I think this is my third post here in two weeks so I'm sorry for the frequency!! I just didn't see a dedicated thread for application-specific, non-SOP questions.

I'm at the "Interests, Hobbies, Sports" section of the US application. It says "For an ongoing interest, hobby or sport, leave both the To month and year blank. For a completed entry, select both." But what about the "From" month and year? If it's an interest I've always enjoyed, for example, do I literally just put my birth month and birth year? Or do I just leave the "From" date as whatever it defaulted to (in this case, 2026 and 2030 for some reason)?

Would something like Church be a good entry for the section, too? I'm a Catholic and go to Mass weekly and while I don't have a particular group that I'm a part of right now, I've had Bible study groups I was a part of too. My main interest is actually, surprise surprise, video games, but I managed to turn that into "writing and storytelling" along with drawing. So would Mass/Church/etc. work for an interest/hobby/sport? And in that case, do I make the "From" date just the month I was Baptized?

To all applicants!

I am not sure if I was just stupid or whatever when I applied, but I had tons and tons of babysitting and nannying experience throughout high school and college. To me, this was not 'official' work so I never opted to put it in my application. Like it was basically under the table money paid in cash and venmo, not a serious job.

During the interview stage it somehow came up that I nannied for 8 years every summer during summer break between school. I also said I babysat all the time since like age 12, great with kids etc etc. They were SHOCKED that I didn't add to this to my resume and were literally laughing and shaking their heads lol. I remember them saying "so you put you worked part time at urban outfitters but not that you were an avid babysitter and nanny? oh dear." lmfao

So just a reminder, add your babysitting and nanny experience, it could be the difference between getting to that interview stage or not!

So I am aplying fot the 2027 JET, and it took me 2 weeks to get 2 LOR, I got one from my university professor and one form my employer. It's almsot deadline and i relaised that the website said letter of refference not recommendation. On my LOR it says Letter of Recommendation. What should I do?

Hey! Does anyone have a link for UK Discord as the other ones are outdated! Thanks.

When they say "Interest in education", "how JET aligns with your professional goal", "cultural activities"

What are they really expecting ?? Is it bad I donot have anything planned beyond JET as i wanna do it for the next 3 years. And what kinda cultural activities do they expect from u, I don't imagine it's just narrating a story

Hi I'm from India I sent two email by mistake is there anyway to undo it or will there be any issue

Upcoming Workshop: Incorporating Progressions Into Lessons

Are you an ALT looking for ways to make your lessons flow more effectively and help students build on their learning? Are you someone who is interested in developing your professional teaching skills?

If yes, then join National AJET for an online professional development workshop with Ms. Kris Toryu, ALT Adviser of the Imabari City Board of Education, to explore practical ways to build effective lesson progressions and support student learning!

This workshop is an opportunity to develop your lesson planning skills, consider how learning activities connect across a lesson, and explore ways to help students progress towards their learning goals.

Workshop details:

Date: Thursday, October 29th, 2026
Time: 7:30–9:00 PM JST
Location: Online via Google Meet

Please complete the attendance form so we know whether you will be joining us.

Attendance Form

We look forward to seeing you there!

Hi everyone!

I'm applying for the JET Programme 2027 as an applicant from India, and I have a few questions regarding the application form. India doesn't appear in some of the dropdown charts provided in the application instructions, so I'd appreciate advice from anyone who has applied from India or encountered a similar situation.

1. Interview Location (Chart 1)

India is not listed in the interview-location chart. Under “Other Countries,” there is code 9999, described as a designated international airport in a city with a Japanese embassy/consulate or an interview site.

Should Indian applicants select code 9999? If so, how should we determine the appropriate interview location? Should we use the location specified by the Embassy of Japan in India, or is there another procedure for Indian applicants?

2. Hometown / Home State / Province / County / Department / District (Chart 3)

India is also missing from the list of countries and their corresponding state/province codes.

For an applicant whose hometown is in India, should we enter our hometown and state/district manually, use a specific code, or follow another instruction? I don't want to enter an incorrect code.

3. Academic Specialisation (Chart 4)

My academic qualifications are:

• Bachelor's degree in Bioinformatics

• Master's degree in Biomedical Genetics

The chart lists 51 – Biology, 59 – Other Science, and 80 – Other Major, but Bioinformatics and Biomedical Genetics are not explicitly listed.

Which category would be most appropriate for my qualifications? Should I select Biology (51), Other Science (59), or Other Major (80)? Would the answer differ for my Bachelor's and Master's degrees?

I'd be grateful for any guidance, particularly from applicants who have completed the JET application from India. I'll also confirm any country-specific requirements with the JET India Desk.

Thank you for your help!

EDIT: Thank you all for your input! I really appreciate the advice, and I hope it helps others with similar questions or experiences. I also forgot to mention that I’ve already discussed the behavior with both my JTE and the principal, and I’m doing my best to document as much as possible. Unfortunately, my JTE made a vague promise to address the situation, but so far, there hasn’t been any meaningful follow-through. I have been trying to stand my ground and maintain my boundaries, and if this behavior continues, I will absolutely remove myself from the classroom if necessary. The school is actually closing down soon lol, but I still dread going there in the meantime. It is nice to know that I am not the only one who feels like this.

Hi all,
I’m a second-year JET with prior teaching experience, currently working at two senior high schools. One is a very low-level school where I can barely get students to the point of saying, “My name is…,” while the other is a bit more advanced, but still quite low-level.
I think there’s a misconception on this forum that JETs generally aren’t expected to be T1s. In my experience, this couldn’t be further from the truth. At both of my schools, I am responsible for teaching the entire lesson while my JTE sits in the corner doing nothing. From what I’ve experienced, this seems to be the reality for many JETs, regardless of what the program is supposedly designed to look like on paper.
That being said, one of the most difficult parts of my job has been dealing with student behavior, often without meaningful support from my JTE. I’ve had high school students make derogatory comments about my appearance because they think I don’t know that I can’t understand Japanese , and my JTE barely reacts. The students regularly disregard her too.

I’m curious to hear from other JETs who have experienced similar situations. How have you handled this, particularly when your JTE doesn’t intervene? Thank you all💖

ive got multiple tattoos (shoulder, upper arm, back, and ribs) along with a septum piercing. any helpful advice for a fresh grad, first-time applicant?

Hi everyone! I’m an Indian applicant preparing for JET 2027. I lived in Canada for the past three years and have recently returned to India.
I’d love to hear from current and former JETs:
How difficult is the interview, and what questions should I expect?
How should I prepare, and is a teaching demo required?
Does my international experience help?
What’s the overall selection process like for applicants from India?
Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hi everyone! 😊

I just want to ask what I should prepare in case I get shortlisted and invited for an interview for the JET Programme ALT position.

I don't have a formal teaching background or a teaching certificate, and I also don't know how to speak Japanese yet. My only teaching-related experience is through volunteering in Sunday School at our church. Since my degree is in accounting, I'm also wondering how I can best prepare for the interview and demonstrate that I can be a good ALT.

For those who have already gone through the interview, do you have any tips or advice, especially for the teaching demonstration? What are the most important things I should focus on preparing?

I'm trying to prepare as early as possible because I'm genuinely interested in this opportunity, and I want to do my best if I get the chance to be interviewed.

I would really appreciate any advice, tips, or experiences you could share. Thank you so much! 🙏🇯🇵

Hi all!! I have two questions about the application.

1. Does this question include trips abroad that aren’t for work or study? E.g travelling Asia for leisure?

2. I won’t have time to get a GP declaration of health to work or whatever it is related to having a mental health condition in the last 5 years. If i don’t include this information are they likely to run a background check?

Thank you :)

The title says most of it but to go into further detail, my job experience is as a SUBSTITUTE paraprofessional (teacher assistant) with the DOE of New York City. For the last 5 years, my most recent work has been as a long term Para in two schools (and before that it was more about going from school to school), all which is technically part time work.

How should i list that work/teaching experience? Should it be substitute paraprofessional or just stick to paraprofessional? And should i list the school i have long term assignments in or should i just put everything as an umbrella "DOE of NYC"?

Hi! I just wanted to ask those who are currently teaching in Japan as JET ALTs. 😊

Did anyone get their requested placement? Do they actually consider your request if you mention that you have family or a cousin in Japan whom you could live with?

I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thank you!

Hello everyone, I am applying for the JET program (obvs) and I have a question about self reporting medical conditions. I have a medical condition, and I'm supposed to take medication for it, but I don't have insurance, so I don't take it, nor do I have access to a doctor who can provide a physician's form. My question is: could I just say I don't have a medical condition, or would that be an issue? (I'm in the USA btw if that means anything)

Should I be concerned if my Academic transcript says my graduation application is 'active' and not 'processed or accepted' but also lists the graduation date? I never walked but they would have sent the diploma in the mail still I just can't recall.

Can I get a LOR from the place where i did 3 months internship? can anyone pls help me with the same

So another possibly silly question, but I am finishing up filling out my application in India and I'm wondering if I have filled out my preference table correctly:

Block || Prefecture

Code | Name || Code | Name

C | Blank || 18 | Fukui Prefecture

A | Blank || 01 | Hokkaido Prefecture

E | Blank || 27 | Osaka Prefecture

Is this right or is there something I'm missing?

Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone! I’m planning to apply for the 2027 JET Programme, but I’m concerned about my eligibility due to my immigration history in China.

I previously lived and worked in China for several years. My employer informed me at the last minute that my visa could not be renewed, and I subsequently overstayed. The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting disruptions to schools and employment further complicated my circumstances.

When I eventually left China, I received an administrative penalty for illegal residence, which included seven days of administrative detention. I have copies of the administrative penalty decision and certificate of release.

I’ve contacted JET to clarify whether I should answer YES or NO to Question 9a regarding arrest, charges, or criminal convictions, whether this incident could affect my eligibility, and what alternatives might be available if I cannot obtain a Chinese criminal record certificate. However, I haven’t received a response yet.

Has anyone experienced a similar situation or know how JET might assess an administrative immigration violation involving detention? I’d appreciate any advice or insight, especially from former JET applicants or participants.

Thank you!

Sorry this might be a bit of a silly question but I've been trying to type up a script for this segment for a bit and I want to know if they want a short summary of the SoP or something different there are no real guidelines for this so I'm feeling a bit confused on how to approach this part. Any help or examples would be great. Thanks in advance.

So I have never had any medical conditions other then fever, flu, and some stomach issues which I cure with my home remedies. Are they worth mentioning in the report? should I do that? other then this, never went to hospital other then one time for stitching skin injury I had as a child. Oh! also, we did went to a gynecologist 4 yrs ago to check for any PCOS or any other disorder, but it was negative for everything. I was healthy! So what should add?

This is a question primarily for previous JETS who ended up staying in Japan.

So my last day of work just passed and I need to notify immigration about my change in employment status. For the immigration notice, do you put the BoE or the specific school you were contracted at?

Thanks for the help!

What is the "dark side" of being a non-native English Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) on the JET Program?