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[senza_vavoom]

Hello all,

I just finished my JET interview in Toronto. I am a JET applicant and I am interested to help future applicants :

1) PREPARE IN ADVANCE

- I have questions that I got from the internet ( roughly 50 questions ) that the JET interviewers will ask. This is a compilation of questions that JET alumni have amalgamated. I don't know the website, bc I copied and pasted the questions onto Word doc. and answered them one by one as preparation. However, I have them, if interested.

- Most of the questions that I found were actually asked in the interview.

- Research everything on Japan - Politics, Economy, Society ( Cultural and Societal norms and values ), Religion, EDUCATION ( this is a biggie! )

- KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR COUNTRY

- Also, prepare a lesson plan ( short - 2 - 5 minutes long )

2) DRESS VERY VERY WELL

- Dress in a suit - Be well groomed, polished, and professional looking. I noticed that all the JET ALUMNIS conducting the interview were all in dark suits and starch white shirts. I heard that this is the professional norm in Japan.

- One girl came in there with a short, corduroy mini skirt and brown sheer stockings. She was around 200 lbs and everything showed. When she walked inside to register, everyone looked at her. DO NOT DRESS LIKE THIS! IT'S COMMON SENSE NOT TO DRESS LIKE THIS FOR A GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED JOB!

3) INSIDE THE INTERVIEW ROOM

- There will be 3 people there : The Consul, the JET programme alumni and ESL teacher or even a principal of a certain school.

- The feeling ( for me ) was very friendly and formal. It was NOT like a military tribunal as some people have described it to be!

3) THE INTERVIEW

- The questions will come from all three : The Consul will ask you questions specifically pertaining to Japan, The JET alumni will ask you questions specifically pertaining to teaching in a classroom and the teacher/director will ask you questions specifically pertaining to how you would relate to children ( behavioural questions in a teaching environment )

- The interview lasts 20 - 30 mins - They will have your application essay in front of them and will constantly refer to it. They will read paragraphs off your actual essay so be sure to know it and be sure to prepare yourself for the questions they will ask you.

- Be comfortable, confident and open to questions. They will be writing down notes and grading you in a point system when you answer the questions.

- At the end of the interview is the ROLE PLAYING PART - They will ask you to role play as an ALT in a classroom, about to introduce oneself to the children who have very VERY LIMITED knowledge of English. This will last for 2 minutes. So, prepare yourself well for this. Bring props of your country, bring pictures of your family etc, use the blackboard. Make sure that YOU SPEAK VERY SLOWLY AND CLEARLY. Make sure you also make it interesting.

- They will then ask you if you have ANY QUESTIONS for them - ALWAYS ask questions after. I asked questions about the details of the JET PROGRAMME, what they expect of me etc etc.