Hi, I'm considering applying to JET for the 2025 school year, and I was wondering if someone could give me some input as the whether or not I would be a good candidate for the program. I'm just starting to look into the program, so I honestly don't know that much about it at this point.
I'm American. I have a Bachelor's in English, and I'm currently studying to get my Masters in English at the Sorbonne-Nouvelle in Paris. I previously taught English in the French school system through TAPIF for 2 years and currently teach part-time through a private company. I also spent a few years teaching music just after completing my Bachelor's. I don't have any teaching certifications however.
I don't speak any Japanese, but I'd like to start teaching myself soon. But I grew up reading manga/watching anime, but I'm still into Japanese culture. I like some Japanese films, and Murakami is probably one of my favorite authors.
One of my biggest concerns is that I'm old (30 years old!) and I have noticed that this program seems to attract people who are fresh out of undergrad. Would it be weird if I did this program? I'm not sure if this would be the best step for my career either, since my other option is to move back to The US and work towards getting certified there. Also, how is the pay? I'll have some loans that I'll need to start paying back next year, so I'm not sure if that would be possible with a JET salary.
by chumphr415