Job Discussion Forums

[Tres Belle]

Hi, there
JET is recuiting now. I am keen on applying for it. just wondering how long the holiday a JET teacher usually get? I know it may depend on individule school. But it will be great to know the general length of paid holiday in Japan (exclude the public holiday).

Many thanks

[G Cthulhu]

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

The standard contract (which any contracting organization can change, though I think they have to go by the minimums) is for 20days.

However, when I was on JET, almost every single request for vacation was denied outright or it was suggested by the supervisor that the JET may not be allowed to recontract if they took vacation because it showed that they weren't serious about their job (both if they asked for vacation during school and during BoE days), and so JETs would sometimes go with none for the year (I did more than once).

I have heard that this is definately not normal, though.

[Mothy]

I'm on a JET contract now. I get 20 days I believe. Although if I tried to take days off on days I'm supposed to be teaching class it might be frowned on, I was encouraged to take days off during the summer when I wasn't teaching any classes. I also plan on taking some days off during the winter break and don't expect there to be a problem. So the situation changes from place to place but I think generally 20 days off is normal, and being able to use at least most of them during the year is normal as well.

[cornishmuppet]

I work with some JETs and I think that they don't have to go to school when the students aren't there. If they want to leave the country, though, they have to use paid holidays. I don't really mix with them that much so don't know for sure, but I do know that they have to pay key money for their appartments, although then their rent is subsidized about 50%. I'm sure it varies from BoE to BoE, though.

[Dipso]

It really is dependent on your BoE and supervisor (and possibly your head teacher). When I was an ALT I paid no rent and didn't have to be in school when the kids were off, so I did very well indeed for holidays. I had friends at different BoEs who paid full rent and got only 15 or so days' leave a year. One friend was even forced to pay for a hire car so she could get to the remote schools her BoE wanted her to visit. Like they say, "Every situation is different"...

[fatimablush]

Yes, it really is different depending on your school, BOE, or maybe even your prefecture. In mine, everyone gets 20 days a year vacation, but that does not include staff holidays over Christmas (this year it is from Dec. 29th-Jan 3rd, Obon holidays in August (3 or 4 days depending on whether we are prefectural or municipal JETS), and all the other national holidays which really help at times like Golden Week.

Attitudes are also different. I have heard that some people have a difficult time in getting time off during actual school time. I, personally, visit 16 schools, and my regular schools I visit only twice a month, so I really try to limit vacation to March, August, Golden Week, and the Christmas holidays. It is possible that some ALTs don't give enough notice or just don't take their job seriously (but for many of us, being on JET is not a serious job). It's always good to give as much notice as you possibly can if you want time off because Japan can be quite bureaucratic and always need permission from upper levels of authority. A given JET may also be paying for the misbehavior of a previous JET. Many JETs make bad impressions on their employers for various reasons as many of them are basically in their early 20s, straight out of University, with little or no job experience. Being on JET simply just extends University life for them before they go back home.

But, you are entitled to whatever is in your contact.

Fatima

[groothewanderer]

Some JETs get all the summer off and don't have to stay at school and do nothing. Some have to go to the BOE and stamp everyday. Each situation varies.