Job Discussion Forums

kenners · Joined: 26 Apr 2009 Posts: 5

Hey,

I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice.

I'm considering applying for the JET scheme, but unsure whether to apply this year to leave for 2010, or apply the following year and go get some experience and save in Korea before hand.

There's a few things I wanna ask to see if anyone can help with, as know there'll be a lot of people on here who have done this, I hope!

So you don't have much of a say where you're placed with JET. This doesn't bother me too much (for the short-term, like a year or two) as learning Japanese will be one of my main prerogatives and doing so out the city and experiencing something different would add to it all.

Question is, say if I went on JET and once the year was up, how easy would it be to find a job in the city? Would the wages on JET be sufficient enough to save and do a CELTA when out there, would a CELTA be required for a teaching job in the city if I'd expericne through JET?

A part of me thinks to postpone Japan that little bit longer, go get some experience elsewhere first, save, do CELTA, apply for JET and then take it from there. Downside would be it would be at least another two or three years until I moved to one of the bigger cities, which is where I want to live for a long-term basis.

The other side of me thinks to sack all that off and finally bite the bullet and do it. I've considered it since my undergrad days and now I'm starting to think of it seriously.

If this has already been asked (I have searched to see if I could find much, lots of info out there!) then my apologies.

Thanks for your help.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:58 pm Post subject:

Hi Kenners! The CELTA would probably be of more use in getting onto JET - that is, if you manage to get a job (whether in Korea and/or Japan), chances are you'll be reasonably placed situation and experience-wise to not really need to (then) do the CELTA to be able to move on to other work post-JET. But if you do save the money to do it, the qualification would of course help improve your prospects somewhat further.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN