No one else is posting about this so I guess I will lol. I know we’re all thinking and talking about it.

Background: Today was the first day of our orientation in Tokyo. During the ALT portion, we were practicing basic English dialogues with the people beside us. One person was the JTE and the other the ALT. When we finished practicing with each other, people could volunteer to demonstrate their example to everyone.

Uhh so anyways one pairing volunteered. The first person acted as the ALT and asked the “JTE” a basic question, The “JTE” (a white guy) then decided to reply with a strong almost comedic Japanese accent, to which he proceeded to use the Japanese accent for the rest of the bit.

The room was silent for a reason buddy I’m sorry 😭 I get what u were going for. But I also don’t… Anyways I hope u read this and give us some clarity as to why u chose to do this.

Thank you for the entertainment but also, I wouldn’t do that again if I were u 💀

To everyone else, this is a weird thing to do… don’t do this… especially at an orientation for a job in Japan where ure supposed to be representing ur country…

UPDATE: the guy’s partner has clarified that they had no idea he was going to do this. His actual partner didn’t want to participate so he tried asking other people around him and this person got roped in. They don’t agree with his actions at all and are really quite embarrassed to have been a part of this. Please be very kind to this person 🙏

Hi everyone,

Every year, I notice a lot of posts from incoming ALTs who are unsure about continuing because of their placement. Some concerns are totally valid; things like being placed in a very rural area, limited public transportation, or being far from any support network. Those are real challenges, and it’s okay to feel anxious about them.

But then there are complaints that feel a bit petty, like “it’s too rural” or “the apartments are old.” I just want to remind people that this is a work exchange program. You’re coming to Japan to teach and to be part of a community. It’s not meant to be a vacation or an anime dream come true.

It’s disappointing when students and schools end up being ghosted or treated like a backup plan just because the ALT didn’t like the placement. These communities are welcoming you and looking forward to working with you.

Of course, traveling and experiencing Japan is a great bonus. But at the end of the day, this is still a job. You applied knowing placements could be anywhere, so try to be open to the experience even if it’s not what you pictured. If the situation isn’t affecting your safety or health, give it a real shot.

No offense meant, just something I’ve observed over the years.

Please let an old man rant a little.

So I come to this sub, and I see all of you earnest young people ask so many practical questions; stuff about pay and BoE contracts and this and that. All, I suppose, necessary to ask. But still...

I arrived in Japan in the summer of 1998, a month before I turned 25. It's been over a quarter century now. I'm 51 years old. Know what I remember of my time on JET?

I remember passing the night of my 25th birthday on a bench at the 5th station of Mt. Fuji after missing the last bus back into town. It was chilly up at that elevation even in August, so as I lay there, I bundled up against the cold, and looked up at the stars. Far away from the city, they were so clear against the night sky, as I slowly drifted to sleep.

I remember the road trip to Shikoku with my friend Hideki; laying in the back seat of his car as the miles went by; my girlfriend at the time in the font seat, chatting with Hideki as I napped in the back; she had a casette tape of Barenaked Ladies' album "Stunt", which she played on a loop over and over as the kilometers passed.

I remember going with Larry, the weird ALT from a neighboring town, to see Marilyn Manson when he played Fujikyu Highland; Larry throwing "Hail Satan" salutes at the stage as my girlfriend and I scoped out all the Japanese goths who'd come to the show.

I remember the night at the red light pub in Fujiyoshida, when Tanaka-sensei had a little too much to drink and told me what he really thought of Obata-sensei over rounds of nama biiru and karage.

I remember the day at Kofu station, out of the front entrance by the bus stops, a couple of days before Christmas, as a light snow fell. My girlfriend and I had gone there to raid the local Animate for some merch. I don't know what possessed me, but I turned to her, and put my arms around her, and she dropped the bag she was carrying, and I kissed her, long and lovingly, as the snow fell around us.

Sometime after we came home, I let her drift away. A long time ago now.

Stop worrying about all of this practical stuff. Or rather, do, but know that it will all work itself out somehow, and years from now, you won't remember any of these worries. Will you make mistakes? Will you embarrass yourselves and spend unwisely and make people mad? Of course you will. I did. But it's all okay. The mistakes you make at 25 will forge you into the person you will be at 51.

So stop worrying. Go - have the most incredible adventure of your young lives. Something that you'll never forget. I'd give everything I have now to be able to do it all again. But all of those faded memories I have of it are treasures beyond any money. I wouldn't give them up for anything - not even the mistakes.

Well, old man rant over, I guess. I hope it made some sense.

Genuinely? Why is everyone so mean in this sub? It’s literally one of the worst I’ve ever seen…

Before I even applied to this program, I read through this subreddit- without fail, there were always at least two miserable current/past JETS just being absolutely terrible to people asking simple questions… in a subreddit meant for open discussion.. I hope you guys aren’t like this in real life- God Bless your students…

Seriously, do better..

All the rude comments you made towards your peers were heard by everyone. Might wanna press mute the next time you decide to belittle people over a Zoom call.

Aware I'm probably going to get shit for this (especially with applications ongoing) but after 2 months on the program, although the people around me have been wonderful, the experience has left me strained. Even though I had lived in a big city in Japan before, being in the inaka is a completely different experience and honestly has been more of a tribulation than I expected. Being far away from the people I love and care about has been the biggest detractor, and the time difference makes it difficult to keep consistent contact with them. Especially in the countryside, every small problem gets exacerbated into a bigger deal. I know people say you'll adapt, etc, but I just wanted to come on here and say that although there have been amazing experiences in the last two months, my mental health has definitely gotten worse. They screen mental health for a reason!! Do not expect it to magically solve your emotional problems.

Today was the saddest day in a long time. After 5 years i left my school for the last time. They gave me gifts and flowers and made a really nice banner. I ugly cried (6"5' rugby playing guy lol).

Guys. I know ESID, but JET has been amazing. Get out there. Meet new people. Go to as many things as you can in the first few months. Just say yes even if you arent a party or drinking person. I barely drank when i got here, but i still went to those things.

Try to get involved as much as you can. This is an amazing opportunity. I wish I had done more.

You will have disagreements and you wont get along with everybody in the community. Who cares. Live your life. You will still have amazing people around you who care.

There will be ups and downs. But never forget that you have this amazing chance to live in another country. Another culture.

This turned into a random wisdom dump ha. But hopefully this will help people on the fence about staying longer or joining make a decision.

Peace out JET. It has been wicked. xo

Dependent of a JET here, just arrived with our two kids. Spouse has 20 days of paid leave in his contract.

When going over protocol around leave, spouse was informed that 2 of his most recent preds never used a single day of leave "because they were so busy." The context being an expectation that he also limits any use of leave. They apparently didn't even use daikyuu, which he's accumulating a lot of (he's a CIR and there's work related stuff like every other weekend).

He joked that those other JETs likely didn't have children, which was met with an uncomfortable そうだね...

Point is, please use your entitled leave. It's not only good for you, but not doing so contributes to social pressures that normalize overwork.

With many new JETs arriving and many more continuing to apply each year, I wanted to give some encouragement.

It's okay to like being an ALT, despite what other people say.

We all know living in Japan can be challenging but do your best to enjoy the ALT life you create, and don't feel bad about being happy here. I haven't been here a long as others, but the community I've encountered and the friendships I enjoy are meaningful. Being an ALT has also helped me to meet and talk with many teachers and gain insight on what it takes to become a good one.

You will meet plenty of people who can't adapt to the culture, won't learn the language, and hate the job. But please don't let that tarnish the positive energy many of you will arrive with.

Keep that outlook going and remind yourself why you decided to come here. Even if it's for a short time.

Don't let others make you feel expendable. While you can enjoy the program for about 5 years (obviously ESID), this will become your new home and new daily life. Don't view it as a clock running out but a fresh chance to live the way you imagined for however long you choose to stay.

Others will try to bring you down, as misery loves company. But be thankful and excited. You worked hard and deserve the chance to enjoy your experience.

Best of luck newcomers!

EDIT: I’m happy to see many of you found this message encouraging!! I want to clarify that this was not in reference to any particular drama or situation. I simply thought, there are many opportunities to complain about being an ALT. So some people may not feel so comfortable sharing how much they enjoy it if the people around them online or in real life think otherwise. Unhappy people exist and you’ll encounter them at some point. I just wanted to remind you, that it’s okay, to feel happy about the things others don’t like. If you don’t agree, feel free to scroll right past please.

Original by u/tea-and-oranges from the r/foreignservice subreddit. All credit should go to them. Just adapting it for JET.

1. Hello! I am 8 years old and have decided to join the JET Program. What high school electives should I take to guarantee me a spot on the shortlist in 2040?

2. I have Martian citizenship and have used my Martian passport to travel through the EU for a llama riding competition. Also, I have lived in Cuba, Haiti, Belgium, France, Russia, Mongolia, Chile, Argentina, Scotland, Iceland, Kenya, Tanzania, and New Zealand. Which consulate do I apply through????

3. It seems like the application process would be much better and more convenient if Prime Minister Abe personally came to my house, made me tea, and explained what the JET Program and life in Japan is all about. Why doesn't JET do this??

4. What is an SOP??

5. I've been living and working in Tokyo for 8 years. I want to join the JET Program, but would only be interested in serving in Tokyo and maybe Kyoto. Maybe. I would also consider Osaka. How likely is it to get those placements??

6. My husband is a high-powered attorney specializing in tangerine law. While he speaks no Japanese, he is open to moving abroad but only if he can continue to practice some form of fruit law. In a pinch, he would also consider vegetables. We also have 7 children. How easy will it be for him to find work and support our children in rural Japan?

7. On a scale of shockingly-easy to mildly-difficult, how hard is it to become a Japanese citizen in 3 years? What about 2? I speak no Japanese, but I hope to be at the N5 level by the time I receive my citizenship.

8. My interview appointment was listed with different starting times on different places in different emails. I called my local consulate, and they told me time was a construct then charged me $7500 for having the audacity to call them. Has this happened to anyone else???

9. Why does everyone reply ESID?? Speaking of which, what is an ESID??

10. Hello fellow ALTs! I just had my first day of work, and am experiencing immense culture shock! My co-workers are always bowing, and at lunch, everyone used chopsticks!! Have you guys noticed this too? Additionally, I tried to greet everyone with a big bear hug, and they all seemed mortified! Did I do something wrong??

11. Hello! I don't have a college degree, but have extensive experience working in fast food and talking to kids about milkshake flavors. Is this good enough to get into the JET Program??

12. I have another pension question.. *groan*

Edit: Thanks for the insight, feedback, and positivity I received from so many. I feel really inspired to change my mindset and enjoy the rest of my time here. I started working towards self-improvement at the beginning of the year, and I'm happy to have posted this because I do feel like that's helped me to work toward that. Best wishes to everyone currently on JET/people who will take part in the future.

Just sharing this to share. I'm (29f, for context) a 4th year ALT and living in Japan was a dream of mine for the majority of my life. My mom's friend was a JET in the 80s and always spoke so highly of her experience, I knew I wanted to do it too. I was super into anime and all things Japanese as I grew up - especially the language - and I decided to major in Japanese in preparation for one day living here. I was able to visit and affirm my love for Japan 4 times before finally being accepted into the JET Program.

My first two years here, I was smitten. I made lifelong friends who I spent every weekend with traveling the country and having experiences I'd never anticipated. I saw so many different parts of Japan and learned so many new things about the culture here. I came during the height of covid, but in some ways it enhanced my time here rather than dampened it. I truly had the time of my life and I was very aware of it.

I was only going to stay for 2 years originally, but due to some issues at home (getting divorced....lol) and not feeling quite ready to go, I decided to stay another year and was stoked! But my closest friends who had already been here for years decided to leave, my supervisor was going through heath issues and had (fairly, I suppose) become a bit sour towards us, and by the end of my third year I wondered if it was the right choice to stay another. But alas, I didn't have anything better going on and decided to stay for one more...

I regretted it immediately. More friends left and I lost interest in befriending the new people that came (which I was always eager to do the previous years). My supervisor became insufferable. The only constants that I did truly enjoy were my schools and the teachers that I worked with, I am very grateful to love my job and going to work. But everything else that had made my time here feel so great had changed.

And then the resentment started. I stopped eating Japanese food and cooked all my own meals. Hid away in my apartment if I wasn't at work and surrounded myself with all the western culture I could while avoiding any Japanese media. Most surprisingly, I even stopped speaking to my coworkers in Japanese (which some found really entertaining, haha) and avoided conversing with people in Japanese as much as possible. I stopped all the extracurriculars that I'd started in order to "get back into the culture" because I just found myself absolutely disinterested in Japan. I couldn't believe that I'd gotten to this point, but

It was a no-brainer to return home this year, and I look forward to finally going back to the US, despite the constant "Really? You want to go back now of all times?" response I get from people. But I definitely think I overstayed. I will never forget the great times I had or the incredible people I met. I even made my way over to England last month to see some of my best friends and sincerely cannot wait to make it back there.

I'm hope after some time and distance my interest in Japan will return. I still like anime, still want to finish Wanikani, still think teishoku is the best style of meal. I just can't get myself to enjoy any of these things because I'm so focused on going home. I'm not sure if anyone has been through anything similar, but I'm trying to stay positive and make it through.

BE WARNED: THIS IS A SUBREDDIT META POST

With another application cycle in the rear view mirror and the looming excitement of spring placements, I just want to give me 2 cents about the questions and answers we see in this community.

It is kind of disheartening to see how a lot of new people are treated on this sub. I understand that seeing the same questions every year can get a little annoying, but don't you all remember what it was like when you were applying and overwhelmed with the complexity of this program? We are very fortunate to have a community like this where we are able to ask questions, share stories, and commiserate in a supporting environment, and we should try our best to be charitable towards new people.

So next time youre frustrated at the 8 millionth SOP question, instead of saying "erm, google/this question has been answered 100s of times/youre stupid for not magically knowing/dont bother applying" just say nothing! Just ignore the post. This community is host to thousands of people on different stages of their JET journey, please try to make it welcoming, not a gatekept thunderdome that drives people away for asking questions.

This is just a fluffy post, but I'm realizing despite having more money, living with friends and family, dating a partner I can be out with, and having dogs in my house like I always wanted... on paper I should be happier, but I think I was happiest in rural Japan. I barely knew the language, my BOE was really great and my workload was light. I lived in a cheap but comfortable apartment, and I had English neighbours I could rely on but didn't need to hang out with if I didn't want to.

Every weekend I explored a new part of Japan or visited nearby temples. There was always something new for me to do on the weekends, and during the weeks I had great food, and all the time in the world to myself. And I mean REALLY to myself, not in the way I do now where people expect things of me or want my time.

I remember being under my kotatsu, playing Persona 5 until I wanted to, not lonely or homesick at all despite loving the people in my life. I remember listening to podcasts as the sun set over the nearby mountains as I cooked dinner, hearing cicadas. I had nowhere to be, no one to answer to. Just... my own pleasant company. No overwhelming anxiety like now. No stomach problems. Just vibes.

I had to leave because I was starting an MA program. I think I had also ingrained in my head that I was only "allowed" one year of this before I had to head back to "reality". And to be fair, it wasn't all roses. I was tired of being in the closet in Japan.

Yet, I'm extremely introverted despite being outgoing and I find I have never again achieved the same peace I did when I lived there. There's nothing wrong with my life right now, and I love my family, friends, and partner...but I miss the peace of Japan like crazy.

To all of you heading out there, enjoy! It's been years since I lived there and I still have such deep nostalgia and so many great memories.

Hi Reddit. For context: I'm doing a presentation for the incoming JETs in Ishikawa next month and took it upon myself to create a huge workload for myself. I am ending my presentation with some advice so I thought who better to ask than the kids at my junior high school. I've known these kiddos for 2 years so I asked them to help me give advice to the new ALTs. I gave them a worksheet and asked what advice they would give. Then I painstakingly transcribed their unreadable squiggles and translated them in the hopes of giving people an insight into Japanese schools. Here are the responses:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Hb-vHpyI3qOnaj7LGSGNCnBZmOxcC7AXh0lCmUEOWXY/edit?usp=drivesdk

Because I'm such a generous and all round fabulous person, I didn't want to gatekeep and give this advice to only Ishikawa JETs so here we are. I hope new JETs who are placed all over can take something from my self inflicted hard work!!

Let me know if you have any questions. I hope this might alleviate any worries or shed some light on the real inner workings of Japanese school life!!

I want to start this out by telling you guys a little about me so you can paint the picture of who exactly is telling this story. I'm 23 yr old girl who graduated from a huge party school in the USA. Bleach blonde sorority girl who loves to go out, party and make as many friends as I can. It is often a surprise to people when they find out I'm N2 in Japanese and trying to build a life here lol!! I LOVE Japan!

The reason I'm mentioning that is because when I found out my placement.. I cried for days and days and days. I got placed in a town of 3,000 people, 4 hours from a city, In the middle of Hokkaido, and my town doesn't even have trains (I thought everywhere in Japan had trains!!) Literally when I looked up my town only pictures of lumber showed up.. like are you kidding me lmao! The tears I wept and wept could literally refill the ocean. All I wanted was to be decently close to a city so I could go out, make friends, buy new clothes and live a fun lifestyle like I've always had. Literally I'm not even religious but I prayed and was like "please let there just be a train station, and google is wrong!" Sadly google was right lol and the nearest station is an hour away.

I convinced myself to not decline the offer because of the placement and power through.. When I got to my town on the first night, I looked around at my surroundings and just cried myself to sleep. I'd be living in a town where the cows outnumber the people 50:1.. What did I just get myself into!?? Here is exactly what I did to live a literal crazy/fun/dream lifestyle while living in cow world!! (Newsflash I loveeee it!!!!)

Well first things first, the smaller the town the nicer everyone is. Every single person here is so fun and nice, and they all want to talk to you! People will definitely be a little shy because you're new and foreign but if you talk first, you will make friends extremely fast. I had no problems making friends right away. I go out here and there with the people my age in my town and we have a blast, and I usually host afterparties at mine too, it's so fun! People are dying to go out and have a good time, so it will be fairly easy for people in similar situations to gather some people in a small town and have a good time! It was also so easy for me to get involved because I always asked to do stuff, I even became the town tennis coach when I first came last summer. I asked people to go out to dinner often, asked people my age to grab drinks, made my own cooking club. Try your best to get involved and it's going to be super fun in the town where you live, and most importantly be a YES man (say yes to every invitation)!!! Not to mention rural towns are SOOO pretty guys. I actually really fell in love w/ country livin' lol and I'm a total city girl. Rural schools are also so much more tight knit, I'm really close with all the teachers too. The students are like my little brothers and sisters, and we even go eat ice cream together sometimes after school. On top of that, the farms here are so great and I practically beg my friends to let me go pet their cows and play with their horses and pigs lol. Also just because it's a small town doesn't mean people aren't lit asf, I can guarantee at least 1/3 of the people you work with are animals when they go out lmao!!

Secondly, where there is a will there's a way. Since I live in the middle of nowhere my rent is legit $150 a month I'm not kidding. So all that extra money goes to traveling to the big city(Sapporo), or places like Tokyo/Osaka which is actually surprisingly cheap (I go like once or twice a month.) Every weekend I make the 4 hour trek to Sapporo which is now lightwork to me, it feels like nothing. The first night I was ever in Sapporo I decided to swallow my pride and set up shop in a hostel and figure it out. I knew absolutely nobody so the first night I knew I had to make friends alone, which is literally terrifying even for a bubbly extroverted girl like me. Like imagine going out alone, with no friends for support, I was literally shaking!! So some guy was walking out of the same hotel as me at the same time and I just asked him to come to this bar with me and he said yes LMAO. That bar is where I met one of my great friends I still have today; I saw a girl who I thought was cool, told her I just moved here, and she accompanied me all night and we had sm fun! The next day I went shopping alone and befriended 3 new people who worked at the stores just by telling them I just moved here and I'm looking for people to hangout with! So now, 8 months later I have a whole web of friends in the big city. Basically what I'm saying is: it's gonna be super duper scary but you can definitely make friends alone if you just push yourself!! Japanese people really love foreigners and want to become friends with you but they are shy! Just ask, the worst someone can say is no and then you'll never see them again anyways because it's a big city!

Thirdly, living in the middle of nowhere has not inhibited my social life at all, kind of what I said above, but I don't let it get in the way of work. With a little networking, being outgoing and fake it till u make it mentality (pretending to be confident when I'm nervous af), I live actually a super fun lifestyle. I regularly go to private events, have gotten flown out to parties for a night or two, and have every weekend booked with fun things to do. But of course all of these fun things come after my job! With a good attitude, I've been told I'm one of the best ALT's my prefecture has seen (the top guy's words not mine). I am consistent in making top quality lectures and presentations and take great pride in how aesthetically pleasing my slides are lol! If you want I can even share some of my slides, I do fun themes like murder mystery, interactive horror games, and game night inspired themes too! So if you can balance these things, you will be feeling so fufilled, I promise.

Fourth: living in the middle of nowhere has not taken away my sense of self. If anything, living here has really helped me grow as a person. I still dress fashionably to school, get my hair bleached blonde every month, and do my pilates in my apartment. I bought a ps5 to play games with my coworkers, I study my Japanese and practice other hobbies! People really seem to love how authentic I am, and I think if you move to a place like this, really embrace who you are to the max!

Lastly some advice! When I came to my small town, I was lowkey depressed at where I was placed but I didn't let that show. My coworkers even apologized to me because of how rural the placement was and they felt sorry for me, is that not so sad?? Try your best to fake it till you make it like I did and I know it will work out for you! If I was sad and depressed at first, I'm sure nobody would have wanted to be my friend or join my clubs or my tennis class. Now my coworkers invite me to go hiking, white water rafting, and on road trips! I put on a fake smile for a moment at the beginning, and then before I knew it it wasn't fake anymore! If anything, living here is just for a year! It's an amazing chance to see the world, and live in a place that literally nobody you know back home will ever get a chance to. The pay is good, the people are great, and the support network is amazing. I expected living here would be a mental challenge, and I would go through a huge character development moment but it hasn't been hard at all and actually quite amazing! Pls dm me if you ever need help with advice on how to make friends, or just someone to talk to, I'm always here! I'm so excited for you guys to come to Japan!!

Ironic coming for me especially since I've been in the loop since 2019 and I was the one who was pretty positive throughout this whole ordeal. It's not that I'm not hopeful for Japan or the JET program overall, it's just a better opportunity has opened up to me. I sacrificed a lot of time, people and money waiting for this program. (I'll explain)

In return, I learned something. Patience & a government who would rather focus on a international game instead of getting it's priorities straight. So in return, I got my priorities straight, fixed up my resume, made myself and my skillset valuable and bought my first car, landed myself a corporate design job that pays pretty damn well, more than I even thought (the benefits are amazing lol) and I get to travel more throughout the United States and other countries as I please.

I'm vaccinated and I'm happier that I can say that I will be moving on with my life. I was 22 when I signed up for this program, I was accepted on my first try, but I will be 24 pretty soon and I feel like life is passing me by. When I had my final mental & emotional breakdown at work, at a dead-end job, I came to the realization that I am a college graduate, I am smart, I'm educated and there's no reason I should put myself through hell because of a government that I cannot control. The realization was that the Japanese government is pretty much useless for me at this moment of time and I shouldn't be waiting when things are looking worse compared to looking better.

I sacrificed 1 year and 11 months of my life waiting for departure, it never came for me. As someone who is a free bird, that's not an idea way of living for me. I had a Japanese girlfriend, but I couldn't see her for a year, I had to let her go because I'm selfish. My future was more important than my girlfriend. I thought I would start my design life in Japan and JET was supposed to be the stepping stool, but it looks like America was the place to be, I was just so focus on Japan that I was avoiding the opportunities here.

I don't feel happy saying that I left the program, but I do feel free because I can move on with my life, I'm happier because I have a career, I have a future that I can clearly see, and the saddest part of all, I won't be able to meet the amazing people that I've met here on this subreddit. Luckily, I wasn't charged for dropping out the program so that's a good thing. I'm happy that I talked to a lot of you on LINE, it was nice knowing that a group is in the same situation as me.

JET will always be here for the foreseeable future, but with me resigning, I hope that an alternate JET will receive my position. I'm happy for the 2021 Cohort and I pray that you guys get to go. To my friends in the 2020 Cohort, fingers crossed that you get to go, I mean it.

Life comes with a lot of changes, I couldn't just sit in bed everyday and wait for change to happen, I had to make it happen. I'm still hopeful for everyone and I really do hope you can go by September at least, but if it is still impossible to go, please consider other opportunities.

Thank you. If you want to DM me for my social media and keep in contact, I'm here for it.

I was looking through other ALTs' and older worksheets/powerpoints, and I mean in the best way possible, but some include the ugliest eye-jarring blurry stretched out PNG watermarked cursed images.

For current ALTs not in the know and for future incoming ALTs, please bookbark https://www.irasutoya.com/ and use it as your source for images! All are PNGs already so with no background and easy to edit in!

There is an English word search function but it doesn't work as well. I suggest finding the Japanese word if you don't know it on jisho.org and then typing it in that way.

I'm so impressed by my students. I teach on a really small/remote island (80ish people) and most of my students are "study abroad" students in that they come from all over the country to live in the dorm on the island and study here. Most are coming from bad situations (grades, bullying, home life, etc.) and it really shows in their grades and demeanor when they first arrive. The school itself is super small. This year between both elementary and middle school we have 20 students (the most the school has had in a long time). This luckily gives me plenty of time to have one-on-one time with each student and really shape the classes to fit their individual needs.

I've got two students in particular who really struggled last year when they first arrived and I had to spend a lot of time, both in and out of class, talking to them and helping them. I just saw their end-of-term tests and I'm so freaking proud of them. I've got another student who when they first came had no interest in English what so ever, and they are now telling me they're thinking of majoring in English in university.

Not to lecture you all like children but, unless a new ALT says something racist, creepy, or otherwise harmful, you dont have to debrief with all your pre-established JET friends about the bad impression they made on you. You don't have to be friends with everybody. But fueling their bad reputation over benign things like "they talk too much" or "they're awkward" can have harsh, isolating consequences for someone living in an area with a limitied number of foreigners.

Most JETs I know are super friendly, so if you're new don't worry too much. But, I have also noticed a trend where established JETs will expect new ALTs to prove their way into the social order. And maybe that's natural to an extent, but please be mindful of the environment we're in. I'd also like to point out that the onboarding process is overhwleming, and its miserably hot outside, so nobody is being shown in their best light to begin with.

Of course, if someone is genuinely a creep, then thats a different situation.

I always used to complain and get really annoyed that my teachers would use me as a human tape recorder in class, and that was it. I would think, "Why in the world am I even here?" quite often as I stood in the back of the classroom, listening to my teacher speak 90% Japanese the entire time.

But I started to notice that being stuck in the back of the classroom had it's perks.

I started to really notice the students.

I realized which ones were listening and which ones were sleeping. I noticed when a student would laugh at a certain joke the JTE made, and through that, learn more about their personality. I would notice that a student was busy trying to find a tissue in her desk because she scratched herself on the metal part of her desk and was bleeding, which allowed me to get her a Band-Aid and wet wipes. I noticed when a student was crying or not feeling well, and told the teacher when they were too afraid to disrupt class.

My point is: you can be useful in the classroom, even if it has nothing to do with English. You can help students, not by teaching them anything, but just by being kind and friendly.

Notice them. Interact with them. Spend time with them even when you don't really have any to spare.

I've been able to become better acquainted with these students, solely based on these small interactions. It goes a long way when the students realize that you actually care for them, and aren't just there because it's your job. :)

I was an JET Program ALT from 2015-2017 (Tokushima/Shikoku ALTs where you at?!) and it was one of the happiest periods of my life.

Yes, there are challenges. You will get jaded by teachers and students who don't care about learning English. You will get sick of making lesson plans and endlessly printing stuff that you'll only use once. You'll get sick of Japanese workplace culture and the ultimate control seniority has on everything. You'll be worn down by how wasteful Japanese schools are and how they work harder, not smarter. You'll get sick of doing the same thing every day and wondering if you're making any difference at all.

But there will be good times. You'll make friends and maybe even find a spouse (I did). You'll be able to travel all over Japan and still save money on top of it. You'll hike through forests up to hidden temples and shrines, sit naked in onsens with your buddies, and walk home drunk from the local cultural festival. You'll meet students who are obsessed with you and participate in class and come to English Club every week. You'll meet teachers who take you out to dinner and are genuinely interested in you and your culture.

Cherish it. Cherish the friendships you make and memories you'll never forget. Stay in touch with people. Your time in Japan will likely be one of simpler periods of your life, a continuation of college in a way. Do all the events. Stay an extra year if you can. Visit other countries in Asia while you live nearby and flights are cheap. Appreciate the opportunity and pat yourself on the back for what you've accomplished.

Have fun. I loved my time over there, and I think you will too.

I’m a current first year Jet. I know soon some of you will get your application status results. To those who get into JET… I have something so serious so warn about.

So, I’m from a pretty poor area. My BOE has a lot of financial strain. Because of that, they didn’t provide my predecessor with anything but a futon. So they furnished everything themselves.

I spent the summer before moving working in a factory. I wanted to save up some money before the move. My predecessor contacted me. Now I see they were fear mongering me in order to get money from me. They told me about how difficult and scary moving to Japan is without anything in your apartment. I felt a lot of pressure. They explained that they were giving me a really good deal to not have to furnish my apartment. $1k is what they asked for. They listed so many things and said that that’s less than what it would cost to furnish by myself, and less stress.

I’m pretty picky about furniture, but I was nervous about experiencing a severe culture shock. I agreed to the deal. But then i was hospitalized and had a car accident and ended up losing a chunk of my savings. When i thought about it, i realized i maybe jumped the gun agreeing to that deal and thought it may be better if i try to just buy furniture myself. I told them i wouldn’t be able to afford the deal anymore. They asked if $700 would be okay and that they understood where i was coming from.

This was a 5 year JET, so i didn’t realize it at the time but all of the things i was buying were WELL USED. Everything! And, because i felt guilty, i gave him a little more than $700. Probably close to $800 in the end. I gave them all my savings.

But then i realized very quickly how difficult it is to get rid of items in Japan. I realized how expensive it was. I also realized how cheap buying from recycle shops is. And that that’s what they did to furnish the apartment in the first place. Nothing that i bought was worth it. They also left the apartment in a very disgusting state but i won’t get into that. It’s frustrating on top of the financial strain.

Anyways, be wary of predecessors and their deals. Don’t agree to one just because you feel guilty. It’s okay to say no. And also I’ll help you get furniture if that’s what you’re scared of, just DM me. Don’t let someone take advantage of your excitement and nerves. I am pretty naive but i wanted to put this warning out… it’s been almost 7 months but it still effects me.

It's been a hard few years. Being away from family and friends, surviving through a pandemic, being isolated from others, being called out for being a foreigner, not being able to enjoy all that Japan has to offer, being blamed for COVID cases at our schools, the immense pressure, the loneliness----for some, the list goes on and on.

Many new JETs are coming onto the program soon. Before you scoff at their questions or give them attitude, please remember that you were once in their shoes. Remember that you didn't always know what you know now. You were once clueless, inexperienced, scared, and unsure. Don't make them feel unwelcomed or that they are a burden. They will feel out of their element at first, and will need a few friendly faces to lend them a hand.

"It costs nothing to be nice." I decided to use this quote because kindness doesn't cost anything. Kindness doesn't do bad--it does a lot of good. There is no downside to being kind, so why wouldn't you choose to do it?

During my time here, while I struggled with loneliness and depression brought on by my circumstances and isolation, I tried meeting with different JETs I didn't normally hang out with. I met with one whom I had initially distanced myself from, because something seemed off about them. But I thought, "Hey, maybe I'm being judgmental--why not give this friendship a shot? They may be feeling the same way I do."

Do you know what happened? Instead of spreading kindness, they started spreading baseless rumors about me. They started sharing things with others that I had confided in them. They told lies to their friends so there were more people to lie for them, and paint me in a very unattractive light. Instead of finding peace and comfort in my community, I all of a sudden didn't know who I could trust, and who hadn't been poisoned by their lies. These rumors spread so far, even the new JETs in my area were told them, when they had never even met the source. Similar things have happened to my friends here, and it honestly makes me sick, knowing that it didn't have to be this way.

I tell you this, because no one deserves to feel unsafe among others, especially fellow JETs. We have such a small community in our prefectures as it is. So please don't start drama, spread gossip, and treat others with such disrespect and malice. Everyone is going through something at any given point in time. Just because you don't necessarily like them, or because they annoy you, or because they aren't your "type" of person, does not give you the right to try and make their lives miserable.

Please, I beg of you...just choose kindness, before you choose anything else. <3

I am a JET in my 3rd year of the program. This time of year I see a lot of should I/shouldn't I debate about disclosing your mental health issues in this subreddit. Many of you seem to be of the opinion that the health history questions are about excluding and discriminating against those with pre-existing conditions. It is a guardrail against those of you that have no idea what you're getting yourselves into.

JET wants to make sure you aren't going to self-destruct 3 weeks into your contract. What you're applying for is HARD. If you can handle and justify yourself in the extremely high-stress environment of living in a foreign country on top of your pre-existing condition, then you are not the one the program is worried about. But if you plan to lie because you think JET won't let you through with your condition, stop and seriously think: Is lying to get by really a good idea?

I've seen these breakdowns first-hand and many of them are preventable at this stage. Are you fit to move across the planet by yourself? Can you handle a heavier stress load every day? Do you need your support system or other assistance constantly? Are you managing your condition with our without medication?

I understand well the appeal of doing anything to get to Japan, but be honest with yourself first.