The 2012 Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme

 

JET 2012 applications now open. Closing date: Thusday 15 December 2011.

The Government of Japan is calling for applications from young South Africans who would like to spend at least one year in Japan as Assistant Language Instructors (ALTs) under a highly successful international exchange programme for university graduates.

Applications should be returned to the Embassy of Japan in Pretoria:

Embassy of Japan
JET Programme
259 Baines Street
Groenkloof
Pretoria
0181

Telephone: 012 452 1607

General Information

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme seeks to enhance internationalisation in Japan, by promoting mutual understanding between the people of Japan and those of other nations. The Programme aims to enhance foreign language education, and promote international exchange at the local level through the fostering of ties between Japanese youth and foreign youth alike.

The objectives of the Programme are being achieved by offering JET Programme participants (hereinafter, participants) the opportunity to serve in public and private primary, junior high and senior high schools.

The Programme is conducted by local authorities and other organisations (hereinafter, Contracting Organisations) of Japan in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (hereinafter, CLAIR)        

The JET Programme started in 1987 with cooperation from participating country governments. In 2009, there were 4,436 participants in the Programme from 36 countries

As the JET Programme has achieved an excellent reputation over the last 23 years, it is of great importance that this high level of respectability be maintained. Participants are invited to Japan as representatives of their countries. As such, they are expected to be responsible in all their activities, especially those concerning the promotion of mutual understanding between nations. It is therefore desirable that participants be adaptable, mentally and physically capable of performing the job duties, and have a positive interest in Japan.

Participants enter a one-year contact with a Contracting Organisation. The cost of transportation from the participants’ country of origin to Japan, as well as remuneration, will be funded by taxpayers of the Contracting Organisation where the participant is employed. Because participants serve as a civil servant of their contracting organization, they are required to uphold behaviour befitting a civil servant.

Withdrawal from the programme after receipt of placement or early termination of contract should be avoided as it causes many problems for Contracting Organizations.

Position and duties

Participants are engaged in language instruction. ALTs are placed mainly in local boards of education or publicly run primary, junior high and senior high schools. There may be a very limited number of cases in which the participants are placed in private primary, junior high and senior high schools through the prefectural offices or designated city offices.

Participants who are assigned to local boards of education or primary, junior high and senior high schools are to carry out their duties as Assistant Language Teachers under the guidance of Language Teachers' Consultants or Japanese teachers of the foreign language. The following is a brief outline of duties, though they may vary from one Contracting Organisation to another.

  • Assistance in classes taught by Japanese foreign language teachers in junior and senior high schools.
  • Assistance in foreign language training activities, etc., at primary/elementary schools.
  • Assistance in the preparation of materials for teaching a foreign language.
  • Assistance in the language training of Japanese teachers of the foreign language, etc.
  • Assistance in such activities as instruction of foreign language clubs.
  • Provision of information on language and other related subjects for people such as Teachers' Consultants and Japanese teachers of the foreign language (e.g. word usage, pronunciation, etc.).
  • Assistance in foreign language speech contests.
  • Engagement in local international exchange activities.
  • Other duties as specified by the Contracting Organisation.

Detailed information and Application Form

Application Guidelines

Application Form Instruction

Application Form

Self Assesment Mdical Report

Certificate of Health

Statement of Physician

 

Other information

Please visit the JET Page on Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) site for further information

Other useful sites include: www.jetprogramme.org and www.jetalumni.org

Further information may be obtained from:

The Embassy of Japan
Cultural and Information Section
259 Baines Street
Groenkloof
Pretoria
0181

Telephone: 012 452 1607
Facsimile: 012 460 3880

Email: ryan.keet@embjapan.org.za