure how to go looking for a job =/

Congrats to the shortlisters =) And the wait continues for the rest of us heh ahhh...

[disappointed]

I'm an alternate too.

[onigiri_chan]

Hello, thanks but I just received the notification that I'm on the alternate list. For those who were not short-listed, do they all end up on the alternate list?

i think someone's friend didn't pass the interview and was rejected, right? eversenses' friend, i think

hi rinforest, i guess it's because to me, alternate = "rejected" in a certain sense? just wanted to confirm if there are 3 possible outcomes from the 2nd screening: rejected, short-listed or an alternate.

[eversenses]

Hello, thanks but I just received the notification that I'm on the alternate list. For those who were not short-listed, do they all end up on the alternate list?

i think someone's friend didn't pass the interview and was rejected, right? eversenses' friend, i think

hi rinforest, i guess it's because to me, alternate = "rejected" in a certain sense? just wanted to confirm if there are 3 possible outcomes from the 2nd screening: rejected, short-listed or an alternate.

yes, there are three outcomes. I have been following the alternate thread, and there is this post by the miami_coordinator and to quote him/her

You weren't rejected; you were accepted... only, there's not enough space for you at this time. That means you have all of the qualities and experience we look for in a JET Program participant. Unfortunately, it may well be that others you interviewed with simply had a bit more and were ranked higher. It comes down to numbers; the cutoff was unfortunately above where you were.

therefore, don't be discouraged!

[onigiri_chan]

yes, there are three outcomes. I have been following the alternate thread, and there is this post by the miami_coordinator and to quote him/her


You weren't rejected; you were accepted... only, there's not enough space for you at this time. That means you have all of the qualities and experience we look for in a JET Program participant. Unfortunately, it may well be that others you interviewed with simply had a bit more and were ranked higher. It comes down to numbers; the cutoff was unfortunately above where you were.


therefore, don't be discouraged!

thank you~~ that does give me (and i believe, other alternates too) a little bit of hope to hang on to.

to the alternates: guess we'll have to wait till the first week of may after the deadline for the submission of the reply form to see if any of us gets "upgraded". good luck to all of us!

[dtwn]

Hey folks,

congratulations on all those who got accepted. Those who didn't, don't lose hope. Alternate means there's definitely a chance there, and for those who were turned down, don't hesitate to try again next year!

Japancolours, it's good to see that you made it this year. I'm glad you decided to try again!

[Japancolors]

Hey folks,

congratulations on all those who got accepted. Those who didn't, don't lose hope. Alternate means there's definitely a chance there, and for those who were turned down, don't hesitate to try again next year!

Japancolours, it's good to see that you made it this year. I'm glad you decided to try again!

Hey dtwn!

You remembered me! I was so glad that I decided to try again this year. 本間に良かったですね！

My interview went very badly though, and I thought there was no hope, so it was quite a huge surprise that I actually got shortlisted. Until now, I still can't believe it! Anyway, hope to get your advice on what I should bring once my placement results are out.

Cheers!

P.S. onigiri_chan, I replied your pm.

[lepton]

Hi!

Just wanted to cheer on the Alternates. I was an alternate and am now on the programme. The wait is indeed daunting and the best out of the situation is to hear something in early May and in time to depart with the rest. But the fact of life is that there will be some of you out there who might have to wait out longer than that, so hang in there. A word of advice though, to perhaps set yourself a deadline. After which if you do not hear from the embassy, to activate your contingency plan. Some call it a miracle, some call it conincidence, I got the call on the morning of the exact date which I set myself.

Looking forward to hear some of you guys upgraded.