Job Discussion Forums

[gerin13]

I'm a newbie to the forum and have read a lot about which eikawas to or not to apply to and so forth and so on. But I haven't really read a lot about JET and was wondering if anyone could share their good/bad experiences with me about this company? I plan on trying to get in with them early next year and it would be great to hear some actual testimonials about them. Thanks a lot in advance!

Edit: It would be great to get some experiences on Gaba as well! How well does the whole, "creat your own schedule" concept really work?[/b]

[dove]

First of all, JET is not a company. Its a program(me) administered by the Japanese Education Ministry.

For the most part, JET is considered the best entry level teaching job in Japan. The hours and the pay are much better than the average language school and the dispatch companies that send ALTs to public schools.

I was on the JET Programme in the 1990's. Back then, they flew us over business class. My school actually gave me money to study Japanese in Tokyo during the summer vacation. My rent was 3000 yen per month. Definitely a chance to save money, pay off student loans. I am not sure if these type of benefits still exist.

I worked in a rural community in Yamanashi Prefecture. I taught only at one junior high school and once a week at an elementary school. My students were great. I never had any behavioral problems.

I stayed 2 years. Although I loved the students and the staff, I just didn't like being an assistant (although I must say that my last year they let me teach some classes by myself. Yes, against the rules, but my school had some staffing problems at one point). I also didn't like all the downtime. I know that most JETS pride themselves on studying Japanese during their downtime, but I never felt right about that. I prepared countless materials even though some of them weren't used. I did my best to get involved in the school, but my lack of Japanese fluency sometimes made it hard. Still, some days I felt isolated and bored out of my mind. And to be completely honest, I didn't really like teaching that age group (even though they were great students). I had taught adults before I was on JET, so I had something to compare it to. Also, I didn't want to stay in the countryside. (I know, I know-- it was the "real" Japan with rice paddies and croaking frogs and temple bells). I had friends in Tokyo who I visited almost every weekend.

But it was a great 2 years....oh, one more thing that sometimes bugged me: the other JETS in my prefecture. There was so much whining about who got longer holidays during the summer, whose rent was cheaper....also the competition to see who spoke the most Japanese and who did the most cultural things. But I was able to avoid them and didn't mind being labeled antisocial....I just said "sorry I have to attend a rice-planting" or something like that and they'd leave me alone.

I am glad I was a JET. I got a great insight into Japan's education system. I paid off my student loans. I learned how to make umeboshi. I got a foundation in the language. Most of all, I learned what I like and don't like.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

I was in JET for four years. They've now upped the maximum level up to five years. It was a positive experience for the most part, but the JET mantra is ESID (Every Situation is Different). I've met JETs who were told that because they didn't have an American accent they were not allowed to speak English in class (and these JETs didn't speak Japanese at all). I've met people who have been told to speak in an American accent at all times, although they were from Australia.

In the past the best place to get information about the JET program was www.bigdaikon.com, but its usefulness has slipped because the people posting on it now more than not have no interest in helping others. Still, searching the archives will probably yield some good advice.

One thing about JET is that there is never any guarantee that you will get in. People who speak Japanese, and also have experience teaching Japanese students in particular sometimes get turned down in favour of some guy with no experience and no language skills, but who 'looks' right. The interview is a panel interview, and comprised of a consulate person from Japan (who may or may not decide to just ask every illegal question in an interview in your country), a former JET (who may have only been in Japan for one year and spent almost all their time with other foreigners, meaning that they are basically just judging if they think that you would fit in with their friends in Japan), and usually an academic from a faculty of education or linguistics (who may have never set foot in Japan). It's also possible that your panel will be full of people who really know what's what.

They no longer fly you across business (but they DO fly you over, whereas it's usual in Japan to have the foreigner pay for their own flight). Rent has crept up. The number of JETs nation wide is dropping because of dispatch companies who help drive down wages. Boards of Education are, of course, interested in the bottom line, and after the dispatch company has taken their cut, the ALT may end up making less than half of what a JET gets, and it may not even be enough to live off).

JET is the best entry level job in Japan for English teaching, but some JETs let that go to their head and somehow think that by nature of being on JET they are better than other teachers. The reality is that the goal of JET is to get people into the country, mostly into the countryside and to have them there for a few years, and then for the JETs to RETURN TO THEIR HOME COUNTRY. They do not want people to stay in Japan afterwards because the actual point for the program is public relations for Japan. Being placed in a rural area can make it difficult to find another job, and the potential for networking (a lot of hires in country are through networking) is minimal. That said, while on JET, it's really very good, and there are foreign people in the prefecture who are specifically there to help JETs with problem that they may have- (usually miscommunication issues or when a board of education asks a JET for sort of ridiculous things, e.g. I've known JETs who were told to speak with an American accent or to not speak English at all, although they were from Ireland and Australia and didn't actually speak Japanese).

[Glenski]

You're not going to get in to JET early next year. They take applications only once a year, ending near Nov/Dec, arrange interviews for Feb, inform people in Apr/May, and ship them out in August.

Look at www.bigdaikon.com for all the JETs you can handle.

[Apsara]

I have written quite a lot about the pros and cons of Gaba on this forum, most recently only 2 or 3 months ago I think- did a search not bring anything up?

[cvmurrieta]

http://www.ithinkimlost.com/ also has some good info. Most of the people who post there are ALTs.

[gerin13]

Thanks for the replies. A lot of great info to start out with! Apsara, I did a search but my computer went kind of screwy I guess. I will try again today. Thanks again guys! Really appreciated.

[Lyrajean]

Hi,

I am a JET in Okinawa.

It is a good way to come to Japan if you meet their requirements and aren't put off by the idea of being an assiatant language teacher. Its worht the wait to apply and get in, but be warned the application and interview process is long and may take more than one shot to suceed. I got in on my 2nd attempt.

I will disagree with a couple points made by other posters.

Now they do seem to be looking for people who are older or with an interest in teaching or some experience with ESL teaching. Some ALTs at high-level acadmic highschools routinely allow teachers to teach classes on their own (its not illegal). But you may get stuck in low level schools like me where the students have little or no acquired english ability (its hard or impossible to deal with these groups of sutdents without enough Japanese to play verbal repartee and deal with discipline issues). MY JTEs don't ususally let me teach by myself, and that's fine.

The pay is good for someone with no formal teaching creds like me. The living expenses here in Okinawa are low (aside from getting off the island)so I'm quite happy with the salary, but this varies widely by area. (for example: JETs in Naha pay twice as much as I do for rent with no adjustment in salary).

There are a few down points and I'll do those first:

1. age limit you have to be under 40 when you apply.
2. you can stay 3 years. Up to 5 if they like you (you ahve to reinterview and prove some attempt at improving your Japanese by taking a language course or passing a JLPT.
3. you are an assistant teacher, which means basically that the classes you are teaching belong to the JTE. Some can be very flexible and allow you to teach what you want, others will have their own ideas and maybe want to use you as a tape recorder.
4. You have very little say in where you go. Most of the placements are in rural areas. They can be on small islands. Very few are in big cities. They will ask you for 3 options of where you want to go but the only good way to get a particular placement is to have a sister city/state relationship with your hometown. Or be able to prove family or prior connections with an area. One way to up your chances of being in a less rural area is to say that you want to teach highschool. If you are asked to teach highschool you will be placed in an area at least large enough to support a highschool (this eliminates some of the smallest islands).

[Apsara]

Here are a couple of previous threads on Gaba that I managed to find:


http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=71080&highlight=gaba


http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=71123&highlight=gaba

(you have to scroll down a bit for the start of the Gaba discussion on the second one)

[flyer]

I am wth JET and I have worked eikaiwa (but not Gaba). JET is great and I imagine much better working conditions than Gaba etc

examples
Betters wages
you get sick days if you are sick with JET, have (in general) a more laid back schedule. But its hit and miss. I can only talk of my experience and I know of some sad stories of JET teachers.
If lessons are cancelled you still get paid with JET, from my understanding this is not so with Gaba??

I really like being a part of the Japanese school system and JET (warts and all). My school and BOE really look after me

[Glenski]

[gerin13]

It sounds like GABA is not for me. I definitely would like something more stable. I did find some of your posts Apsara, thank you for that. Good info Lyra, appreciated. JET sounds like a solid program. I do understand of course that my experience (if accepted that is) will vary but all of the info thus far has really helped in making a decision. You guys have been awesome in helping me out!

[Hot-Carl]

[Apsara]

[Lyrajean]