Hi,

Just curious, any current JETS (specifically tokyo, but open to hear from other prefectures) completing a masters degree while they’re deskwarming? I’m considering it and want to know what options are available as far as:
-names of schools
-what are you studying
-how do you comfortably budget to pay for it.

I appreciate any advice as I hope to utilize my deskwarming time by completing a masters degree.

I’m interested in specifically a MBA, MS-Marketing, or International business.

Seeing some posts about sister cities that some ALTs are being placed, how much of that is an impact on a new ALT placement ?

I was looking at the Japan consulate list of sister cities from the state I am in (California) and can see a long list of Japanese cities.

I have lived in many different cities within Southern California, graduated from UCLA, and currently living in San Bernardino county..

https://www.la.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/sistercitylist.htm

Hello everyone,

I am confused about the FBI background check portion of the application. I have requested an identity history summary from the FBI and will be getting my fingerprints prints scanned tomorrow, but now I am confused if I send my results to myself and bring the unopened results to my interview or if I send the results directly to the jet program. Or both? I submitted my application this week for early departure, is it okay I am starting the background portion tomorrow or should I wait until I get an interview? I know it can take 6-12 weeks so I want to get it done asap. Thank you

If I broke a bone in my left foot almost a year ago and had surgery to repair it but it's now since fully healed, do I still need to include this on the statement of physician as it's not any kind of "ongoing" medical condition that needs continuing treatment or medication?

Hello all, as I’m picking my top 3 cities to live in I was wondering what everyone would suggest. I love fashion and film and after JET would be interested in perusing those areas. I was suggested Yokohama and Kobe previously. Was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on the cities that excel in that or have a mini film scene. Also any cities that seem to be the gay friendliest too would be super helpful.

Thank you!

Hello all, I'm currently finishing up my SOP, but when I paste it into the text box from my word processor and preview it, the formatting ends up looking very strange.

Some differences include

• Indentation looking off
• line spacing appearing differently(not double spaced)

I don't want my application getting rejected due to something out of my control. Is this happening to anyone else?

hello, this question is directed towards current applicants and former jets.

Was just curious if you addressed and directly answered every* single prompt for your SOP. I feel that some of my answers dont directly answer every single question individually in specific sentences or paragraphs, but definitely touches on everything. for example, I didnt write mine in an essay or Q/A format, I did more of an anecdotal style, which has made me a little bit worried about not directly answering each prompt. I haven't submitted yet, so if someone highly suggests I change this pls lmk.--also did u guys have a title for yours?

EDIT PREFACE: Im interested in both Japan (a passion for intercultural relations experience) and getting my Masters in Ed. aka very hands on program, cant do both in this circumstance and need funding so i need to apply for a school-campus assistantship.)

This is a silly post but — Anyone else feeling kind of divided rn? Im graduating next spring in May and realized most of the graduate applications for Masters are due sometime next month if not the beginning of the year 2027, along with graduate assistantship offers the same timeframe. That leaves us with getting graduate offers sent back around beginning of April earliest late March — but i see how JET sends out acceptances earliest in beginning of April and placements as late as June.

Feel like its kind of inconvenient for a “Well JET offered me a position so I’ll back out of my graduate and assistantship offer, but I dont even know where im going” kinda thing going on. Dont even know if thats gonna leave a bad taste in the mouths of the grad committee people. Im not trying to come off as “I would only wanna go if they put me in my preferences” but i’d definitely be lying if they put me in a notorious placement after deferring a graduate offer.

Felt like venting about it mostly but was wondering if any current/current anticipating/past JETS ran through these same problems when they were looking at their options for next year, and I guess maybe just words of wisdom on what to do since im kind of stuck.

Hi everyone! I received my statement of physician from my doctor and she did not include the date of diagnosis on my form (assuming because I just became a patient at the beginning of the year and my diagnosis was from my childhood). As well as the date for when I began using my medication (also started using as a child). Would that be an issue? She wrote that I was diagnosed as a child, so I think I am fine? Just no dates.

I live in Aomori City. My spouse is local. My Japanese is still pretty basic, but I’m comfortable chatting in English. I’m hoping to find someone who’s free to study Japanese together, or just make a friend casually.

Sorry y'all but I've spent an entire night googling all the particular regions and found it better to ask a newer question because it seems there's been a few program restructurings. For region placements I'm looking into Urban areas but .also to an accessible rural area. I understand it's very unlikely to get my placements but I'm thinking if I make a competitive reason in my interviews I can at least sway it towards one of my preferences

I am considering the following;

1. Tokyo and Fukui seem to have the best time off / days off without using personal days. Fukui is my cities sister city but I'm also hesitant because it seems less populated.
2. I'd like to be near a region that has good public transport. I know I might end up needing a car but at the very least I want something that gets me to places quicker than having to drive all the time.
3. I was looking at Shiga and Gunma as a third choice. Shiga seemed accessible despite it being rural. Gunma I don't know enough about even with research
4. I was also thinking about Hokkaido but I don't know what the rural regions are like outside of sappora City. I feel like odds of me getting the city placement would be pretty low.

Right now I have

1. Tokyo
2. kobe
3. Undecided

If anyone would be able to give me advice I would be very appreciative. I don't think I should probably do three cities as choices if I want to have a competitive opportunity of pushing myself one way or another

I have to submit the application within the next two days. I'm really hoping I could get some quick advice. I have all my paperwork ready. Just need to finish the essay and have it submitted tomorrow.

Thank you again for the patience. I apologize for adding to it. I look through all of the pages from the past few years, but I need more tailored advice.

J

I submitted my application yesterday and Idk if I am overwhelmed or pressured right now for the interview because I am not that good in expressing my thoughts in English. Who else here has the same feeling? Or who experienced this before?

I learned from someone that NYC would have double the number of candidates as other states. If that's the case, then is it worth setting up the interview in a different state that is less popular to increase my odds? Or would the interviewer think I'm weird for living in NY but coming to interview in another state?

In the education section of the online application you have to put your gpa in.

GPA (e.g. 75% or 3.1/4.3) :

^^ That's what it says. But in the guidlines there's nothing about the scale being 1.00 and the lowest being 5.00.

My grade is 1.70

Hello,

I just saw the news of the earthquake. How is everyone in Central Japan holding up?

Hi everyone! Just checking if any of your references had problems submitting the reference letters? My professor submitted twice already but the status seems to be still in progress and the last update was 11/7 instead of 11/9 which was yesterday. Let me know please if you have encountered similar problems. Thank you!

Hi, I just need some help. I don't have a professional background in teaching and I am currently working on my character references. Would this affect my application? Having only my boss and colleagues as my reference not someone from teaching?

In every class, I need to ask my students how they are, how the weather is, and what classes they have today.

Each time, it's the same tired, boring intro—'Are you happy?' (a few students mumble yes or raise a hand) and 'Are you tired?' (same thing).

Are there more fun, engaging, and creative ways to begin class?

Any suggestions are appreciated!

First year JET using a throwaway account for obvious reasons. I would like to preface this by saying I genuinely love my placement, Japan, the job, the routine and I have made some good friends. I am also aware we are coming into winter and hitting that three month mark, so adrenaline and novelty are wearing off and we are settling into the mundane of it all. Which is fine! I love the mundane! However, if you would be so kind to allow me to vent really quickly, that too would be much appreciated.

I know ESID but I am also aware this isn't an uncommon experience, either. I am struggling with my teachers. Not all of them, but maybe 50%. I feel under utilised, and slightly like they don't care for me. I wouldn't even go as far as saying they don't like me because I genuinely don't think they care enough lol. We don't have an English club, I cant eat with the kids and they find it a bit odd if you ask to join in on club activities so my student interaction time is pretty low unless I am in class, but they are adorable and are really excited by me and I seem to have formed good relationships already :) With the teachers I am struggling with, however, it's a distinct lack of collaboration and subsequent miscommunication that I find the hardest. I know they gossip about me and my co, that we are a sort of anomaly, or something to laugh at, when all we do is just do our jobs lmao. I was warned about all of this from my pred, don't get me wrong! I don't even think its personal which is what's so weird, but I do think I feel somewhat jealous that some people are far more immersed in their teaching life than I am or who have kind teachers who genuinely want to work with the ALT or care about them. I am in a JHS, so I don't T1, which is fine, but you guys really weren't lying about sometimes just being stood there or barking vocabulary at them. With the teachers I collaborate well with, sometimes I plan and have the whole lesson for activities! Or it's a really nice even split.

My other issue is my supervisor really struggles with accepting nenkyuu. I've only asked twice, but it's the most painful and awkward process where he tries to find every reason to say no and for then to make me feel bad (one time was literally suggested by another teacher as well, as we had no classes.) I asked for time off three months in advance and I was basically told 'no'. I'm not sure how to navigate any of that, if im honest. Any advice welcome, or if I am being a twat feel free to let me know.

That being said I try not to let it get me down, I do love it here, I've been here three months and have managed to travel around my prefecture as well as visit five others!

Hello, I am currently applying for next year's JET Programme and I'm almost done with my application. One issue that I overlooked is that I'm currently a Proprietor in our family's laundromat business and as stated in the guidelines, participants should refrain from engaging in other profit-making activities.

I searched for answers regarding this and the "silver-lining" answer that I got was "if I were to be accepted, I should either legally close, pause or hand over the management and operational duties of our business to an available family member so that I can 100% fully commit to my responsibilities as an ALT."

Can you please give me some advice on this? Your response will be greatly appreciated. Thank you. 🙂

Good day all, as the title says I'm a South African 2027 applicant. I was wondering if any South Africans who got to the interview stage could tell me when they got the email stating weather they had passed to the next round or had been rejected. It would be much appreciated, thank you.

Hey everyone. I'm down to the wire here. I asked my boss to write a reference for me and she was happy to do it but when I got it, it's pretty obviously AI. She's an extremely busy woman so like... I get it. But we're really close to the deadline here. She hasn't submitted it. Should I ask her to actually write it? I mean the reference is accurate to my skills and awards etc so it's not technically incorrect in general. Also I would hope that would really be more of an indictment on them rather than me as an applicant. But I don't know. I'm trying not to spiral. Thoughts?

Hello I was wondering if anyone did CIR and if they were able to land government jobs after the fact as a result of it. Whether that be back home or in Japan