Application for the 2022 JET Programme – Assistant Language Teacher Position are now open

JET Programme

The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme was launched in 1987 to boost the internationalization of Japanese communities and to strengthen mutual understanding between Japan and other nations by giving professionals from various countries employment opportunities in local Japanese municipalities. Over the years, the number of programme participants steadily increased. In 2019, there were 5,761 participants on the Programme from 57 countries, including the Philippines.

The JET Programme is conducted by local authorities and other organizations (Contracting Organizations) of Japan with the help of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR).

All interested individuals are welcome to join the JET Programme. Successful JET Programme applicants are invited to Japan as representatives of their countries and will be assigned in local authorities including public and private elementary, junior high, or senior high schools. The JET Programme demands at least a year-long commitment from its participants. As such, it is preferable for participants to be adaptable, mentally and physically capable of performing various job duties, and to have a deep interest in Japan.

Upon the duration of the Programme, the participants are expected to build strong relationships with people in their assigned communities in Japan through various language and cultural exchange activities. Ideally, upon returning to their home countries, participants would not only keep their ties with their local communities in Japan, but also use their expanded network and experience to further develop the bilateral relations between Japan and their home countries.

The JET Programme is one of the largest exchange programmes in the world. It has gained an excellent reputation globally over the last 30 years. Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its Japanese Embassies and Consulates in participating countries, facilitates the recruitment, application, and selection process for the JET Programme.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) will work in private or public schools, or local boards of education in the prefecture or municipality they will be assigned to. ALTs’ primary task is to assist in classes led by Japanese Teachers of English in the following manners:

• Assisting in the preparation of teaching materials;
• Planning and supervising extracurricular activities for students, such as English club or sport activities;
• Organizing cultural or international exchange programs.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must:

• be interested in Japan and be willing to deepen their knowledge and appreciation of Japan after their arrival; be motivated to participate in and initiate international exchange activities in the local community; make effort to study or continue studying the Japanese language prior to and after arriving in Japan.
• be both mentally and physically healthy.
• be willing and able to adapt to living and working in Japan, and be determined to responsibly complete their period of participation.
• hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher, or obtain such qualifications by the designated arrival date.
• be a Filipino citizen.
• be adept in contemporary standard pronunciation, rhythm and intonation in English and possess excellent language ability that can be applied accurately and appropriately; have the ability to form sentences in a comprehensive and logical manner. (See Note 1)
• not have participated on the Programme since the 2017 JET Programme year or have participated on the Programme for more than 5 years in total.
• not have declined a position on the Programme after receiving notification of assignment in the previous JET Programme year (excluding cases where it is accepted that the Participant had a valid, inevitable reason for withdrawing).
• not have lived in Japan for 6 or more years in total since 2010.
• have a desire to proactively maintain relations with Japan, even after completion of the Programme.
• concerning entry into Japan for participation on the Programme, agree to reside in Japan under the status of residence stipulated in Article 2-2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.
• be willing to obey all Japanese laws.
• Applicants with a suspended jail term must have finished their period of probation by the time they submit their application form.
• be interested in the Japanese education system, particularly foreign language education in Japan.
• be interested in working with children.
• be qualified as a language teacher or be strongly motivated to take part in the teaching of foreign languages.

Additional evaluation points will be given to applicants who:

• Have a bachelor’s degree or higher in English or Education.
• Have a professional language teaching license and/or experience (especially in classroom setting).
• Have a general teaching experience or qualifications. (See Note 2)
• Have a Japanese language background (JLPT passer) and/or Japan study background. (See Note 2)
• Have experience traveling/living in foreign countries.

Note:

1. An applicant’s ability to use the English language accurately and appropriately will be assessed based on the information he or she will provide in the application documents, as well as the results of an in-house English exam.
2. The screening process also involves a teaching demonstration in English and a Nihongo conversation test.

Application: 

• Please follow the instructions carefully. The screening committee takes into consideration the applicants’ ability to follow the guidelines and instructions.
• The following application instructions might be subject to change due to the current pandemic situation. Please check this website frequently for the latest instructions.
• PLEASE COMPILE YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS INTO THREE (3) COMPLETE, SEPARATE SETS placed inside a brown/transparent envelope. Please do not use clear book.
• Do not staple the forms and other documents.

• Application Form (Word)  printed in A4 size paper
• Application Guidelines (PDF) Please read through the guidelines thoroughly before starting your application.
• Attachment Chart Sheet of Application (PDF)
• Self- Report of Medical Condition (s) (Word) All applicants are required to submit this form with their application.
• Statement of Physician (Word)

All application materials required for this program are due on December 3, 2021 (Friday) and must be submitted via post or courier (LBC, Grab Express, Lalamove, etc) to:

Note ：This year, we accept application submission via post or courier only due to the spread of infectious disease. Considering delivery schedule by courier service, especially in year-end season, early submission is encouraged.

For FAQ, please visit https://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/11_000001_00565.html
For more details about JET Programme, please visit http://jetprogramme.org/en/.

Tentative Expected Timeline: The schedule is subject to change.

Source: Embassy of Japan in the Philippines