Filling Out The JET Application
So now that you have decided that you want to go through the process of applying to JET, I should warn you that it is quite an application…but you probably already know that, hence why you are reading this guide to make your life easier!
The Japanese seem to love bureaucracy and thus the application is a monumental bit of paperwork, involving such joys as references, statements of purpose and signatures over the top of envelope seals.
Fear not, however, that’s why I’m here. I’m going to break it down and make it as easy as possible for you. You see, I already went to battle with the application, I know it well. I’m going to send you into the battlefield more prepared than Jean Claude Van Damme before a martial arts tournament.
Ready? Get out the application. Bow to your opponent. Fight!
So here I will run through each of the pages and leave a little annotation on sections I deem to be lacking in absolute clarity.
(The questions may not appear exactly as written here.)
Page 1
1. Position type for which you are applying
ALT (Assistant Language Teacher)
2. Interview location
Here you enter the four digit code of the location where you would like to be interviewed. These codes can be found on the JET website by downloading the application guidelines.
3. Name
Put your name here exactly as it appears on your passport. I won’t guide you any further on this one.
4. Gender
You got this one.
(From now on I won’t annotate the obvious answers, I promise.)
5. Date of birth
6. Nationality
7a) Home County
7b) Home town
8. Present address, telephone number, fax number, and email address
9. Criminal History
10. Current Occupation/University/Employer
Page 2
11. Educational Background
11a) Academic Degree
Here I wrote Bachelor of Arts, so write what is applicable to you.
11b) Academic Specialisation
What did you study?
11c) Academic Record
What was your final overall mark?
12. Employment History
Here is a section to fill out your past employment just like with any other job application.
Page 3
13. Teaching/Coaching background
14. Proposed direction of career and its relation to the JET Programme
Here’s what I wrote:
I aspire to be a university lecturer of English and Creative Writing in Japan. I believe the JET programme will help be a massive step in learning
the Japanese language, as well as providing me the opportunity to further my teaching skills. The JET programme's ethos of cultural relations is
what I believe will help create a future career in a brand new culture.
15. Japan-related studies
Have you studied Japanese as a language? Or taken a course in Japanese literature?
16. Japanese language proficiency
Be honest when filling out this table…it may come back to bite you if you start claiming your fluency because you can understand a couple words when watching anime.
Page 4
17. International intercultural experience (at home or abroad)
Here just mention your holidays and try and make them centred around culture as opposed to just leisure. Going to Prague to check out the architecture sounds a lot better than going to sample the cheap beer!
Notice how it says ‘at home’ as well as ‘abroad’, so if you are not that well travelled, you can still talk about your cultural experiences in your home country.
I talked about my time as a guide in the International Society at university.
18. Foreign language proficiency
Once again, it’s best to be honest here. Just because you’ve mastered ‘hola’, doesn’t mean you can speak Spanish.
19. Other activities
19a) Honours, awards, scholarships
19b) Extra-curricular/Volunteer activities, Interests, Hobbies, Sports
I have written my own children’s fantasy novel which I aim to self-publish. I also sing, rap and play guitar. My passions for fitness and cooking have led me to create my own comedy, nutrition and exercise YouTube channel. I was also part of my university’s Ultimate Frisbee team, as well as the capoeira club.
Here’s a good opportunity to show off how interesting you are! I only did capoeira for about a month (handstands scare me), but it still went in!
20. Are you presently an applicant or do you intend to apply for any other international exchange programmes or scholarships?
21. Have you ever participated on the JET programme?
22. Marital Status
Try to resist writing ‘It’s complicated.’
23. Accompanying Dependents or Co-habiting Family Members
Do you plan to bring any family members or living with any family members in Japan?
24. Do you possess a Full Driver's License?
If you do, you may be required to drive as part of your job, as your teaching placement most likely won’t be walking distance.
Page 5
This page simply instructs to fill out emergency contact information as well as the ‘Self-Assessment Medical Report’ that comes with the application.
I won’t be assisting with the ‘Self-Assessment Medical Report’ within this guide.
Well done on filling out the form! I know it probably wasn’t very fun, but now it’s done!
If you want to make an income online in preparation for the JET Program, you could explore teach from home jobs with platforms such as:
Or check out the guide on side hustles from home below:
Time to move forward with the next stage of the application…
Rethinking Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century