Hi everyone!
I’m currently working with the EPIK program in Korea teaching English and will be here for at least one more year, but I was thinking about trying to switch to the JET programme after I feel satisfied with my time in Korea.
I’m wondering if anyone has done this switch and has any info/advice regarding the process? What do you think is the chance of acceptance when an applicant has already been teaching English abroad before? Is there much difference in the actual teaching? What are the chances of getting one of the preferred placements if it’s not Tokyo? Is there much difference in the cost of living between the two?
I know ESID so I’d love to hear from all different sides of it!
I’m also aware that if I was to apply to theJET programme and pass the initial application, I would have to go back to my home country to have the potential interview at the Japanese consulate and was wondering if there’s a rough time frame for the interviews? I know the website provides some info but for the sake of research and seeing if I could potentially plan a trip back during my vacation breaks that would be ideal.
Sorry if this is a lot I’m just wanting to start my research now so I can plan things out as I go along with my current situations and plan for when I’m ready to change!
Thanks all!
5 comments
In the US, interviews were from the end of January to early February and some consulates did them through zoom.
>What do you think is the chance of acceptance when an applicant has already been teaching English abroad before?
JET doesn’t really care that much about your resume. Your SOP and the interview plays a much bigger part. There are plenty of qualified teacher that get rejected.
> Is there much difference in the actual teaching?
I have no idea what teaching within EPIK is like, but generally speaking you’ll be an assistant to a JTE or HRT. However ESID and there are school/teachers that’ll have you T1 and lessons plan and there will be other where you’re a “human tape recorder”. This may actually change from year to year as teachers do get swap out, so one year you maybe over work and the next your doing absolutely nothing.
> I would have to go back to my home country to have the potential interview at the Japanese consulate and was wondering if there’s a rough time frame for the interviews?
I think it depends on the consulate. But if I remember correctly, it was somewhere in feb. You’ll have to depart from the same consulate city you did your interview in. Prior to departure you’ll also have to hand in your passport to get your visa, and you don’t get it back till departure.
I had a friend who did EPIK then did JET, but be went back to the US for a few years in between. You’re biggest issue applying directly from EPIK is that you’ll have to do the interview in person at the consulate in your home country. For most countries interviews are at the end of January or early February. This timeline can be different for smaller countries though.
My friend said that the job was mostly the same. The main difference was that English levels are a lot lower in Japan, both in terms of the kids and the teachers.
He also said that Japan is *much* more spread out than Korea. He was in a rural part of Korea in the middle of the country, but could easily take a highway bus and be in Seoul in a few hours. Public transit in Japan is more expensive and time consuming and isn’t as extensive in rural areas.
Placements really are a crapshoot ngl. You may get what you ask for (I got my 3rd choice) or you may get the opposite end of the country.
If you’re a single person with no student loan debt, no kids, no financial obligations in your home country, and aren’t trying to save money in your home currency then the JET salary is pretty decent. You’ll have to budget pretty carefully if you’re placed in Tokyo, but it’s doable from what I’ve heard. You should be pretty financially stable in a rural area, though I do know people have struggled financially because they blew all their money on traveling, concert tickets, drinking, etc. So it ultimately comes down to your lifestyle.
One thing to note is I believe EPIK pays people in rural areas more? Everyone on JET gets the same income regardless of placement. Also I believe housing is free on EPIK? Housing costs on JET depend on the placement. Some people have to pay 100% out of pocket, some people get subsidized rent, some people get free rent. Rent costs can end up majorly effecting how much disposable income you have. At the end of the day, whether or not your rent is subsidized will have more of an impact on housing cost than urban vs rural
I think it will definitely improve your chances as you have teaching experience and can show you’re adorable to living in other counties! You would likely have to go home for the interview in January and departure in August. Don’t count on preferred placements, it more has to do with what’s available than what you request. It’s cheaper to live outside of Tokyo, but it’s also more fun to live there in my option. You will be spending a lot more on rent, and also spending a lot more on going out because there is much more to do!
One thing to be cautious on your application is your motivation for JET and Japan. Why Japan now? Why JET instead?
I did, but I went home for a year in between to finish a second degree. I definitely think it helped with my application, they did ask a lot of questions and they seem to be interested in the prior/previous teaching experience.