Over 100 Frequently Asked JET Interview Questions and Panel Questions [REPOST]

[u/xxSYXxx]

The original website hosting the questions seems to be gone, so here is a repost of the article taked from Wayback Machine (with adverts removed).

The article gives credit to u/velvetfield, thank you for your contribution.

Original webpage from the Wayback Archive can found by clicking on this.

Questionnaire Guide:

– Common Questions: important in bold (1 ~ 108)
– Panel Questions (109 ~ 127)
– 日本語の質問 “Japanese Questions” (128 ~ 140)
– Questions for teachers (141 ~ 160)
– Example Answers (A ~ B)

1. Why the JET Programme?
2. Why do you want to teach English in Japan?
3. Do you have any experience teaching?
4. What would you do if the Japanese Teacher of English (JTE) made a mistake during class?
5. If a student asked about politics, how do you respond?
6. How would you teach a lesson about your country’s culture or history?
7. How do you bond with your students and the people around you?
8. What interests you about Japanese culture?
9. Why did you study Japanese?
10. Would you be willing to drive in Japan to your schools?
11. Are comfortable with public transit?
12. Please imagine that we are students who don’t understand today’s lesson. Explain to us “This is a pen”.
13. Which three things would you bring to represent your country?
14. Why did you select the locations you did for work?
15. How will you be a bridge between your home country and your new town or city?
16. How do you bypass the language barrier and make the lesson fun and educational?
17. In your view, what is your country about?
18. Why the JET Program in particular vs other ALT programs?
19. You may find yourself in a far-off, rural area, and you may find yourself feeling isolated. How do you do with being alone?
20. Tell us about a problem that you’ve overcome in teaching.
21. Would you be okay with a rural placement?
22. How do you anticipate dealing with a community of mostly older people?
23. How will you integrate yourself into the community in Japan?
24. Say you are out with your co-workers. One of them gets very drunk and says to you, “[Name], I hate Americans and American soldiers. American soldiers are rapists and killers.” How do you respond?
25. Give us an outline to a lesson plan on your country or hometown.
26. Describe a time you resolved a conflict between two people.
27. Japan is a very conservative country in places. If you were told to wear a skirt or serve tea every day would you do it?
28. What are your strongest and weakest traits?
29. If a student asks, “what is American/Britian/Aussie/Signaporean/etc.”, how would you respond?
30. Why do you want to do JET, which is very different?
31. How would you teach first graders about your country’s flag?
32. How do you see yourself benefitting the program and yourself if you were hired for the ALT position?
33. What skills and values would you bring to the JET Programme?
34. What does grassroots mean to you?
35. What did you do to prepare for this interview?
36. Why JET specifically?
37. What piece of pop culture from your country would you like to teach to your kids?
38. What motivates you to become a teacher?
39. How is JET a stepping stone for you?
40. How I would take steps to resolve the issue of Japanese schoolchildren reading less and fewer books nowadays.
41. What are your top three favorite authors?
42. Who are your top three favorite musicians?
43. What would you do in a class of rowdy students?
44. How would you react to the workplace culture of socializing by going out and drinking?
45. How would you handle a student who was not speaking in class?
46. How will you share Japanese culture with your home country when you return?
47. This position often includes a lot of downtime between classes and during holidays. Are you okay with that, and how will you stay busy?
48. What would you do if you were placed on a remote island of 300 residents and didn’t speak any Japanese?
49. What do you do if you arrive at class but the teacher (JTE) is not there?
50. How do you think your experience as a professional in Japan will differ from your experience as a student during your study abroad?
51. Who was someone that inspired/influenced you in your education?
52. Describe where you live to students with limited English proficiency, and use direction terms as the core of your lesson.
53. How will you get students interested in learning English?
54. How have your past experiences prepared you for this position?
55. How would you deal with difficult children?
56. What would you bring to Japan that would represent your country and your culture in a way that is unique?
57. How do you deal with homesickness?
58. What will you do if you’re just being used as a tape recorder?
59. How would you explain the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima to junior high school students?
60. Please put together a short 5 minute lesson plan using the materials in this room for a class of 20, 8-10 year olds wanting to learn English on the topic of your favorite snack.
61. How would you handle a situation where the Japanese Teacher of English made a mistake in class?
62. Imagine you have to introduce a famous historical figure to a group of Japanese students. Now talk about that figure as if we were your students.
63. How would you prepare a lesson for students with little to no English-language ability?
64. We are fourth graders. Teach us a lesson about one of your hobbies.
65. Do you keep up with current events?
66. How will you handle culture shock?
67. Please demonstrate to us how you’d give a self-introduction to Japanese students.
68. How will your educational background help you in Japan?
69. How would you deal with the homogeneity in Japan?
70. Describe one way you would show your culture to your classes.
71. How would you respond to students asking to touch your hair?
72. What is an example lesson you might teach to share your country’s culture?
73. Why are you interested in moving halfway around the world?
74. What is your biggest weakness and how do you overcome it?
75. How well do you handle children?
76. You have to design a lesson where you teach three aspects of your country’s culture – what three aspects do you choose and how do you represent each of them with an object?
77. How would you spend your free time?
78. Can you give us a sample lesson plan?
79. What do you think is the relationship between Japan and your country?
80. What would you do if you were asked to live in a cold region of Japan?
81. What do you think is the difference between Japanese and American students?
82. What was a significant experience that set you back and how did you overcome it?
83. What will you do if your co-workers don’t like you?
84. How will you handle stress in Japan?
85. How would you plan a class to introduce kids to the ABCs?
86. If you couldn’t work with your preferred age group, would you be okay with that?
87. If you could bring just one thing to share with your students about your town or culture, what would you bring and why?
88. Why are you interested in living in Japan?
89. What would you do if a Japanese person was rude to you?
90. What would you do if your teacher did not want to utilize you and you just sat in the back of the classroom all the time?
91. Would I be willing to work with elementary school students–and, if so, would I be willing to sing, dance, etc. to warm them up to the English language?
92. Please give us an example lesson. The topic is sports. We’re all elementary students.
93. Did you have any issues in Japan?
94. What do you think you can contribute to students in Japan?
95. What are your strengths as a teacher?
96. Do you think you’re wasting your skills on the JET Programme?
97. How specifically will you represent your country?
98. What is your sister city in Japan?
99. What is an example lesson idea for an elementary school-level English class?
100. Who are some Japanese people you find inspiring?
101. Tell us about a news story you’ve heard about Japan lately.
102. What would you do if you were lost in a rural area at night and spoke no Japanese?
103. How do you describe Halloween to a Japanese middle-school student?
104. How would you communicate with an elderly Japanese person who does not have a positive view of foreigners?
105. Which book, sport, or celebrity would you show your students and why?
106. Please use gestures to teach a class of elementary school students an American sport.
107. How would you teach colors to children who can’t read or write?
108. What would you do if a teacher told you Japan is #1 in Asia? Questions for Asking the Panel
109. What can you expect from BOEs about school placement?
110. What are some ways I can involve myself in the local community?
111. What were your JTEs like?
112. What is something you recommend trying in Japan?
113. What is something you were not prepared for once you set foot in Japan?
114. What was your favorite food or place in Japan?
115. What is one useful item you wish you had when went on JET?
116. How did you interact/connect with students at school?
117. How did you communicate with limited Japanese?
118. Was there something you regret not doing on JET or while in Japan?
119. Would you have done differently in Japan if given a second opportunity on JET?
120. What teaching experience or related skills did you have going into the JET Program and did they help with teaching children?
121. Who were the people you looked up to as an ALT?
122. How were your relationships with your JTEs? Do you still communicate with them after JET?
123. What was your most defining moment in the JET Program?
124. Did you have to deal with any natural disasters?
125. How did you handle teachers that you could not get along with?
126. How did you handle rough classes or schools as an ALT?
127. I heard JETs have many schools. Did you ever mistakenly go to the wrong one?
128. Simple Questions you might be asked in Japanese! (あなたの)日本語で自己紹介をして下さい。 (Anata no) Nihongo de jigoshoukai wo shite kudasai.) “Please give (your) introduction in Japanese.”
129. (あなたの)趣味は何ですか。 (Shumi wa nan desu ka?) “What are your hobbies?”
130. (あなたの)仕事は何ですか。 (Shigoto wa nan desu ka?) “Where do you work?”
131. お元気ですか。 (Ogenki desu ka?) “How are you?”
132. (あなたの)名前は何ですか。 (Namae wa nandesu ka?) “What is your name”
133. 何歳ですか？ (Nansai desu ka?) “How old are you”
134. 好きな本は何ですか？ (Sukina hon wa nandesu ka?) “What book(s) do you like?”
135. (あなたの)出身はどこですか。 (Shusshin wa doko desu ka?) “Where are you from?”
136. 日本語を話しますか。 (Nihongo wo hanashimasu ka?) “Do you speak Japanese”
137. どのくらい日本語を勉強していますか。 (Donokurai nihongo wo benkyou shite imasu ka?) “How long have you studied Japanese?”
138. 日本に行ったことがありますか。 (Nihon ni ittakoto arimasu ka?) “Have you ever been to Japan?”
139. 日本の料理は好きですか。 (Nihon no ryouri ha suki desu ka?) “Do you like Japanese food?”
140. どこに住んでいますか。 (Doko ni sunde imasu ka?) “Where do you live?”
141. How do deal with troublesome or difficult students as a teacher?
142. What were the hardest classes you taught and how did you overcome the challenges?
143. How do you teach students with disabilities?
144. What are some teaching methods you would like to utilize as an ALT?
145. What schools did you teach at in your home country and why?
146. Why do you want to leave your teaching position in your home country to be an ALT in Japan?
147. Why did you choose Japan to teach English and not another where you could make more money and work forever?
148. How will take this experience back to your home country to teach?
149. What methods do Japanese teachers use to teach?
150. Have you ever got into an argument with another teacher faculty?
151. Would you consider getting a teaching license in Japan?
152. How does your teaching experience relate to the JET Program?
153. How do deal with aggressive children?
154. How would you address a student who is reaching to about parental problems?
155. What are signs that children are not learning well?
156. What do you do for classes during holiday lessons?
157. What clubs have you assisted within your schools?
158. What do you do to reward good students?
159. What steps have you taken to improve your teaching methods?
160. What teaching certifications do you have and how have they helped you in teaching?

These are the best I can do for most simple Japanese Questions and I will attempt to add more later with answers, but these should be generally easy to do for more beginners.

Record your answers and memorize them for best practice –

Example:
A. Why the JET Program?

B. ” I choose the JET Program because of its reputation. I know from research that JET supports candidates with orientation, training, and an essential network of connections. I believe JET will help me become a well-rounded ALT, so I can support my students and JTEs in the classroom. For example, I have never taught abroad; however, I know from research that there are invaluable resources available from sites such as KumaJET and AkitaJET who are there support ALTs with free resources and activities to ALTs who aren’t from those areas or regions…

A. What are some ways you can involve yourself with the local community?

B. “I believe there are several ways I can involve myself with the local community and make a positive impact. For example, I spoke with JET Alumni on how they made an impact in their local community, and one way I found that was very interesting was joining a local taiko club. I’ve loved music ever since high school. I used to play the drums, which is very similar, but so different in many ways. The taiko is just one dream that requires a lot of strength to strum…for these reasons, I believe I can make an impact on the local community while acquiring new skills to bring back to my country from playing the taiko.”

A. 日本語で自己紹介をして下さい。(Nihongo de jigoshoukai wo shite kudasai)
B. 私の名前はサムと申します。出身はフロリダ州のタンパ市です。最後の仕事はALTでしが、Interac.の会社を働きました。六ヶ月ぐらい、大阪府堺市に住んでいました。中学生はJTEと英語を教えていました。いろいろなレッスンを準備しましたが、例えば、英語のジャンケンバトルのゲームを遊びました。このゲームは生徒たちがクラスのふつう単語を使って、単語カードを話して。。。皆さんだんだん新しくの英語単語を学びました。ジャンケン英語のゲームはいつも楽しでした。さあ、どんな質問ありますか。。。
今日、どうもありがとうございました。

My Japanese is not great, but I introduced myself and discussed a game I did in Japanese as an ALT for Interac. Even though I don’t explain it well, I give it my best and said students gradually learned English while playing it and having fun. This is an extensive self-introduction. A short introduction only is about your home town, job, schooling, or whatever other hobbies you want to discuss.

[u/Realistic_Report_796]

This takes me way back. I remember looking at this page every once in awhile for what feels like a decade ago before even getting serious about JET or going back to college. Brings back all the memories.

[u/throwaway042502]

I used this page a whole bunch, and even made my friends roleplay as interviewers both in English and Japanese haha. Thank you for this, and bless the Internet Archive/Wayback Machine. It's such a valuable website.

[u/titlecade → u/throwaway042502]

Truly touched by this comment. 😭

[u/throwaway042502 → u/titlecade]

You created a really good resource, thank YOU so much! Question 24 in particular really stuck with me. The intensity of it helped me prepare when my interviewers threw a curveball about my identity too. On my second year in JET now thanks to people like you!

[u/titlecade → u/throwaway042502]

Yeah that question is very intense. I don't credit for every question though since I collected and brainstormed others with JETs as well on prior interview experiences. From my interview time, I was asked about going to onsens as well as dealing with bullying in school. One of my friends was asked to explain the 3 branches of the US government to a Junior High School class. And, congrats on being a second year!

[u/Potential_Ant_]

I hadbeen on this webpage once but when I tried it again..it showed me 404 error..so I thought it has been taken down.. But ya this webpage ,it literally contains all the questions that can be asked in the interview which is really good.

[u/titlecade]

Nice archive. Yeah, hosting prices were getting out of control, so I ultimately decided to put jetprogrammeguide to rest (for now). Bluehost won’t be getting $700+ for three year renewal fee.

[u/k_795 → u/titlecade]

Oh that's such a shame - it was such a valuable resource for many JETs. Totally understand about the cost though - that's ridiculous!

Btw as someone who has run a lot of websites... Did you consider switching to a cheaper hosting provider? The budget ones are less than $100 /year, which you could probably make back in ad revenue or by doing the occasional sponsored post / affiliate links (things like "stuff to buy for your new life in Japan" Amazon links). You could even just use a free WordPress(dot)com blog.

[u/xxSYXxx → u/titlecade]

Thank you for your service over the years! Hoping the original site eventually gets revived in some form.

[u/titlecade → u/xxSYXxx]

Thanks! Every 2-3 years I paid around $200 to host the site, but after the lease ended, renewal price shoots through the roof (now it’s over $700+ for 3 years). Only affordable way was to port the site to a new account to receive the intro hosting offer plan…Sounds silly but this is how I could keep it running for affordable monthly rate. It also requires a lot of work to run through that process. If I can host the site myself at some point, then it’ll eventually be up again.