Applying to JET - Vlog #106 - Tokyo advice roundtable - pt 1

After our meeting ended on Friday and while everyone was enjoying Dominos Pizza, I took out my camera and walked around the room, talking to some of the other ALTs who had come to Tokyo to share their opinions with the Japanese government ministries that oversee the JET Programme.

So my thanks to Sean, Jaya, Melissa, Tara, Shane and Chris for taking some time to chat with me and offering some insight and advice to JET applicants.

I ate another slice of pizza and then turned the camera back on and talked to even more folks, so stay tuned for part two! :)

-Jason
Who sounds overly peppy in this vlog - maybe it was the sweet rush of Dr. Pepper in my system! :D

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• Interview
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[AMJGFutureJET]

I think the reason that people cannot get placed in Tokyo is because there are already so many foreigners there. The whole meaning behind the jet program is not only to teach English, but to get a feel for the Japanese culture and for the youth of japan to get some experience with foreigners. That is also why you will sometimes see some people get accepted who you would not expect. They're looking for variety. Then again, this is all speculation.

[myargonauts]

@AMJGFutureJET I think those are valid points. You're right, very few JETs get placed in the largest cities of Tokyo and Osaka. So you've got to want to live in Japan, especially rural Japan, to make the most of your JET experience.

[shinmei2006]

so this is ShanePC on the forums huh...hmmm..

jason, are you on there?

[myargonauts]

the official JET forum?  No, I don't log in regularly, but I have visited once or twice.

[imdaman765]

I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about the issue that Tara talked about going to many many schools. Quite frankly, this seems like it would be miserable, I would much rather have a base school where I could build a relationship with students and teachers, and then occasionally go to surround schools. I was just wondering what your experience with JETs who have done this is.

[myargonauts]

they probably still get to go to Sports Day - but maybe they don't pick which school - it's just whatever one they happen to be at that day. I agree that having 10+ schools is a real challenge - but if that's your situation from the start, I'm sure you adjust to it and figure out how to make it work for you.

[kabochabo]

Jet should be destined for the screening process.It's really wasteful uses of tax money.We don't need this.

[lslewis]

It was really nice to hear Tiera (not sure how to spell it) say that she had a terrible interview experience and see that she still made it in becoming a JET.

[imdaman765]

Do they seem to like it or dislike it? I saw that one of the advantages is not having to go to sports day, but I think this would be something that would be really fun and interesting, and is kind of the point of being in Japan and fostering internationalization.

[liloaznboi]

sweet! I'm just waiting to graduate and then apply for the JET program!