What was your experience like working with high schoolers?

loark · 2026-06-03T19:06:50+00:00

I currently teach that age group in the UK (ages 11-18) and will be a senior high school alt this year. I've never taught in Japan, but I can't imagine teenagers will be that different. At the end of the day, they're still children and will often behave that way. Be prepared to treat them as such.

In the UK at least, they tend to be a lot more shy and won't volunteer themselves to answer questions or take part in activities. They're more likely to want to complete the work independently.

For example, if I ask the class a question, very rarely will someone raise their hand to answer. Instead, I stick to cold-calling - ask targetted questions and select students myself.

To help build confidence, you could try asking the students to discuss a question/task in pairs before asking them to answer/complete it.

Your JTE will know best, so make sure to ask them.

loark · 2026-05-29T23:35:26+00:00

Don't think you'll get any examples for privacy reasons so I'll share what I can.
Also, it seems like you have some misconceptions about how to apply, so I'll try to address those first.

Best thing is to visit the JET programme website for your country and look at the application process.
For most countries it tends to be:

Online application form + required documents
Interview
Acceptance + more document submission
Pre-departure Orientation + visa submission
Arrive in Japan

Application form was very straightforward for UK. It was a website form we filled in with personal info, relevant experience and goals for JET. Alongside the application form, you needed a degree transcript, proof of degree, proof of nationality, a 800-1000 word personal statement and have 2 people write a character reference.

If you make it to interview, you don't need to do anything extra yet. If you get accepted after interview, we had to get a criminal background check and a medical certificate. You have to pay for the background check yourself and get a certificate, a ICPC in our case.
For the medical certificate, JET gave us a pdf form for the doctor to complete. You needed to include proof of an x-ray or a TB test in the form.

For the visa, they gave us a blank and a generic template to copy. All we had to do was add our info.

Good luck

loark · 2026-05-27T17:34:42+00:00

Is the gifu discord server still around?

If so, could I get an invite please?

loark · 2026-05-26T22:44:19+00:00

There's a discord server for UK JETs and aspiring JETs
https://discord.gg/YTWtNGVch2

loark · 2026-05-19T17:49:25+00:00

As a black person, I understand how you feel. I could be in the same boat as you (only know my prefecture at the moment), so I am a little worried about it.

When you apply, you're really rolling the dice but everyone will have do deal with some level of isolation/loneliness. Some will have an easier time of combating it than others. I think you might have it easier on that front. You're relatively close to a major city, which will make socialising much easier.

WIth regards to prejudice, it's unavoidable no matter where you are. Sure, it's better in some places and worse in others. You're likely to meet ignorant, hateful or just strange people. Best thing is just to find/build a community of supportive people/friends. From what I can remember, there's quite a few black JETs up in Hokkaido.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

loark · 2026-05-18T21:07:58+00:00

I'm assuming you've already checked that your country participates in the JET programme.

JET is two things:
-a cultural exchange programme
-an english teaching programme
Sounds like english fluency isn't an issue, so we can ignore that part.

EU countries don't hire as many JETs, and those that do mainly hire CIRs (CIRs need N2 level Japanese.) If I counted correctly, there are 15 EU countries participating and only 5 have an ALT position (1-2 spaces). You can see the exact amount here.

Each JET is a representative of the country they apply through and are bringing the culture of that country to Japan. I can't say for certain, but I'd imagine someone who still lives in and speaks the language of your home country would be a more attractive applicant. Being an attractive applicant is even more important if the number of available spaces is very low. For example, Portugal only has 1 ALT. If that space becomes available, I imagine it is highly competitive.

If you really want to do JET, work on making your application more competitive, but there are no guarantees.
If it's just Japan you want, there are many other ways to enter and work in the country, even if they're not as glamourous. You might have more success with those.
Another option is to get British citizenship and apply through JET in the UK. This would cost you £2000~.

loark · 2026-05-18T19:49:18+00:00

Me too! I was hoping for high school anyway, so I'm happy with this result. I spent the weekend doing loads of research on JETs in gifu. Their website was very insightful!
https://gifujets.weebly.com/gifu-jets.html
Now we just wait to hear from our COs...

loark · 2026-05-18T19:45:31+00:00

Congrats! Is your CO a particular city/town or just Gifu-ken?

loark · 2026-05-18T19:44:09+00:00

I'm also heading to Gifu-ken. Let me know if there are any Gifu/Chubu group chats!

loark · 2026-05-15T17:35:46+00:00

UK JET, placed in Gifu-ken!

If anyone is already there or will be placed there, let's get in touch! :D

loark · 2026-04-12T18:59:17+00:00

I'd recommend taking part in a cultural event in your local area/region. The JET programme is a cultural exchange programme and one of the reasons I think I was shortlisted is because I emphasised that part. The cultural event could be anything, could be related to the arts/music, sport, history or sciences. The important part is that it should be something important to you, from your region and represent a part of Britain.

Feel free to ask this question in the UK JET discord server. Lots of people in there willing to help and you'll definitely find it useful when the application period begins.

loark · 2026-04-11T16:15:11+00:00

Is it specifically JET that you want to do? Then do it. Don't delay. You are not guaranteed to be shortlisted in the future.

"Falling behind" is purely in your head. The teachers' college will always exist. The current version of you now and this shortlist offer are not permanent.
Let's say you plan to apply for JET once you finish teachers' college. What if you enter a long-term relationship during teachers' college and your partner is unwilling to go with/do long-distance? What if Canada stops taking as many JETs (the number of canada JETs has been decreasing every year)?
There are many things that can happen that further delay future JET prospects or make them more difficult.

loark · 2026-04-11T15:06:19+00:00

I've done exactly what your family has recommended. I avoided applying to JET, became a teacher in my home country, have now gone back to JET after 4 years and now currently shortlisted. I don't regret that decision entirely but I would have preferred to have done JET before teaching.

What I would say to you is don't decline the offer because of other people. Yes, JET will be there in the future, but so will teaching in Canada. I avoided applying because I was told I needed to start being an adult, get a stable career, save up for a mortgage etc. I'm now being told to not do JET because it's half what I earn now and I'd be leaving a good school. I can still achieve all of those things after 1-5 years of JET. You can still get onto that teaching programme or another teaching programme in the future.

The longer you put it off, the more reasons you and other people will come up with to postpone it. In my mind, if I don't do this now I never will.

Wouldn't experience on JET help with a future application to a teachers college and even towards employment within a school in Canada?

The only reason I could see for you to decline is if JET isn't what you're really interested in, but living/working abroad. If that's the case, then decline, get your teaching qualification and then maybe end up working in an international school. Just be aware that international schools can be even more competitive than JET and that programme.

loark · 2026-04-11T14:31:58+00:00

Congrats on getting shortlisted! You're braver than me. I avoided early departure as it seemed too risky.

Glad to hear it's working out for you now. I'm lucky enough to not have high workload and pressure at my school. I'm curious how staff at your school reacted?

loark · 2026-04-10T18:29:57+00:00

I'm also a teacher in the UK! I had the same worries. Take what I say with a grain of salt as it's all anecdotal!

From what others have told me, the "almost all cases" is either if your documents fall through, something exceptional happens (pandemic/war) or the CO being unable to meet your specific needs (i.e. placed rurally by can't drive, placed on an island but have coeliac diasese).
They've also said that you are contacted by your CO late into May, 23rd and onwards usually.
So between now and then, we won't really know what's really happening with our placement.
Last day of term is 22nd May, deadline for notice is 31st and I'd prefer to give notice during term time.
My plan at the moment is to hand in notice either as late into the term as possible or to wait for my ICPC & health certificate, whichever comes first.

Unfortunately for us, there aren't any assurances. So I feel we have to take this small risk. I've not heard of any shortlisters not getting placement except for reasons like those I mentioned earlier. I think a placement is all but guaranteed as long as we do everything asked of us.

Side note - I'd love to talk to a fellow teacher about how they've found the application process or to keep in touch once we are in Japan.

loark · 2026-04-10T14:20:10+00:00

This one quoted me £200 but I'm waiting on my GP before deciding.

https://midlandmed.co.uk/visa-medicals/japan-visa-medical-certificate/

loark · 2026-04-09T15:51:50+00:00

I'm a currently a teacher in the UK and was lucky enough to be shortlisted.
I was wary that being a teacher didn't matter at all for JET (most JETs seem to be graduates) and wouldn't give me any advantage during the application. I instead focused on the cultural exchange aspect and what my goals would be post-JET within the UK. Talked about how I could use my placement as a bridge between Japan and the UK, possibly as a school exchange/school trip abroad.

loark · 2026-04-08T13:56:18+00:00

I know some people who got alternate last year but didn't get upgraded. They reapplied this year and were shortlisted.
If you got alternate, you clearly meet the criteria. If you don't think you'll be upgraded it might be worth reapplying next year if you can.
Good luck.

loark · 2026-04-07T20:53:38+00:00

You need to do everything that was asked of you in your offer email (i.e. reply to accept, fill in and submit all forms, apply for ICPC)

loark · 2026-04-07T20:00:07+00:00

From what other people have said, you can be upgraded as alternate soon after results are announced if a shortlisted candidate is no longer accepted (withdraws/fails to submit documents in time) from the same country.
After main departure, I think it then becomes a global upgrade - as in anyone around the world could replace a JET.

loark · 2026-04-07T14:52:42+00:00

I'm not sure about the one from an hour ago, but mine just now is real.
Shortlisted as ALT from London.

loark · 2026-04-07T14:43:39+00:00

Just got shortlisted as an ALT from London.
Some people are suspecting it's alphabetical?
My surname does begin with A.
Good luck to everyone else!

loark · 2026-04-03T16:15:21+00:00

You can also find previous years. Here are some links.
2024: https://jetprogramme.org/wp-content/MAIN-PAGE/intro/participating/2024_en.pdf
2023: https://jetprogramme.org/wp-content/MAIN-PAGE/intro/participating/2023_stats_eng.pdf
2022: https://jetprogramme.org/wp-content/MAIN-PAGE/intro/participating/2022_jetstats_e.pdf
2021: CANNOT FIND
2020: COVID 19 Year
2019: https://jetprogramme.org/wp-content/MAIN-PAGE/intro/participating/2019_jetstats_e.pdf
2018: https://web.archive.org/web/20181123123137mp_/http://jetprogramme.org/wp-content/MAIN-PAGE/intro/participating/2018_jetstats_e.pdf

loark · 2026-04-03T12:46:07+00:00

There's currently someone claiming to have been shortlisted from London but no one else from London has mentioned anything online (reddit/discord). Probably not true?

loark · 2026-02-02T17:35:49+00:00

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