Category: JET Program

Information related to the JET Program.

JET Application Aid: Statement of Purpose (i)

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Hi all! This is a post I’ve been planning for some time, and now seems like a good time to share because I know that this year’s deadline is approaching for 2017 JET Program applicants — it’s November 18, 2016. Don’t let it sneak up on ya! Hehe. For a while I’ve been promising to give some insight into what became my first-time JET application success three years ago (2013). I’ve decided to start with the Statement of Purpose.

This is one of the most important elements of the written/digital application — as I’m sure you’re aware. It’s critical to your success because through your writing, you can draw a picture of who you are as an applicant with the potential to highlight your strengths and perhaps explain your weaknesses. I don’t know why, but it seems every round there are some who don’t give the statement the attention that it needs, but I strongly recommend taking your time to read and re-read it as much as you can before actually submitting. I definitely did.

Another key element to success: answer all of the questions put forth in the prompt and follow every given instruction exactly. You may ask why that is. Well, the personal statement doesn’t just show that you can write, but also that you are capable of coherent thought and can connect ideas. Most importantly of all, it shows that you can follow simple formatting instructions.

So for my application in 2013, and I’m sure it hasn’t changed too much since then, the instructions read as follows:

Statement of Purpose (1 original and 2 copies): 
This is an essay, in English, of not more than two 8 1/2″ x 11″ (or A4) pages, typewritten in black 12 point font and double-spaced with one-inch margins. Anything beyond the required two pages will be discarded unread. Please type your name and page number (1 of 2, 2 of 2) on each page.

You should incorporate all of the following points in your essay:

  • Relevant experience: Describe applicable experiences, professional skills, relevant interests, and personal qualities, and how you feel these will be useful to you as an ALT or CIR.

  • Motivation for Participation: State why you wish to go to Japan and participate in the JET Program and why you are interested in the position for which you are applying. Also address what you hope to gain, both personally and professionally, and what effect you hope to have on the Japanese community and internationally as a result of your participation in the JET Program.

That seems easy enough, right? Get into word, and before you even start writing set the basic format to be what is requesting in the prompt. That means your margins, your font, your paper size, and set your headers exactly as requested.

Then start writing. The key to great writing is to not only say what you want to say, but to do so in a logical way so that your writing evolves over the course of your very limited two page guideline. A lot of us have a fair amount to say about Japan and our relation to it, so before you know it, you’ll be over two pages and will have to cut down! When it comes time to do so, do it thoughtfully.

In my next post, I hope to share with you a few excerpts from my own statement. Please feel free to ask questions in the comments below. Best of luck in the meantime!

Ye Ol’ Bunkasai

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wpid-DSC_0288.jpgBoth years of my time thus far as an ALT, I’ve found time to attend one or two local high schools’ Culture Festivals, known in Japan as bunkasai.

Sadly, we don’t have one at our junior high for one simple reason: our school is huge! We have about 800 students, which ends up making seven classes of 40 kids each per grade. Trying to force this many kids to come up with a presentation/performance of some sort and decorate their classrooms would be a huge deal (if Sports Day is any indication), so I was able to go to some high school bunkasai instead!

2013-10-19 11.55.57This year and last, I went to the local technical high school, where they focus on electronic, mechanical, or engineering craft. Each class only had some minimal decorations, but some of the basic activities in each room were quite impressive (some not, of course – it really varies by class). Last year, they had remote control cars set up that would drive above the lines painted on the course, following them seamlessly. And this year one of the hits of the festival was a picture area that you could dress up in wigs and Halloween accessories at. Once they developed the picture you were invited to do rakugaki (graffiti) on them at your leisure, then have them laminated. It was like an at home version of purikura, or print club booths. Then there are several classrooms decorated with woodwork or art made by students as well.

This year was a bit different, as a fellow ALT was invited to play with the brass band during the performance section of the program, which was held downstairs in an open, airy room. Promptly afterward, just as the year before, students began performing cross-dressing renditions of several well-known pop songs at the time.

2014-10-18 13.04.21I also decided to drop by the other local high school for the latter half of the afternoon, where unfortunately things seemed to be wrapping up. One class had decided to do a tapioca cafe, which looked great but a teacher said they had already finished selling for the day. Another group, however, had made a maze in their class, which was actually a bit tricky despite the limited space! The theme was a haunted house, but it was a rather cute, pastel haunted house in my mind. :) Their main program, ongoing in the gym, consisted of several teachers and students executing unique musical performances. Several of them were quite good, but their brass band was absolutely fantastic at the end and completely stole the show.

After attending the high school cultural festivals, I’ll be honest – I kind of wish my base school had one of its own!