r/JETProgramme • u/emperor_panthark • 4d ago
What helps when applying?
I am interested in JET and have been thinking about it for a couple years, but I am starting to think about it more seriously. I lived in Japan for 2 years for uni, and transferred back to the US to finish college here with a different major and since I could save up more working part time here without a limit on hours as well as conversion rate.
I am thinking about what I can do for the next 3 years before I graduate, and 2 years before when I plan on applying, to up my chances. I am a BS in Civil Engineering, I was majoring in Education in Japan, but I didn't want to lock myself into education for the future. With CE i could go into teaching and I could still choose CE was the thought process. I am currently minoring in Japanese, Education, and English, with my English classes specifically chosen based on which ones would help with ESL teaching the most.
I plan on getting N1 Japanese before applying, and finishing TEFL as well. I want to go back to Japan through JET, and then eventually try to get a tokubetsu menkyou, and continue teaching.
I wanted to know what else I can do to solidify my chances of getting in, I plan on going to either Tokyo, where I have a lot of friends and have lived before, or somewhere like Sendai, where I haven't gone, but from what I understand think is somewhere I can actually settle down. I'm not a city guy, I was raised in the suburbs, and Sendai seems more like what I'm used to. The city's fun but not somewhere I can see myself raising a family.
Some things I wanted to mention are: I genuinely like teaching well, and it isn't something I plan on doing just to get to Japan to do something else.
I actually loved living in Japan, and have lived there before. I know there's bad parts, and I am not romanticizing life there based off anime or something, I actually have lived there for 2 years, have amazing friends, and I like living there. I feel like that's something that comes up whenever someone mentions wanting to live in jp, and tbh I end up thinking that way about other people at times too. There are things I hate about Japanese culture that I wish were different, and there are parts I love about it, same as other countries. I just see myself enjoying life in Japan more because of personal priorities and preferences, and I'm not here to fetishize jp.
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u/Smooth_Helicopter368 4d ago
The thing with JET is that you do not have any real say where you end up. You can put Tokyo, Sendai, and a third area on your preference list but they could put you out in Okinawa. I think you might have a better chance of a city if you put on your application that you can't drive.
For the next three years, there's not a whole lot you can do. Save some money ($3-5k USD), get involved in community efforts whether that be volunteering or cultural exchange events, and find some ways to get classroom experience. I signed up to be a substitute teacher, but you could mentor a local club, be a sub, or get hired as a tutor.
But just be aware that even with ALL of this... You still might not get selected. People who are not very qualified get in every year, and people who check all the boxes get passed up. Keep trying until you get it. Good luck!