Japanese Jets

What is the JET Program for teaching English in Japan? The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) is a prestigious initiative, established by the Japanese government more than 30 years ago, aimed at enhancing English language proficiency among Japanese students. Annually, the program recruits approximately 5,000 international participants, placing them in schools across Japan. Beyond its educational goals, JET uniquely prioritizes fostering cultural ties between participants and the Japanese community. Given the competitive salary and array of additional benefits, securing a spot in the JET Program is highly sought-after, making the application process quite competitive. Table of Contents What are the requirements for the JET Program? What teaching positions are available through...  [Read more]

What is the JET Program for teaching English in Japan? The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) is a government backed scheme that has been operating for over 30 years. Every year around 5,000 foreign nationals are placed into schools right across Japan with the intention of raising the language skills of young people. Unlike many similar programs in other countries, the JET Program also has a strong focus on cultural exchange between participants and the local population. Competition for places on the program is generally very tough as successful applicants receive a competitive salary and a range of extra benefits. What are the requirements for the JET Program? The program is open to college graduates up to the age of 40, although its status as primarily a youth culture exchange...  [Read more]

Mon, 15 Oct 2018 Laura Payne Destinations TEFL Information The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program: All You Need to Know and How to Apply The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program is not the only means to teach English in Japan, but it is one of the most popular programs out there both for aspiring teachers and those who wish to pursue other fields. I first joined this program a little over a year ago. In the short time since then, I've gained incredibly valuable experiences through my work as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT). Table of Contents The History of JET Duties of an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) How to Apply for the JET Program Remuneration and Living Rewards of JET Common Challenges for ALTs The JET Community Listen to this blog post What are you waiting...  [Read more]

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 Georgia Payne Destinations TEFL Information Alumni Experiences A Day in the Life of an ALT on the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Programme The unofficial motto of the JET Programme is 'every situation is different (ESID).' This is completely true, and every JET's day looks different depending on whether they work in a public or private school, whether they have co-JETs or are solo, their teaching partner's style, and the school's schedule. I teach in a private junior and senior high school in central Tokyo, where students are aged 12-18. The following is my own experience, but every ALT's (assistant language teacher) experience on the JET Programme is vastly different. Table of Contents Wake up, get ready for school and commute to school 6:30 - 7:50 Home room:...  [Read more]

Alumni TEFL Chat with Maddy & Georgia - Two Aussie Sisters Teaching English in Japan 07/08/2021 all right hi hey everyone hi as you can see it's not only me this week welcome to our live stream we have guests today i'm super happy about it hi maddie hi georgia hello hey so yeah back here another for another week and i'm live on a different day i usually go live on fridays so today is very special and also because we have guests so i'm super happy about that and yeah if you are watching if you can see us if you can hear us please just leave a high in the comments that would be really cool and where you're watching from i'm always really curious about where people are watching from and um yeah i'm in south korea my name is linda from itt if you don't know me and i'm yeah about an hour...  [Read more]

College TEFL Fees Check out tefl tesol about College TEFL Fees and apply today to be certified to teach English abroad. You could also be interested in: This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned: Check out ITTT's Blog Posts A.R. - Japan said: Problems for learners in Japan For many Westerners visiting Japan, the japanese way is simply an awareness that overcomes you while you make your way through the overcrowded streets of Shibuya, or attempt to slurp your first bowl of ramen noodles. However, in the classroom, the japanese way plays a much more significant role. Foreign teachers of English in Japan recognize it as a glass wall that insinuates itself between them and their students; the manifestation...  [Read more]

Thu, 03 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Systematic Problems for Learners of English in Japan Next year, Japan will host the thirty-second Olympiad in the capital city of Tokyo. To correspond with the timing of the 2020 Olympics, Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (hereafter MEXT) has laid out a plan for the reform of English education to meet the future needs of Japanese students in a globalized world. However, this plan presents several challenges for current and future learners of English in the Japanese educational system. Table of Contents Education System Modernization Demand in English-Speaking Professional Teachers JET Program Peculiarities International Examination for Japanese English Learners Do you want to teach English...  [Read more]

Asia Ridley I’m Asia, originally from California, USA and currently living in Nagasaki, Japan. I’m working as an ALT [Assistant Language Teacher] through the JET program [Japanese Exchange and Teaching Programme]. I studied abroad in Japan two years ago and returned to make a career. I am also running a website to share my experiences, favorite places, and information about everything in Japan. It is a platform where I work on my crafts such as photography as well. Read my articles Contributing to the Classroom as an ALT in Japan | ITTT | TEFL Blog Asia Ridley TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Are you interested in teaching English in Japan? Working as an Assistant Language Teacher in a Japanese school is a great way to get move to Japan. This article gives an in-depth look...  [Read more]

Centre Internet TEFL Check out tefl tesol about Centre Internet TEFL and apply today to be certified to teach English abroad. You could also be interested in: This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned: Check out ITTT's Blog Posts A.J. - Japan said: Problems for Learners in JapanEnglish is a compulsory subject in all japanese schools and is studied for a minimum of seven years if not longer. Very few of these students, however, will become proficient enough to be considered at an advanced and in many cases not even an intermediate level. Those few that do excel at English are students that are motivated from outside of the classroom and/or have spent time abroad in a country where English is commonly...  [Read more]

Maddy Payne Madeline is an Australian ESL teacher on the JET Programme in Japan. She has been teaching in Japan for 18 months in a private school in Tokyo and loves sharing Australian culture with her students. As a new ITTT TESOL graduate, she plans to continue using her ESL teaching skills to teach in Europe in the coming years. Read my articles An Australian Amongst American Textbooks in Japan: ✅ Teaching in a Country that Values American English | ITTT | TEFL Blog Maddy Payne Destinations TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Many Japanese schools hold American English in high regard, so what is it like being an Australian-English teacher in Japan? 5 Benefits of Sharing a 17sq-meter Apartment in Tokyo on the JET Program | ITTT | TEFL Blog Maddy Payne Destinations TEFL...  [Read more]

Etienne Van Rooyen My name is Etienne van Rooyen, and I live and work in Hachinohe City, Japan. I'm from the Gold Coast, Australia, and have lived in Japan for over two and a half years and going strong! I work on the JET Programme as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT), teaching at one high school (which is rare for those who have or are working for JET). I graduated with an undergraduate degree in "Langues and Linguistics" with Japanese language studies and English linguistics majors. Alongside teaching, I spend my time staying active with my newfound love of winter sports like skiing and ice hockey. I am also an avid videogame/movie fan, reader, cook and pianist. Read my articles The Three Main Types of High Schools in Japan | ITTT | TEFL Blog Etienne Van Rooyen TEFL Information...  [Read more]

Mon, 13 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Common Challenges in English for Japanese Native Speakers If you ever find yourself driving in French Canada, you will be stopped by stop signs that say 'arrêt', which is stopped in French. Almost all drivers in North America would know that this means stop because it's the same octagon red stop sign. In Japan it's very different, stop signs are triangular with Japanese script on them but, beneath the Japanese, you can find English subtitles which read 'stop'. In fact, if you travel anywhere in Japan, the majority of signs and announcements related to travel are offered in Japanese and English. English has been taught in Japanese schools since the American occupation after World War Two. However, according to an EF English...  [Read more]

The Most Popular TEFL Destinations For Teachers Teaching English in 2021 ✅ What You Need to Know Federico Riva Destinations TEFL Information Are you interested in teaching English abroad or online in 2021? ✅ Our TEFL expert Linda is sharing current trends, predictions, and everything you need to know for teaching English in the coming year. You don't want to miss this! The World of the Fulbright Program for Teaching English Abroad Lulu Johnson Destinations TEFL Information Alumni Experiences The Fulbright program is a great way to travel abroad and work as an English language teacher in an exciting new country. ✅ This article will go over what Fulbright is, their English teaching program, and how to apply to Fulbright in this blog post. Teaching English in Taiwan...  [Read more]

Where can I join a TEFL placement program in Asia? Although teaching jobs can be arranged in Asia once you arrive in your destination of choice, in many countries it is common for jobs to be arranged in advance from within your own country. One area where this is certainly true is if you join a government run placement program. The following are the most popular programs of their kind in Asia. Table of Contents What is the EPIK program for teaching English in South Korea? What are the requirements for the EPIK Program? What does the EPIK Program involve? Where will I be placed on the EPIK Program? What are the benefits of the EPIK Program? What is the TaLK Program for teaching English in South Korea? What are the requirements for the TaLK Program? What does the TaLK Program...  [Read more]

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences My Experience as an Assistant Language Teacher in Japanese Elementary and Junior High Schools I am in my 3rd year of working in the countryside of Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in public elementary and junior high schools. An ALT's official job description is to be the assistant to a Japanese Teacher of Language (JTL). In my experience, especially in elementary schools, the ALT is not seen as an assistant but as "the English teacher" since the regular homeroom teacher has no training or experience with ESL. In most cases, the ALT has a degree in a field unrelated to teaching and has no qualifications. Table of Contents Japanese Education System ALT Training My Unexpected Discovery Language Course Peculiarities Do...  [Read more]

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences From Taxi Driver to International Teacher - a Graduate’s Story Many people may think that the worst part of being an Uber driver are the belligerent midnight trips from downtown to the suburbs or the aggressive pre-coffee commuters or the fact that a five-minute drive can take thirty minutes because of gridlock. However, as an Uber driver of one year, I believe that the worst part about the job are trips to the airport. When I interacted with passengers going to the airport, I would think of all the new things they would get to try and the different cultures they would learn about. The problem with these trips was they were a constant reminder that the world is just waiting for us to explore it, but I was stuck leading a...  [Read more]

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 Laura Payne Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Differences in Teaching Monolingual and Multilingual EFL Groups I am currently working as an Assistant Language Teacher in Japan. Before I began this job I assumed that because Japan has a largely homogeneous population, all of my classes would be monolingual. However, I was wrong in this assumption. In addition to my Japanese students, I have many students who are Brazilian or Filipino. These students largely do not use Japanese as their mother tongue and have to learn both English and Japanese as a second language. This diverse student population, in addition to my work experiences and studies, has taught me a lot about working with both monolingual and multilingual classes. Table of Contents Listen to this blog post:...  [Read more]

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Most Common Obstacles for Japanese Learners of English Formal English education first took root in Japan with the creation of the first English schools in 1865 and has since steamrolled into an aggressive effort by the government to produce an English-proficient population. The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) was established to introduce native speakers into English classrooms, and English instruction continues to become mandatory for increasingly younger students in primary schools. Despite these efforts, an English Proficiency Index conducted by the organization English First gave Japan a "low proficiency" score, with the island country lagging not just the multicultural countries of Singapore and Malaysia but...  [Read more]

Older Posts 7 Activities for Teaching Reported Speech in the ESL Classroom Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas Check out these 7 activities for teaching reported speech in the ESL classroom that will help your students learn this tricky English topic in no time! 4 Top Tips for Getting Your TEFL Certificate on the Road Linda Dunsmore TEFL Information Are you traveling and don't know how to find the time to get TEFL certified? Worry no more! Here are 4 tips for getting your TEFL certificate on the road and for staying motivated to study! The Most Common Problems Students in Japan Face When Learning English Linda Dunsmore Destinations Teaching Ideas Are you interested in teaching English in Japan? Our TEFL alumni Kaavya shares three differences in Japanese schools that every...  [Read more]

Where can I join a TEFL placement program in Asia? Although teaching jobs can be arranged in Asia once you arrive in your destination of choice, in many countries it is common for jobs to be arranged in advance from within your own country. One area where this is certainly true is if you join a government run placement program. The following are the most popular programs of their kind in Asia. What is the EPIK program for teaching English in South Korea? EPIK stands for the English Program in Korea, a scheme run by the South Korean government that places foreign teachers into schools across the country to work as English language instructors. EPIK is one of the largest and most popular schemes of its kind as it offers a competitive salary, a good range of extra benefits, and the chance...  [Read more]

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Struggle of Teaching English in Rural Japan Perhaps one of the most commonly used justifications for widespread English language education is "English is the global lingua franca." This statement seems to encapsulate the general sentiment towards the importance of English. With the recent advancements in technology, geographical and temporal barriers have greatly lessened and international relations are no longer restricted to certain fields such as politics and media. The average citizen can now commence personal and economic relationships with the world via the internet. And this, of course, highlights the need for a common language that will facilitate effective intercultural communication. In highly urbanized and...  [Read more]

The Most Popular TEFL Destinations For Teachers The Most Common Problems Students in South Korea Face When Learning English Linda Dunsmore Destinations Alumni Experiences Are you interested in teaching English in South Korea? Our TEFL alumni Beatrix shares three differences in Korean schools that every teacher needs to be aware of before heading to South Korea to teach English. Teaching English in France - The Salary and Budget Guide Linda Dunsmore Budget and Salary Destinations France is a popular destination for EFL teachers wanting to teach English in Europe. If you are interested in joining other English teachers in the country, check out this guide on salary and budget for a teacher living in France. The Top 5 Places to Teach English in Vietnam Linda Dunsmore ...  [Read more]

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 Asia Ridley TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Contributing to the Classroom as an ALT in Japan English education in Japan has been prominent for decades and starts in elementary schools. It is in high demand as the relationship between the U.S. and Japan as well as the abundant amount of tourism. Last year straight after graduating from university in the United States, I moved to Japan and began teaching English. I was fortunate to pass the interviews and become part of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme {JET}. Being an assistant language teacher {ALT} in the Japanese education system versus a conversation school has its differences. Therefore I will be diving into how one can contribute to the classroom as an ALT. Table of Contents Japanese Elementary...  [Read more]

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Teaching in Japan: Problems of Local Learners In this essay I will be discussing the problems for young Japanese learners of English, and what problems Japanese learners often encounter as well as explaining some of the reasons why teachers can run into problems while teaching in Japan. I will be referring to the book "The Smart Guide to Teaching English in Japan' by Charlie Moritz and Martin Bragalone, as well as drawing from my knowledge and experiences of studying and volunteering in Japan. Japan can be a challenging but rewarding country to work in, despite stereotypes of Japanese people being polite and studious so it is important to consider that reality can be different when teaching in Japan. Table of Contents Eikaiwa...  [Read more]

How do I get a job teaching English in Japan? To secure a position teaching English in Japan, a bachelor's degree and a TEFL certification with at least 120 hours are essential for obtaining a work visa. However, in certain circumstances, such as having a working holiday visa, student visa, spouse visa, or specific Japanese visas, teaching opportunities may still be accessible even without a degree. Japan remains a prime choice for English educators, not only for its attractive salary packages but also for its unique blend of cutting-edge progress and rich historical traditions. If a blend of professional growth and cultural exploration is what you are after, Japan stands out as an ideal destination. Table of Contents What are the requirements for teaching English in Japan? What kind...  [Read more]

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 Federico Riva TEFL Information Teaching Ideas Top 6 Government-run TEFL Teacher Programs Looking to embark on an adventure abroad while making a positive impact as an English teacher? Government-run TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) programs offer an incredible opportunity to do just that. These well-organized initiatives, often backed by various countries' governments, provide aspiring educators with a unique chance to teach English in foreign lands, all while gaining an unforgettable cross-cultural experience. Table of Contents 1. FEI/TAPIF — France: International/USA Applications and Eligibility 2. NET Scheme in Hong Kong How to Qualify for the HK NET Scheme Category One requires: 3. CETP Hungary Application Process 4. JET Japan Application...  [Read more]

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Motivation in the Classroom: Japanese Experience Having been an English teacher of high school students in Japan for the past 2 years, I have noticed that motivation in the classroom is as much dependent on the students as it is on me as the teacher. There are three aspects that I have identified and used in my environment to get the student motivated and engaged. The Japanese culture is largely conservative and group orientated and those are crucial to take into account if one is to succeed in their teaching career in Japan. The following plays a big role in setting a tone whereby students are motivated and engaged. Those aspects are culture, societal pressure, and peer pressure. Table of Contents Culture Societal perception...  [Read more]

How do I get a job teaching English in Japan? Japan has been a popular destination amongst English language teachers for many years due to its widespread job opportunities, good salaries and fascinating culture. Whilst there are other countries in the region where the cost of living may be lower and the wages a little higher, nowhere provides such an incredible mix of modern development and ancient traditions as you will find in this extraordinary country. If you are looking for excitement and adventure, look no further than Japan. What are the requirements for teaching English in Japan? In order to work legally you will need to be eligible for a work visa. The good news is the criteria is not as tough as many other countries as you simply need to possess a degree in any subject. The...  [Read more]

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 Linda Dunsmore Destinations TEFL Information The Best Government Programs For Teaching English Abroad Teaching English abroad is now a popular career option for many people of all ages. While there is a strong demand for TEFL certified teachers in many different regions of the world, there are certain countries who have implemented government-funded programs to attract foreign English teachers. Through these programs, qualified English teachers are placed into schools around their countries where they are employed for a set period of time. Here is a list of the best government programs for teaching English abroad. Table of Contents Listen to this blog post: EPIK for Teaching English in South Korea Requirements and More Information About the Program: How to Apply...  [Read more]

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Reasons Why Learning American English is More Common in Japan British English (BrE) and American English (AmE) are two of the main varieties of the English language. There are other different varieties of English that exist such as Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, South Asian and African English. Table of Contents Language Structure 1. Vocabulary and Spelling 2. Grammar Historical Prerequisits Diplomatic Relationships Globalization Do you want to teach English in Japan? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: Although English was introduced to America through the colonization period by the British, the two varieties of English have evolved to be quite different from each other in certain areas. This...  [Read more]