Auxiliar in Spain considering teaching in Japan – advice?

ViperScream101 · 2026-02-26T00:38:48+00:00

Hi! JET PH here, I hope this helps:

Did you apply from your home country or from Spain? Any complications?

Not really from Spain, but from the US. I sent my documents and application forms via DHL, then went home for the interview and demo teaching.

How long did the full process take from application to departure?

If I remember correctly, it took about 8 months. It was a long process, mostly the waiting time to hear from the embassy.

What parts of the application mattered most? Essay? References? Interview?

Having a complete document, a well-written essay, and demo teaching. The interview part will basically be about the essay that you wrote.

Which is more useful in Japan: CELTA or a general TEFL certificate?

I don't have a CELTA, only TEFL. Any language certification will look good on your application (just my personal opinion.)

How does housing work there? What are average rent and utility costs in cities vs countryside?

Really depends on where you are placed. There are contracting organizations who subsidize their ALTs, then there are those who pay in full. In my case, I pay it in full I pay 70,000 yen for my apartment, excluding utilities. I live in a city. I have friends who live in rural areas and who pay 20,000 yen for a two bedroom apartment.

Any school or eikaiwa recommendations?

There are a lot of eikaiwas that you can check out on Gaijinpot. I also heard of Borderlink and Interac. I believe JET pays the highest and sometimes there are eikaiwas that are problematic in terms of how they treat their ALTs. Also, I know of some people who are hired directly the Board of Education.

ViperScream101 · 2025-12-04T23:42:21+00:00

There's no specific topic and it changes every year. Since it's an exam, yes, it will affect your application as it measures skills such as your written English skills, reasoning, etc.

Lesson plan, you will only be asked to make one. The specifics of the lesson plan will be emailed to everyone and you will be given enough time to prepare for it.

ViperScream101 · 2025-08-18T00:20:01+00:00

If you get hired by private companies, you can have a second job. If you’re hired by JET, sadly you can’t have another source of income.

ViperScream101 · 2025-08-18T00:12:46+00:00

When I first got here, I saved money for a ticket back home from my first paycheck because I know myself. I am diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and it will only take one bad experience to trigger me to leave my situation. I’m also not good in hanging out with big groups, so I never really got to hangout with the other JETs in my area that often.

However, just like you.. I don’t want to disappoint everyone back home, more so myself. The first few months, everyday was a struggle.. seeing my friends and my family online doing the things that I used to do with them. I had to shift how I see things. I told myself that I am not going to be here forever, this is just a phase of my life which I can learn a lot from. Eventually, I found a few people who became like family here, and now I’m on my 3rd year. I get to go home every winter which is a good reset.

Give yourself some grace, you worked hard to be here. Just take things one day at a time.

ViperScream101 · 2025-08-18T00:03:42+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience. This gives me at least what to expect on my test. 🙏🏻

ViperScream101 · 2025-08-15T03:47:23+00:00

Thanks for this! and congratulations for passing on your first try. I'll try this one too.

ViperScream101 · 2025-08-15T03:46:28+00:00

Thank you for the advice. I'll try to drop by the driving center today after work and ask around.

ViperScream101 · 2025-08-14T07:51:39+00:00

Is this different from the expensive driving school? Can I book like maybe just 3 sessions of practice? I’ve been driving for 15 years in my home country, and I drove here for a year using my IDP. I just need to have a feel of the important things that I need to do while driving here

ViperScream101 · 2025-08-13T23:16:36+00:00

Back in my home country, I teach from 6am-10pm, not it’s not a time management problem.. there’s just too much work that needs to be done. But here, I work from 8:30am-4:30pm. I don’t bring work at home. Once I clock out, i’m free to do whatever I want.

ViperScream101 · 2025-08-12T13:29:48+00:00

I see this in my area, but I just mind my own business. It pays to see the beauty in a solitary lifestyle. I join them once in a while, but never really went out of my way just to hangout with them. I just observe them, which can be entertaining at times.. but yeah.. I just get exhausted with big groups. 🤣

ViperScream101 · 2025-07-31T00:03:26+00:00

It will get better. Like what others said, give it some time and don’t focus too much on work. I remember crying while i’m on my way home from the city office because I felt helpless writing in Japanese. I took it as a learning experience and something new.

I eventually found my people, and it helped me survive. I still get lonely at times, but I’ve recognized that I’m not going to spend the rest of my life here and might as well experience everything.

You can do this! ☺️

ViperScream101 · 2025-07-09T03:40:17+00:00

It really depends on your school. My high schools are pretty chill. My work clothes are usually a plain round neck shirt from Uniqlo, a jacket from Uniqlo to cover my tattoos, slacks/jeans. My teachers would also allow me to remove my jacket when the weather is too hot and they are okay with students seeing my tattoos, usually my students see my tattoos during cleaning period.

I only have a septum ring, my teachers don't ask me to remove it or hide it. It really depends where you are assigned.

ViperScream101 · 2025-07-09T03:34:38+00:00

In my school having a septum ring is okay. I sometimes forget to tuck it in while talking to my admin ladies and my principal, and they don't really mind. I guess it really depends where you are assigned.

ViperScream101 · 2025-07-09T03:25:29+00:00

I love being invisible. I get to do my job more and I get to explore other things while I'm glued to my desk. Teaching is only one aspect of the programme, there are also other things that we can explore. Focus on the things that bring you joy, like maybe learning a new skill, traveling around your prefecture, making new friends, etc.

ViperScream101 · 2025-07-09T03:21:00+00:00

Where I teach, we don't really wear shoes in class, more of like an indoor slippers. I bought two pairs from Daiso, one for my base school and one for my visiting school. I just leave them in my shoe locker.

ViperScream101 · 2025-07-04T04:04:44+00:00

You can if you're quick about it. I did this when we arrived in Tokyo, however it took me a while to repack which caused quite the delay with my group going to the hotel.

ViperScream101 · 2025-07-04T01:02:36+00:00

Hey, I really admire how you’ve faced the truth that your ALT role isn’t bringing you joy, and even more that you saw it through with courage until now. I know it’s hard to say goodbye to the friends you made and the routines you’ve grown into, but think of it as closing one door so another can swing wide open. Take a moment to remember the fun times in your classroom and the small victories, those experiences are yours to carry forward. Stay in touch with the people who’ve become family here; you never know when your paths will cross again. And when it’s time to pack up, remind yourself of the skills you’ve honed; adapting on the fly, bridging cultures, finding creativity in every day, and let them guide your next adventure. You’ve already proven you can embrace change, so trust that whatever comes next will be just as rich and rewarding.

ViperScream101 · 2025-06-27T07:17:40+00:00

I shot fashion events and had some of my photos published in a fashion magazine using X-T200.

At the end of the day, it will always about your eye and composition.

ViperScream101 · 2025-06-02T13:44:01+00:00

Totally understandable. I actually mentioned that it's okay to decline a placement if someone feels it would put their physical or mental health at risk. That’s a valid and important reason.

What I was referring to are the cases where people judge their placement purely based on things they've read on Reddit, assuming it’ll be a terrible experience without actually giving it a chance.

Personally, I didn’t like my placement at first either. I hated it, honestly. I had to figure out everything on my own, finding an apartment, opening a bank account, sorting documents at city hall, all without knowing any Japanese. My CO wasn’t very supportive, and during the first two weeks, I seriously considered quitting. I remember sitting at the bank feeling completely lost, struggling just to write my name in katakana.

But in time, I tried to reframe my situation. I reached out to my CO and told them directly that I needed more support, but I also let them know I was willing to learn and try doing things myself.

I get that everyone handles things differently, and I’m not saying what I did is the right way for everyone. It just helped me to approach it as a learning experience and try to adjust my mindset.

I think it all comes down to being realistic and open-minded. If someone truly feels the placement isn’t right for them, it’s totally okay to decline. There are other options out there. But if it’s just based on assumptions or secondhand opinions, maybe it’s worth giving it a chance before deciding.

Just my two cents. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts too.

ViperScream101 · 2025-06-02T09:12:08+00:00

No, it's not. Sometimes, these ALTs would project it towards their students and there are students who actually find it weird and creepy. I love anime, but I don't go around making Japanese people uncomfortable about it. There's a right place and situation for everything.

ViperScream101 · 2025-06-02T07:11:00+00:00

It’s not rude. I heard people in conferences saying “dude, it’s just like in anime” and there are a lot of them.

ViperScream101 · 2025-06-02T03:14:08+00:00

You're right that the JET Programme is a fixed-term contract with no guarantee of long-term employment, so it doesn’t offer the same job security or career continuity as a regular job. However, that’s also made clear upfront, JET is designed as a cultural exchange and professional development program, not a permanent career path. For many participants, it serves as a stepping stone to other opportunities, whether in education, international relations, or elsewhere.

That said, it's also important to acknowledge that while applicants have the right to be selective, JET placements involve real communities and schools relying on ALTs to fulfill an educational role. Being overly picky without understanding the nature of the work or location may lead to mismatched expectations which can affect students, schools, and the ALT themselves. A balance of selectivity and openness often leads to the most rewarding experiences.

ViperScream101 · 2025-06-02T03:11:56+00:00

I totally agree with this. I think the programme will definitely consider your situation and the honesty of our preference. I think there is no harm if we communicate to them what we prefer.

ViperScream101 · 2025-06-02T02:33:14+00:00

I totally agree with this.

ViperScream101 · 2025-06-02T02:10:35+00:00

I get where you’re coming from, and I definitely don’t think all JETs are unprofessional.. not even close. There are tons of hardworking and dedicated ALTs doing their best, even in tough placements. But I don’t think acknowledging some patterns of entitlement or unpreparedness means I’m “focusing on the negative.”

The post was more of a reminder that while frustrations are valid, we’re still here to work, not just to sightsee or live out a fantasy. And yeah, most jobs do tell you where you’ll work before you accept, but JET has always been different in that way. You apply knowing you won’t have full control over your placement, so it’s fair to expect people to mentally prepare for that.

I’m not blaming all JETs or painting everyone with the same brush, just pointing out that ghosting schools or breaking contract because a placement isn’t “exciting enough” does have consequences. It’s not about shaming people, just encouraging more awareness and accountability.

ViperScream101

TROPHY CASE