JET Program Campus Visit(s) and Is JET the right choice for you?

[biped19]

My biggest concerns are logistical things such as getting internet access, a scooter or car, as foreigner with no Japanese documents and a language barrier.

Wow, those questions are funny :) A gym? Bring a pair of running shoes, I'm assuming the roads in Japan are still free. LOL.

[Hachiban08]

I was thinking about doing either JET or Interac when I graduate from my UC. But I was doing TESOL first. :)

[nghiemoo]

so youre 39?

[myargonauts]

I'm 40 now.

[EzKitty]

What was the cost for you to call home and how often did you do so? is it feeable to call home once a day, once every few days etc?

[myargonauts]

I didn't call that often - maybe once a month, and relatives would call occasionally, altho some found the 16 hour time difference a challenge.

I used a long distance service to reduce the cost of international calls - you'll find out about these companies at Tokyo Orientation and at sites like jetsetjapan(dot)com.

I think I paid about .10cents per minute to the US.

Yahoo BB also offer a service.

Try to get your relatives on Skype - easiest and cheapest.

[Saitoko7]

Thanks for letting us know about this! :) I may send my son down to check out your visit at UCSD! He's getting to about that age. I don't know how he'd feel about living here permanently, but at least he'll be here to visit next Summer, and we'll see how it rolls from there!

Your message here is great, btw. Petty is one thing people had better learn not to be if they expect to come to Japan and be happy. :) You're a great asset to the JET program, Jason. I hope they appreciate you!

[myargonauts]

thanks! More details in a few weeks about the exact time and campus building for the UCSD visit

[DeeDoubleYou81]

Jason, another great video!

I LOVE San Diego, especially La Jolla!! Let's do a house trade next summer. :)

[myargonauts]

haha - you'd have to live with my parents... but OK...  :D

[mostawesomestjes]

I am actually going to do a vlog about the misconceptions of coming here. Being my first year all my expectations are very fresh to me. And many have been quashed! ^-^ You're so great to keep up with these and keep helping aspiring JETs! To think it was an entire year ago that I applied! INSANE! Thanks Jason!

--Jessika

[JFpooh9589]

Although I have not seen all of your videos, I am very grateful to you for your advice regarding JET. I plan to apply this year. The only problem I'm having are the recommendation letters; however, I should be able to handle that. I will seriously watch most of the rest of your videos in regards to Japan and JET. Thank you soooo much!

-Jessica

[myargonauts]

Good luck Jessica!

[leolava]

Thanks a lot for this video , you've been really a helping source.

[tommiskey]

As for the most important quality in a person to know if they are right for JET, I'd say "adaptability". Both at work and just living there, you need to be very flexible, take things with a sense of humor, and be able to adapt to whatever is thrown at you... in fact, actively search out new experiences and try new things! You've never eaten eel before? Try it! A teachers asks you to come to class and made no lesson plans ahead of time? Go ahead anyway and just do your best! Be adaptable!

[myargonauts]

good advice

[tommiskey]

Great to hear you'll be doing the campus JET recruiting Jason. I'll be doing the same thing at CSU Chico. I first found out about JET the same way, when a former JET gave a presentation on it in my Junior year, back in 1993. And every year I do it at CSU Chico, I find there are a great many people who've never heard of the program, but are very interested.

[joshparra]

lol i was born in 1988

[nworbnow555]

I've read some horror stories about recent ex-Jets not being able to land jobs once they come back to their home countries.

Simply put, would you recommend JET to your family members?

Sure, the economy may improve in the next couple of years, but it may not.

I do realize living in Japan might be once-in-your-lifetime experience, but I don't want to go through a hellish job search if I can avoid it.

-Johnny-

[JasonsinJapan]

while finding a job post JET may be difficult, I think that has more to do with the current economic climate than with having gone to Japan.

You can work fairly effectively via the web on lining up a job for when you decide to return home well before you leave Japan at the end of your contract. And some JETs even find post-JET careers thru contacts they make in JET.

JET isn't for everyone, but I loved my five years and wouldn't trade them for anything.

[roxxxco]

Come to UCI! I'm applying this year and would love if you would come to the JET info thing that is coming soon to our campus.

-Cameron

[myargonauts]

I'm sure some great folks will be headed to UCI - but not me this time. Check the LA consulate JET page for date and time.

[ThePacificCrossing]

hey jason do you know the percentages for JETs that stay mroe than one year? I'm just thinking maybe since you did some training of JETs and stuff they might have told you....

[JasonsinJapan]

I've heard the largest percentage of JETs stay 2 years, with the next largest percentage being one-year JETs. I'm not sure what the exact numbers are.

[dragonkiller14]

how many years can you stay in the jets Program.

[shildrine]

max of 5 years.

[shildrine]

A max of 5 years. like Jason did :)

[JasonsinJapan]

3 years for most ALTs, altho if you're really good at your job and your school likes you, you can now stay a maximum of 5 years.

[yozka]

my friend goes to ucsd**

[yozka]

my friend goes the ucsd .cool i didnt know jet did campus visits do you know if they also go to cc or just uc? and do you know if you are going to visit campuses near LA to talkabout jet?

-yozka

[JasonsinJapan]

yes - they have many campus visits - check my recent vlog called 2010 Application - and check the sidebar for links

[Cobracommander831]

Thanks for the video.

[myargonauts]

I've only ever heard of one JET suicide, but my guess is it does happen altho I would think it's very rare.

Many JETs do decide that Japan is not for them and leave after their fist year is over, but I've found that most stay 2 years.

[DerReisendeGaijin]

Good Video Jason

--Beau

[WhiteMatrix2006]

I do agree with you Jason that JET is not for everybody. When I mention to people that I plan on joining JET they always ask me the exact same question: "What if you don't like it there?" I think that question is in everybody's mind when they apply for JET. I cannot say for sure that I will not like it, but I like to think that I am more than willing to live a true Japanese life style. I don't plan on going there comparing everything to the US. It will cause you to go crazy or homesick.

-Billy-

[drhikarisan]

from what i've researched, life over there seems like it will be a lot different then what most people are used to. However, I think it will be change for the better and I just like the way things are done in japan.

[myargonauts]

Yeah - the "what if you don't like it" is a common question. Of course, like any job - and JET is a job - you can quit and move home.  Most JETs that don't find Japan to their liking at least have the courtesy to wait until their contract ends and then just go home, but a few break contract and leave early. No one is gonna force you to stay if it's not for you.

[WhiteMatrix2006]

In my mind, you never know if you're gonna like it if you don't at least give it a shot. I would rather go over there, stay for a year with the program, and leave if I don't like it. But at least I can say I went and did something different. However, I do plan on staying the 5 years like you and then finding something else afterwards. We will see when I apply. =)

-Billy-

[drhikarisan]

Hmm, I think thats a fair request on the names for pms. It's just something that you know, people have gotten used to and don't really think about it.

I imagine for the most part anything that you might need such as bathroom supplies and what not there as well or at least find a substitute of some sort.

Unless you have some unusual medical condition which requires very specific supplies I would think you could get by just fine.

Sorry about the stupid questions, i'm guilty of it too.

[myargonauts]

I'm happy to answer just about any question...

It's just some people come at Japan from the angle "how can I make it conform to my current lifestyle" while still living in Japan...

If you have a list of things "you just can't live without" then living in Japan may not be for you.

[drhikarisan]

im looking forward to all the changes, it just seems like such a great experience.

although, i do have one problem. a rural area sounds ideal but a more populated city also has obvious advantages.

[Radrey]

Ever since I was a little boy I wanted to come to Japan.... lol. I'm happy your still making vlogs on this topic man. peace.

[myargonauts]

represent! :)

[Maeikatk]

hey Jason, what Camcorder or w/e are you using? (I'm going to buy one soon)

[myargonauts]

just a small digital camera - a Casio Exilim

[Maeikatk]

thankies

[Jackmyster99]

So must you major in something before you can go on JET? because i live in Australia and i want to do the JET program maybe 2 years after i finish highschool. which in Australian terms, ill be around 18-19 when i finish school.

[napendakenya]

you have to have a 4-year college degree. For the vast majority of ESL in japan programs, they want college grads. It's understandable. it is expensive, the want applicants who have that degree of professionalism comes with college grads (and, your english skills will improve with those 4 years of projects, essays, presentations)...

[kalmtraveler]

it's been my understanding that they require a bachelor degree, not a "4 year degree". Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that outside north america BA and BS are attainable in 3 years.

[myargonauts]

yep - you have to have a BA/BS college/uni degree. 4-year degree is what Americans call it to differentiate it from a 2-year AA degree.  You can get a degree in the UK and other countries in 3 years.

[drhikarisan]

its not just that they want professionals. You are required to have a Bachelor's Degree to get a work visa in Japan. So even if the companies did not require it, it would still be necessary to work there.

[drhikarisan]

You have to have a Bachelor's Degree to get a work visa in japan. So its not just that the JET programme requires it. The entire country requires it.

I've never been to australia before nor do I know about the education system's differences over there but I assume theyre the same basic thing so, you would need a 4 year degree/Bachelor's degree. Which ever you prefer to call it, your going to need it.

just do your time in college and get it over with, you'll be better for it.

[StatuesBleedingGreen]

Good good, the more idiots apply the easier it is for me to get in.

jk, but talking about JET, if the program isn't right for some people than maybe those other teaching jobs in tokyo might be. Unrested, the youtube user, teaches for some non-jet school in osaka.

[TeachinginJapanGuide]

Also make sure you don't mind standing in front of a bunch of students that don't really care about learning English. ;-)

[7elmig]

Hi, Jason. Nice seeing you walking around (a campus in) SD. Quite a place, it seems to me.

I'm not going JET these next few centuries, but you're a born youtuber. Pleasant video.

[crow6128]

Just realized I can see you holding your camera in your sunglasses' reflection. Looks funny, nice video!

[craigSimons00]

Whoops, sorry. I just rated this video 1 star by accident, but it is really very good. If you ask me, Youtube should make it so it's not so easy to click on the wrong thing by accident!

[JordanJ88]

I think this is a great observation on some of the qualities that are necessary to be a JET.

Personally I find all the uncertainties to be somewhat exciting. Like you said, it's an adventure!!

Also Jason if you don't mind my asking, how did u go about doing the proof of graduation? I'm at UC Davis and we don't officially graduate until early to mid June. I know UCSD is on the same schedule, so did you have any experiencing get proof of graduation so quickly?

-Jordan

[myargonauts]

Yeah - same thing for me at UCSD - you have to get a letter stating that you will graduate (assuming you pass all your classes) and then of course you send them a copy of your diploma after you get it, but before you leave for Japan in late July.

It's not that hard to do once you get selected in April/May.

[LEGINREPOOH]

Hi - your sumo feeds are being blocked in NZ.

nIGEL

[rodgerswan]

very good video jason, and i think the warnings you pose in this video are very fair and valid. I know I personally had to spend a great deal of time in trying to decide if JET really was right for me.

However, these past 60 days or so have been full of good experiences and I am happy that I am here. The hardest part hasn't been being in a more rural place than tokyo, but being apart from my girlfriend back home, but we are going stronger than ever! Thank goodness for skype :)