SOP: should I mention my spouse here?

9 comments

1. Okay this is straight up just my idea and not gospel, but I was shortlisted 2021:

   I would if I could make a defensible case for why that enhances the benefit to CLAIR / JET for your time served.

   If it’s going to make it sound like the two of you just want a time in Japan, maybe don’t.

   Just my 2c

   Edit: I did mention mine in my SOP

2. 2022 shortlisted ALT here. I think its okay as long as it links back to you helping/teaching your spouse Japanese because you studied it prior. If you’re not helping him with it in any capacity, then I’d say no because then it’d just be random information. You only have 2 pages doubled spaced to get your point across, so you don’t want to waste valuable word count on random info that doesn’t help you.

   For context, I wrote about teaching my Japanese housemates English while studying abroad, and how it essentially progressed to them speaking to me in English and me responding in Japanese in my SOP. It was weird but worked lol. It also went over well when I brought it up in the interview.

3. I mentioned my best friend as she did the programme before and she inspired my interest. So once it’s important to why you’re interested in being a part of JET then by all means imo

4. If you do decide to mention it, make sure you keep it relevant to why YOU’RE a good pick for the program. Whether your spouse is excited or not isn’t really relevant to why they should hire you, but it could be nice flavor text to add if you can fit it in naturally.

   For example, “My husband and I are also excited to get involved in the local community through volunteering with the local squirrel orphanage, doing river clean ups, and organizing community paintball days. We are now taking Japanese lessons to prepare ourselves to be effective in these activities.”

5. There are no hard rules with the SoP. But if you’re spouse is not the applicant in question, his interests and skillset won’t really tell the story of who you as an individual are. Your spouse can be a nice bonus, but its your interests and intentions that should drive the statement.

   JET wants to know why, you (the applicant), wish to come to Japan through their program.

   If you want to give a little nod to your spouse, I’m sure you can find a way to do it, but you should likely do this sparingly at best. So yes, it is possible to mention him, but I’m not sure it will give the panel the best and most compelling perception of you as an individual applicant.

6. I remember reading a post here long ago that was a complaint that someone’s spouse couldn’t get into JET after applying many many times. They kept using the word ‘we’, and I can only assume that this is why they were rejected. JET is after individual applicants who are passionate, not couples looking to get an easy ride to Japan.

   So, it’s just about framing. If you say “we want to go to Japan” then it can come off badly. If you say why *you* want to do *the JET programme*, and then tie in that you and your spouse obviously want to stay together and experience Japan together, then I don’t think it’s such a bad thing. Obviously they’re a big part of your life, you just want to give the right impression about you and the programme. But I would keep mention of them to a minimum, SOP space runs out quickly…

7. SOP should be about selling yourself. It’s best to avoid adding anyone extra into your SOP unless they provide a role in demonstrating your skills and what you bring to JET or how they helped you develop what you are bringing to the table.

8. If your spouse will be accompanying you to Japan if you are selected, then by all means! I included my family (spouse and child) in my SOP and about how we were all hoping to become involved in our new community, etc.

9. No. It isn’t enough space to even fully write about yourself. You mention your spouse in the other parts of the application.