What is dating like in small towns? I want to apply for the jet programme but I'm worried I'll end in the inaka and not have many options
Hello there! NGL as a female, in the super inaka, options are not great, generally speaking.
It really depends on
- Your Japanese level (if you are specifically looking for a Japanese partner)- How open you are to putting yourself out there in new situations to meet people- Probably the most important of all, how many people who live in your town/area that are close to you in age/within that age range that you find acceptable in a partner.
In my town, everyone is either, my students (from ES+JHS), SHS students, their parents or grandparents. So no one I would be ok with age-wise. The nearest town, about 20km away, has a slightly wider age range of people living there but not drastically. Travelling to cities like Kyoto or Osaka and trying there is probably a good choice, really anywhere that has universities. You’ll find a lot of chances to meet people closer to your own age.
Where I live, many of the male ALTs have gotten JP girlfriends, but I find in my town the guys are a little intimidated of the female foreigners and are very shy to interact. Also a few foreigners/alts are dating each other too,
That’s not to say it’s not possible, but it’d be best to apply for JET without having any expectations about meeting people. There are ways to find people who are looking to date, like apps, getting set up through friends etc etc so come with an open mind and heart and you’ll be fine :)
Hello Leilani and Amy! I enjoy your photos very much, job well done! Actually I have some question for Leilani regarding the jet program, hope you would not mind:))) 1 Do we need to take English exam such as ielts? 2 Do we need education related degree? 3 How long is the program? 4 Do they help you to find accommodation when you first reach japan? 5 Is there other job, other than teaching? 6. What do you do normally for your job? Thank you so so much:))) And happy belated birthday to you! :D
Thank you, we’re glad you enjoy them :) Of course, I don’t mind answering!
1) No English exams are required but an excellent command of the English language is necessary (being a native English speaker is usually fine as long as you understand basic grammar)
2) No, you do not :) I should mention, however, that the JET Program in particular is known for being highly selective. So, it helps to have some teaching experience even if it’s just tutoring.
3) The program is based on a yearly contract, but it’s really up to the Board of Education (BOEs) that you work for. Most BOEs will allow you to renew up to 5 years.
4) Most people are placed in an apartment or house selected by the Board of Education, so I didn’t have to go on an apartment hunt at all. If you are unhappy with your place, you can always try to move but in most cases there are perks in staying with your assigned housing. Some, not all, participants receive subsidized or partly subsidized housing (I only pay for half of my rent). However, most placements through the JET Program are randomly selected and in the inaka (Japanese countryside). I used to live in a city with 3 million people and my placement town only has 40,000, but I adjusted pretty quickly. I also live about 2 hours from Tokyo, which is pretty lucky. Some people are placed further out, so you can’t really be too picky about it. You can make placement requests, but married folks, people with families, or those with medical needs are given priority.
5) There are two positions you can apply for through JET: ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) and CIR (Coordinator for International Relations). The former is usually placed at a school (or several) while CIRs are placed in offices and need a higher level of Japanese language abilities. You can read more details about the two jobs here: http://www.jetprogramme.org/e/faq/faq03job.html Both positions require “teaching” or assisting in some way. I know people who started with this program, found out teaching wasn’t for them, stuck it out, and applied for a “normal” job. Most “normal” jobs in Japan require a high or fluent level of the Japanese language but there are few exceptions.
6) Your job description will depend on your BOE and your school. There are 2 other JET Program ALTs in my town and their workload is different from mine. I work M-F at a junior high school (contract hours are 8:00-3:45), but the school wants me to be there at 7:50 (we have daily morning meetings) and stay after school for speech contest practice until 5:30 or 6 (most Japanese teachers will stay at school until 8 or later, so I am almost always the first one to leave). For speech contest, I train students in pronunciation, intonation, gestures, etc. It’s not a problem for me to do so, because I really like my students and I don’t live too far. I prepare Team Teaching lessons that I teach with a JTE (Japanese Teacher of English). Sometimes, the teacher wants to focus on the textbook and sometimes, they let me do whatever I want as long as I’m reviewing a specific grammar point. I usually do daily conversation practice, games, contests, writing exercises, songs, etc. Your freedom with the lessons will depend on the teacher. Last year, I was at a different school and one grade was so behind that I didn’t have space to make any of my own lessons because we had to only focus on the textbook. It was really boring as you can imagine, but junior high school students have to prepare for high school entrance exams. I also alternate between 3 different elementary schools every Wednesday afternoon and go to a kindergarten class 6 times a year. These are usually really fun, but require a lot of energy. I usually do Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes, teach a basic English lesson (no reading or writing, just introducing new vocabulary and expressions like greetings, colors, numbers, animals, etc.), and then play a game. I also do a volunteer adult eikawa (conversation class) to stay involved in the community every other Thursday.
I would also like to add that there is a lot of negative information on the web, especially the JET forum. However, I wouldn’t bother with it. I’ve really enjoyed my experience here so far. I receive great support and company from the ALTs in my town. Sometimes the kids are difficult but they’re kids and I usually get over it by the end of the day. Most days, they’re just funny and adorable. I’ve also participated in cultural events like tea ceremonies, festivals, and Japanese dinners which were all really great. I also picked up a lot of Japanese I wouldn’t have been able to learn just in a textbook back in the U.S. When I need to, I stay in all day (I literally just lay in bed al day thinking about how tired I am and how much my body aches) or make a trip out to the city. There are different ways to refresh yourself.
Whew, sorry for the overload of information! It was probably more than you wanted, but I hope it helped :)
