What is the JET Programme?
Click here to visit the JET Programme Brochure
The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme is operated by local
authorities in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Management, Home
Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology;
and the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR).
The JET Programme was started with the purpose of increasing mutual
understanding between the people of Japan and the people of other nations.
It aims to promote internationalisation in Japan's local communities
by helping to improve foreign language education and developing international
exchange at the community level.
Purpose
The JET Programme aims to promote internationalisation at the local
level by inviting young overseas graduates to assist in international
exchange and foreign language education in local governments, boards
of education and junior and senior high schools throughout Japan. It
seeks to foster ties between Japanese citizens (mainly youth) and JET
participants at the person to person level.
Types of Positions
The following three types of positions are available on the
Programme
Assistant Language Teacher (ALT)
This position is by far the most numerous, with over 90% of the Program's
total participants working in this type of position. ALTs are placed
mainly in local boards of education or publicly run junior and senior
high schools and are engaged in language instruction under the guidance
of Language Teachers Consultants or Japanese teachers of foreign languages.
In a very limited number of cases, participants are placed in private
junior and senior high schools through prefectural or designated city
offices.
Coordinator for International Relations (CIR)
CIRs are engaged in activities of an international nature under the
guidance of the division management of offices in local governments
(prefectures, cities, towns or villages) or related organizations.
CIR duties may vary greatly in emphasis and content from one contracting
organization to another.
Sports Exchange Advisor (SEA)*
This new type of CIR position was introduced in the 1994-95 programme
year.
SEAs are placed in prefectural or designated city government offices
or their related divisions. Under the guidance of these offices, SEAs
engage in international exchange through sports.
SEA duties may vary from one contracting organization to another (SEA
since 1994).
 Eligibility
All applicants must:
- hold a Bachelor's degree in any subject by July of the year of departure;
- be a citizen of the country where the recruitment and selection
procedures take place;
- have excellent skills in the designated language (both written and
spoken). (For English-speaking countries this is English, and for
non-English
- speaking countries it is English or the principal language);
- have a keen interest in the country and culture of Japan;
- in principle, be under 40 years of age;
- not have lived in Japan for 3 or more of the last 8 years, nor be
a former participant in the programme for the last 10 years.
Remuneration: Approximately 3,600,000
yen per year after Japanese taxes are deducted.
(This amount is sufficient to cover normal expenses for a single person,
including rent and compulsory insurance payments).
How to Apply for the 2004 JET Programme
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
recruits via the embassies and consulates of Japan participants of the
JET Programme. For detailed information on the application for the 2004
JET Programme, please contact the embassy or consulate of Japan in the
country of your nationality. Find your
embassy
here.
Applications are only accepted ONCE
a year in the late fall. Application deadlines
vary from country to country so you must be sure to check your home
country's deadline.
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