Hello there!
This might be a really irregular post on this subreddit, but please bear with me.
I am a high school student in the Montreal area and ever since I got into high school, I have wanted to be a teacher and move to Japan. Now I am in my last years of school, and still find it a dream to live and teach abroad. Every since I heard of JET, I feel like its my best shot at doing what I’ve always wanted.
What steps should i take into becoming an ALT in Japan? Which college/cegep and university should I aim for to get to JET. I really am overthinking everything, especially as I still have MANY years ahead of me, but I find myself really interested in this program.
Any help is appreciated!
Thank you all very much!
by setodemi
8 comments
This isn’t at all irregular, people post every so often asking for advice when they’re years away from applying.
Know your goals outside of going to Japan. Do you want to teach English long term? Or do you just want to live abroad. Both are okay; using JET as a multi-year “gap year” is acceptable too.
Do not base your entire future on JET. It’s a 5-year at most job. Then what?
A lot of JETs have backgrounds completely different from teaching. I was an animator for 10+ years. My friends were nurses, programmers, all sorts of things. Focus your future on what you want to do long term.
If you want to teach English as a career, obviously focus there, but it isn’t required for JET.
Your degree choice won’t matter for acceptance into JET, you just need the degree for the visa. I would suggest studying for what you want to do after JET. If you want to be a teacher in Japan or in Canada, get a teaching degree. If you want to live in Japan long term, I would suggest learning Japanese, possibly a minor. If you have the means, studying abroad in Japan is something I would consider, it will help you understand if you actually want to live in Japan.
Volunteering is a good idea. It also doesn’t commit you to anything permanent. Get active in your local Japanese/foreign community. Build strong relationships with professors or supervisors that will write you a strong letter of recommendation.
As someone else mentioned JET is at most 5 years (sans COVID), I would suggest basing your degree choice on what you want to do after JET.
Maybe see if you can go over to Japan as an exchange student. Ot will give you an idea of what it really is about. The Japanese embassy in your country should have some information
You should read the wiki:
https://www.reddit.com/r/JETProgramme/wiki/index/#wiki_aspiring_jets
Hi there! To qualify for JET, any bachelors degree from any accredited university is ok! Any major! So do you you are most interested in and what you will excel in.
Keep in mind, JET is not a career! It is a maximum of 5 years with a predetermined pay and no moving up. So please do not choose your university education based on JET!
With that in mind, if you complete your time on JET and would like to stay in Japan as a teacher, a good route would be to get a teaching degree and a masters in education. Then you can move onto higher paying teaching positions. If you realize teaching isn’t your thing, the IT and coding fields are pretty hot in Japan right now. Keep in mind that to get job outside of teaching, having decent Japanese ability will make things a lot easier. If you want to take an elective on uni, Japanese language would be a great option to give you a base. Majoring in Japanese makes job hunting a bit harder so I wouldn’t recommend that. Good luck!
There’s some great career advice here already, so I’ll try to add some different thoughts.
You should strongly consider visiting Japan first. You can do this as a tourist, of course, but I think you might be more interested in a short-term language course arranged by yourself or through whichever Canadian university you decide to attend. This would give you the opportunity to live in Japan to see if it’s really for you. Moreover, if you decide it is, it will give you valuable experience to put in your JET application.
Good luck!
“wanted to be a teacher and move to Japan”
Do you want to be a teacher in Japan? If so, you need to be certified in Japan to do so. If your goal is to just be a teacher in general, look into teacher’s college. When you graduate, if you start working in Canada first, with the experience you’ve gained you can apply to international schools in Japan if moving there is a strong motive. Most international schools will ask for 3-5+ years of experience before you can apply. ALT work does not count as experience.
Also, what you study in university doesn’t matter for JET because all you need is a degree for the visa. Please study something you are interested in. Don’t center JET around your goals because like someone else said, it’s a 5 year program at most.
I believe JET is a great way to get your foot in the door. My best advise is to start showcasing your interests early. Join not only Japanese clubs in school, but other international societies. One of the big things they don’t tell you about JET is just how many people from around the world you are going to meet. Getting used to a cultural medley of foreigners will greatly pepare you for the job and at the same time look amazing on your resume. A lot of what JET is looking for is someone who will both enjoy their time overseas and make both countries look great. Do travel around if you can also. One of the biggest concerns the JET program has is homesickness and depression. More than half of all accepted JETs tend to leave after their first year. Their primary concern is for you to be happy.
You also want to emphasize that you have a career path that is unique and interesting. It does not have to be Japanese based studies. Stuff like music, culture, and education show that you have a lot to offer outside your typical JET duties. Having a degree in these areas also greatly increases you likelyhood of finding a job in Japan after JET.
JET also offers a job fair at the end of the year. While it’s primarily focused on JET, they do sometimes allow outsiders in to see who is hiring. So even if you don’t like JET, you will have opportunities to see what else is offered.