THE APPLICATION ESSAY (dun dun duuun)
If, by chance, you read my post on the application, you would have seen typed many times how friggen important this thing is. If not, (read THIS first) please realise HOW IMPORTANT THIS FRIGGEN THING IS. So, I will go through how I wrote my essay, then I’ll post it at the bottom. (DISCLAIMER: To be used as an EXAMPLE ONLY. There are plenty of examples of these on the web anyway)
First step. Brainstorm. I started by answering the following questions; what do I want to do for/ bring to the Program? What do you want to do for your country upon returning? (Specifically for relationships, strengthening ties, exchange programs etc), what do you want to do for Japan? What do you want to do for your students? What do you want to do for yourself? Why Japan? Why the JET Program? And then I thought about qualities that I have that would make a good representative in Japan; because remember, you won’t just become another teacher standing in the classroom, but perhaps the first foreigner that some kids meet. You become an ambassador for your country; firstly to your students and your fellow teachers, then their families as they tell them about you, then to those in your neighbourhood and those you see as you walk past them. Also in this part I researched the political relationship between Japan and my country of Australia and put in some relevant relationships like trade and tourism, which shows… well… you’ve looked into things more deeply.
Step 2: Sell yourself …… Not literally. Like on a resume, you have to show your possible employer what kind of qualities you have in only a few words. Here we can use phrases, but you have to choose only the best bits. “Willing to learn”, “Interest in Japanese language/ culture/ whatever” and being “able to adapt” are all qualities that they are looking for. And try to describe yourself in about 4 choice words.
Step 3: Follow your guide Do not overstep the parameters that your embassy has set out. If they want “12pt Times New Roman” then do it. If they want double spacing; double space it. If they want it written in hieroglyphics with the blood of your enemies; YOU DO THAT. You don’t want to give them any excuse to put your essay aside. Similarly, use all the space you can. Don’t give them a page and half when you have a maximum of 2 pages. Give them the full 2 pages. Make every word count; you’ve got limited space, use it well.
Step 4: ---> SPELL CHECK, PROOFREAD!!!!!! <--- You’re being considered for an English teaching position, so what’s the use of an English teacher who can’t spell? This is also when a former English teacher/ lecturer or parental or whatever comes in real handy and you get them to read it and give advice to make it better. I must have pestered over a dozen people before I sent the thing off; but that’s because I don’t have a lot of confidence in my writing. Also, a second, third… twelfth opinion helps.
Other points!! Have a thesaurus handy. Saying "this shows" or another phrase/word over and over again is tedious to read. Change it up. Don't mention money or the fact, only if this is the case, that the majority of your knowledge of Japan comes from anime or manga. If you want to mention it as a way to show that you have an interest in Japanese things, then that's fine, but don't waffle on about how you've learnt all about the Japanese school system from Ouran High School Host Club or Japanese history from Inuyasha; it probably won't go down well.
Once that is done, and you are happy with your essay, send that baby off with the rest of your application and hope for the best. :3
If I’ve left anything out, or if you have questions, absolutely message me!!! And now, as promised above; MY essay, exactly as I sent it last year.
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There are many reasons why I would like to participate in the JET program; however I will highlight my top three.
Firstly, I have engaged in formal Japanese language education since the age of nine; continuing through all levels of education through to university. My studies at the tertiary level were all based on Japanese language and culture and secondary school education; culminating in a double degree in a Bachelor of Arts (Japanese) and a Bachelor of Education. My aim with these qualifications, ultimately, is to become a Japanese language teacher and while I have achieved a certain level of proficiency in Japanese, I strongly wish to further educate and improve myself in the language and in the Japanese culture. I believe that the JET program gives me the best opportunity in this regard.
My second reason originates from my aspiration to open the world to my students. An ALT, as I see it, does not only provide assistance in learning and teaching English, but aides in international understanding through education. My aim in this regard is to not only learn more of the Japanese way of life and culture, but to impart my first-hand knowledge of life in Australia and to teach mutual understanding and respect of the two different cultures.
During my travels to Japan, I have met and home-stayed with many Japanese people and I have found them to be not only incredibly friendly, but respectful and courteous. It is with these past home-stay families and other friends; I wish to reacquaint myself with them again.
I wish to reciprocally give a similar image of Australia; its people and lifestyle. While I have been to Japan, I understand that living there will be a challenge and there will be aspects of culture that will need to be learned and observed; I look forward to these experiences. Similarly, while in Japan, and upon my return to Australia, I would like to encourage young people of both nations to experience living in another culture.
My final goal is to fortify the strong bond between Japan and Australia. These two nations are important global trading partners and are integral to each other’s tourism, manufacturing and produce industries. With the rise of the internet and the ability to instantly communicate with anyone, anywhere in the world, learning another language, such as Japanese, opens the door to so many opportunities. With every passing year, the ability to communicate in Japanese increases in importance, and so, being able to articulate oneself in Japanese is advantageous. As I have formally learnt Japanese for most of my life, I have a respectable command of the mechanics of the Japanese language.
It is for these reasons and many more that I would like to spend my time and effort living, learning and teaching in Japan.
I am an outgoing, conscientious, versatile person who excels in challenging environment. Through my work as an ALT in Japan, I believe that I can be a driving force for greater mutual understanding between Japan and Australia, and be an ambassador for Australia and its people. Lastly, be an influence in the lives of the students and people that I come into contact with.
I am eager to see what doors the JET program could open for me and sincerely hope that I am given the opportunity to contribute to this program.
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EDIT NOTE:<\strong>
Having Japanese speaking experience and being a teacher, being job-wise a “perfect fit” for the program, as many have told me, does NOT guarantee you free passage to Japan on the JET Program. There were people at my interview who were seasoned teachers and a guy who had studied in Japan at the junior high level, and none of them got in. The only people from my interview block (early afternoon) to be accepted were; another girl who was teaching herself hiragana, had never been to Japan, and had a bachelor’s degree in music and performing arts and, obviously, myself. There were hundreds interviewed that day, and only 19 got in from my state in Australia; 138 from the entire nation overall. Try to be the best “you” you can be on that day.
