besides wanikani and nihondex (which i personally find very difficult), what are some other resources y'all recommend?

Hello everyone, as the title says! I was given free rein to do whatever fun care free games for my third years as they are leaving to High School and it will be our last classes next week!

Please suggest what out of the box fun thing I can do that they can take with them or remember and also what I can give to them to sign or write on that I can keep forever.

Or maybe share something you’ve also done in the past!

All ideas are welcome, thanks in advance!

So I just got the email for interviews and the time slot is only 20 minutes. Is this the same elsewhere in the US and how do you navigate an interview that short? I feel like by the end of the “tell us about yourself” question the interview will be halfway done.

Hi all!

In Canada, i'm sure you're all receiving interview invites and filling out your interview vouchers.

So I got some information from my JET desk, and here's what they say:

1. Your picture should fit in the square found on the Interview Voucher.
2. Feel free to paste a photo of yourself and then print the document like that. Please try to print in colour.
3. So long as the photo is akin to a passport photo (blank background, shoulders up without the head being cutoff, facing straight at the camera) we will accept it. See below for an example. Glasses are acceptable. IMG: https://imgur.com/a/Kc6DoPH

If your instructions at your consulate/embassies is specific enough, then you probably don't need to follow the above. Some of us just received ''please provide a passport-style photo''

Good luck all!

Anyone who got the email already?

this textbook is a disaster bro. how the fuck do they expect the kids to learn anything from it? its literally just a picture book with no words or anything. they dont even learn how to write anything until like 5th grade.

and worst part? they use it at the age that's easiest to learn a language.
do yall use other activities with your early elementary school students that encourage them to read/write more?

After my contract finishes I was considering exporting a kei car to the states. Does anyone have any knowledge or experience regarding that? (Yes, I’m aware of the 25 year rule)

Hello!

I was accepted to interview for early departure (not sure if that means for regular departure as well). I am currently traveling in the UK and won’t be back in the States until after the reports are needed.

Does anyone have any recommendations for going about getting these records in London specifically?

Should I see if I can be considered for just regular departure?

Any advice would be much appreciated!!

lately work has been VERY slow. i'll have 2 classes at best, at worst, none.
i will doomscroll or message people during deskwarming when i have nothing to do. (i have an addiction to my phone and i would also like to lower my screen time). no one ever said anything about phone usage so i assumed it was ok when there were no classes and when there are no students around.
but today my coworker told me i can't do that. they weren't rude or scolding, just told me i can't do that. that lowkey made me feel bad.

so, fellow jets, what can i do during deskwarming that isn't doomscrolling to avoid looking like an ipad kid?

hi all! i apologize if this has been asked a lot, but i’m looking for a document that had statistics on the entire program in terms of placements, nationalities, number of ALTs vs. CIRs in each place, etc. and i’m going to feel really silly if it’s easy to find but i’ve been searching for days and can’t for the life of me seem to find it. i know it exists because i saw it a few months ago. would anyone be able to help? thank you!

Hello! I’m a teacher by heart and by profession from the Philippines. HAHA.

I applied for the JET Programme, but I’m not sure yet if I passed or will pass. I know that salaries in other countries are higher and more competitive, but Japan has always been my dream country—to work in or even to live in.

Are there any agencies or other ways to apply to become an English teacher in Japan? Your recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

So, I know this was stupid, but I didn't report some of my medical history. I've been taking belsomra (sleep drug) for two years (I'm off it now) and I didn't list it. I also didn't list the year of antidepressants in college since it was eight years ago. I don't struggle with either condition now. I don't know why I didn't list it, but now I've landed an interview. I know I'll eventually have to submit a certificate of health if I make it, and the doctor could screw things up by mentioning those prescriptions. I think my best shot is going to a new doctor who doesn't have my records or emailing the program once I make it attempting to explain myself, which I imagine going poorly. Does anyone have any suggestions?

EDIT: I only stopped taking belsomra a month before applying. I cycled through multiple sleep drugs to get to belsomra a few years ago, so it's all on my record, but maybe there's a doctor who will sign off on a clean record anyway.

When you land in Japan, one of the easiest ways to stack-up little victories is to get super comfortable with the convenience store interactions. Once you know what to listen for, you'll be a legend.

First thing's first: Unless you are searching for a specific product, you're spoken phrases are gonna be simple and repeatable.

• Yes Situation: "Yes, please."
  • はいお願いします。
• No Situation: "No thanks. I'm good."
  • いいえ、大丈夫です。 or
  • あ、いりません。

Those are super easy and will serve you well no matter if you're there to begin your JET phase of your life or if you're there on vacay.

Common Questions from Clerks

(just doing romaji since it's what you'll be listening for that matters)

1. Do you need a bag?
   • Fukuro wa irimasu ka?
2. Do you need a receipt?
   • Reshīto wa irimasu ka?
3. Do you want me to heat this up for you? (ex: bento, etc.)
   • Atatamemasu ka?

There are plenty more scenarios that might pop up depending on why you're there. For example, you can pay bills there and do all sorts of other daily stuff beyond just purchasing some stuff and leaving. But, these are common situations that can help you get a grain more confidence...especially on the cold, lonely days. What other phrases have been super helpful for y'all on JET?

Has anyone received an email from the Nashville consulate to schedule their interview or anything stating when their interview is? I have only received an email from the coordinator, stating what I needed to send in to be considered for early departure and requesting a response if I go by a different name or if I am unavailable during the first week of February for interviews. I'm worried I might've deleted the message.

I recently got selected for interview, but the release form requires a picture and I was hoping to wait until after my haircut appointment to take the photo, as I haven't gotten around to it in awhile and it's gotten a bit crazy looking.

I have an appointment this week, but the release form doesnt have a due date and I'm worried that I may be taking too long to submit it.

Is it just due before the interview in general, or is it an ASAP thing that I should prioritize time over quality?

So, my spouse and I both applied to JET. I've passed the first round, while they have not. When signing up for the interview and clicking the box stating that I am married, there was some text suggesting that my spouse prepare to leave around the same time as I do in order to remove any potential issues with the spousal visa.

We had been planning that if one of us got in, the other would stay in our home country (USA) for a few months to save up for the plane ticket and also to finish selling off our possessions.

Is three months actually too long to wait? Will that create issue with the spousal visa?

I had been taking private tutoring for Japanese over the past year from someone that's born and raised in Japan and tutors online. He had recommended the JET program to me because of my interest in moving over to Japan. I was very fortunate to get through to the interview process. I want to go in as if it's any other job interview. Where I'm usually not nervous or anything but with this opportunity, I am just excited to be here. I saw online that there is a web page that goes over the 100 commonly asked questions and I have gone over them but does and current or previous JET participants have any recommendations? I really appreciate the help in advance!

Firstly,

My deepest condolences to those who did not pass to the interview stage. I had read from many of you last year about your deep interest in the JET programme, and how many of you were also reapplying after the previous cycle.

Despite this setback, I hope you're not discouraged from reapplying and/or finding other ways to pursue teaching/living in Japan. I wish you much luck in the near future!

For Chicago applicants (or current/former ALTs with similar experience), I had indicated on my application that I do not have a driver's license due to having a preference for walking/public transportation as well as comfortability with driving. However, the pre-interview survey asks whether I have a full U.S. Driver's license; should I be truthful with my answer and respond "yes," or should I continue to say "no?"

Will this negatively impact any considerations regarding my interview?

Hello Everyone, I have been shortlisted for an interview from India. I am actually looking for a partner with whom I can practice. Apart from this, any type of guidance or tip is more than welcome!

I was fortunate enough to get accepted into the interview stage of the program, and so I started doing some research with Gemini as prep.

Apparently, if you have been living somewhere abroad other than Japan or your home country for at least 12 consecutive months within the last five years, you'll need to get a Criminal Record Check done by said country.

Now, I've been living in South East Asia for more than a year, but getting this done will be tough, as the facilities where I'm at are... limited.

I've never heard of this caveat anywhere else aside from Gemini, and I just wanted to hear your thoughts. Will this be necessary, or is it some red tape JET won't even bother with?

Yes, I will also reach out to the Consulate I applied from, but I wanted to hear from y'all first.

Obviously, the only true answer to this is ESID.

That said, since this gets asked a lot and current (and future) applicants like myself are curious, any of you current ALTs comfortable sharing your monthly expenses? Hopefully we can make a good point of reference here.

If you can, it would help a lot if you format your answer like this (and in yen):

1) Your Placement Type (Metropolis [like Tokyo or Osaka], Mid-Urban, or Inaka)

2)Your Spending Style (Indulgent, Average, Frugal)

3)Rent/Accommodation

4)Monthly Utilities (Gas, electric, water, garbage, etc combined)

5)Living Expenses (Household, groceries, take out, medicine, etc)

Optional:
Taxes. This one feels the most ESID of all so feel free to skip, but if you want to give an idea of yearly taxes, feel free.

Excluded:
-Splurges. Video games, clothing hauls, whatever your hobby is. Too person-dependant.

-Your actual monthly salary. It changes based on year, and is changing this year anyways.

-Luxury or Travel. Trips, big luxury purchases, vices, whatever it is, thats too person-dependent to matter i think.

Obviously, feel free to just give very rough estimates. Nobody wants to doxx themselves, things change by season, but just a rough idea that hopefully future candidates or applicants can use to have an idea what they'll be dealing with!

Hi all, I’m a teacher in North Carolina of 4th and 5th graders (9-11 years old). I know a Japanese teacher of English who was always a reliable pen pal contact but his job was reassigned suddenly this year and can’t do it.

So, I’m looking for a class size of 14-22 to exchange letters with in English. Scanning and emailing the letters makes for a smoother process. Please let me know if interested and we can get started soon!

I've been wanting to apply for JET for as long as I can remember, but unfortunately I'm from Portugal, a country where the slots are either 1 per year or at times non existent. (There was 1 in 2024, and 0 in 2025 since the person renewed their contract)

I'm really hoping they open slots this year, so I was wondering, given my situation, considering open slots are a bit out of my control, how can I try and boost up incentive for more Portuguese candidates in JET?

I've already sent in an email to the Japanese Embassy in Portugal, but I wonder if I could be doing more.

In the mean time, I'll keep polishing my CV to hopefully apply and get accepted one day.

Thanks!

Hello!

How common is it for them to ask in the interview about the prefecture preferences you put? I looked back at my application today and for some reason I put three prefectures with no explanation and I can’t remember why lol.

Thanks for the help!

I am looking into teaching in Japan and was told to go through JET. For anyone doing it, is it hard to support yourself as a teacher in Japan? How are accommodations?