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JET Masterpost

Trying to collect a ton of resources here for JETs, current and prospective. Some of the links are straight up blog posts, others are asks answered by JETs that might be useful. With all of these, remember (all together now) Each Situation Is Different:

Applying for JET:

Becoming an ALT in Japan (not only JET)

So you’re considering JET…

How much does JET care about tattoos?

What does JET look for anyway? - Info from older sources, but still V relevant

The JET Application isn’t Free - (A US based post about potential costs on the route to the JET program, but relevant everywhere)

The JET Interview (ESID, so collating posts from many sources):

The British Interview - My Experience, Tips, Ideas 

The Dreaded JET-erview 

“What is the best way to respond to questions about “how would you deal with harassment/gender discrimination in the workplace?”

After Acceptance/Prepping for JET:

Why does JET want me to bring so much money? ( @nihongogogo‘s informative post on why JET asks you to bring so much, and why you should bring it)

“Do you have ideas for questions to ask your predecessor?”

What to pack for JET? - @tofugu‘s guide to the essentials

“How do you pack for JET?” - hints and tips on extras and things to double check

After you arrive:

JET Program Survival Resources - Tofugu (A frankly incredible list that should be in every JET’s faves bar)

Changing a UK (and some others) Driving Licence to a Japanese one: Part 1/Part 2

All kinds of cellphone info (correct at time of writing! May have changed)

Being a JET with health problems

Mental Health Services on JET (thanks to @maia-abroad and @nihongogogo)

Cool Biz/Work Outfits Masterpost (For Ladies) - via @readysetgaikokujin and Extra Tips from @nihongogogo

What to do before work starts (Thanks @greetingsfromfukushima )

Other:

Shopping:

The Meat Guy (Meat. Lots of it. Mystery Bundles!)

Travel:

Hyperdia (The only train timetable site you’ll need)

Learning Japanese:

English Grammar terms in Japanese (via @hotmesssensei)

Anki Flashcards - Spaced repetition with many shared decks for Japanese learners (iphone, android, PC, Linux, Mac, web)

Kanji Koohii - Flashcards and mnemonics for those using Heisig’s Method

There are many online dictionaries around, find the one that works for you - the two most used I’ve seen are WWWJDIC and jisho.org - Jisho is often good for quick lookups, where WWWJDIC has many specialised dictionaries to search.

JLPT Guides - Here, Here, and here - as JLPT doesn’t publish study lists, many of these are gleaned from past tests. Still a good resource to find your basic level.

Maggie-sensei - a fun Japanese learning blog that’s helped me out with grammar a few times

Japanese Four Character compounds/sayings - more interesting than anything else, a good way to unwind while still using Japanese

JETs on Tumblr:

peraperapeter - Aomori-ken

readysetgaikokujin - Aomori-ken

greetingsfromfukushima - Fukushima-ken

Lesson Plans/Class Resources:

Tips on how to support English Language Learners

Irasutoya - Free cute images

Many of these links were provided by other JET tumblrs, thank you so much! If there are any links you’d like added/removed, or if you wish to add your tumblr to the JETs on Tumblr section, message me!

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And some of y'all will still say there’s no chance of dating in the inaka.

EDIT: Alternative title: Are these herbivore men I keep hearing about.

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Anyone up for some Q&A? I want to say I’m doing this to help incoming JETs that are picking at the tag for research but I’m honestly just a nosey person and want to know too. Long time snooper, first-time asker. Reblog with your answers. Be as vague or a specific as you want because I get sensitivity! ありがとうございます。

Where are you from?

Why JET?

How long do you plan on doing JET? If you’ve already left, how many years did you do?

Did you speak Japanese before coming on JET?

How have you learned/improved your Japanese on JET?

How helpful was your predecessor?

Where are you placed? Is it urban/suburban/rural? Is it what you requested/wanted? How do you like it?

Are there any other JETs in your area or are you the “only JET on the island?”

What grades do you teach? How many schools do you teach at?

Do you have a car? How do you get around (from school or for leisure)?

What kind of housing do you have? What was the state of your housing when you arrived?

What is your role in the school (from leading classes to tape recorder from planning lessons/grading to desk warming)?

Are you involved in English club?

Are you involved in any other clubs or activities (at school or outside?)

How much desk warming do you do?

What do you miss the most about home? Is there anything you’ve had a difficult time obtaining here in Japan (clothes that fit, medicine, ingredients, etc)?

Did you experience culture shock in Japan?

What’s one thing you love about your job and one thing you hate?

What do you do on your free time?

Are you down to answer any other questions?

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Connect Magazine is looking for applicants to join the team for next year! This is a great opportunity to get added experience and bolster your CV to really stand out from the crowd!

If you have interest, please fill out the form above before Sunday June 4th. If you have any questions please feel free to ask the Editor at connect.editor@ajet.net

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Did you know that since 2014, the JET Programme opened applications in the Philippines? Check out this interview with the two very first Filipino participants of the JET Program! 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

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Take some notes. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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Need some help with lesson planning? Want to share your epic ideas?

There's Eigomonster! ✨✨ You can lookup/share lesson plans and gather new ideas. New lesson plans will be posted everyday as well.

Made by ALTs, for ALTs.

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At first glance, the cover of Japanese Schoolgirl Confidential: How Teen Girls Made a Nation Cool by Brian Ashcraft and Shoko Ueda reminds me of one of those horrible “How to Draw Manga and Anime” books you see at the back end of the manga section at book stores. A few sentences into the first page I knew I had judged it unfairly.

Japanese Schoolgirl Confidential contains a wealth of information packed into one convenient place. It is obvious that every section was meticulously researched, though there were a few small errors where detail is concerned. It was also written in an extremely familiar, engaging, and informative style, making it a breeze to read through what would otherwise seem like dense histories and analysis of what exactly makes the Japanese Schoolgirl so unique and vitally important within Japanese culture.

Read more!

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RIP :(

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April 2017: Maiko Momika (Yamaguchi Okiya) of Pontocho performing at the Reitaisai Hono Būyo Matsuri.

Source: kyosanpo - Blog

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10 days left until the deadline! Get your submissions in :)

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I came to Japan straight from university in 2000, planning to have fun for a few years, then head back home and get a “real” job.

Sixteen years later, I have a family, a home, a career, and a life here. When retirement time rolls around, why would I leave the place where I’ve spent my entire adult life?

That’s why I started a website called RetireJapan: to help people who are moving or have moved to Japan with the intent of making it their permanent home. Even if you don’t plan to retire in Japan, it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the information I’m offering here. Like me, your “fun couple of years” may turn into a lot more.

Read more!

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Annika Davis

Photographer and ALT in Shiga. 

She was featured in last years C - The Art Issue.

https://www.instagram.com/kogainoinu/

http://thedaysofnekomachi.tumblr.com/

If you want to be featured in this years C - The Art Issue, click here  https://c-theartissue.tumblr.com/artsubmissions

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Korellia Schneider

Miyagi

She was featured in last years C - The Art Issue.

If you want to be featured in this years C - The Art Issue, click here  https://c-theartissue.tumblr.com/artsubmissions

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The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has published a pamphlet titled, “Wonder Nippon: Sekai ga Odoroku Nippon!” (“The Japan That Surprises the World”).

It’s really beautiful with amazing photos but some of the content is soo cringey!

It’s a bit self ego stroking... 

The Japan Times also do a good job of pointing out the inherent racism in the pamphlet too. 

“As Buzzap points out, in the section of the METI pamphlet made up of complimentary quotes from non-Japanese, all Westerners are attributed by name, while Asians are identified only by their status in Japan — usually “exchange student.” Fukasawa mentions that while the vast majority of foreign residents and tourists are from Asia, when TV shows want positive comments about Japan they invariably ask white people.”

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No excuse to not take photos of your time in Japan!