| 2008 JET applications now open : closing date, 11 January 2008 |
The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme is operated by local authorities in co-operation with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR).
Its purpose is to improve foreign language education and to promote international exchange at community level.
This Programme was established in 1987 for the purpose of increasing mutual understanding between the people of Japan and the people of other nations, and promoting the internationalisation of Japan's local communities by helping to improve foreign language education and developing international exchange at the community level. Now in its 19th year, the Programme has seen significant growth, from its original 848 participants from 4 countries in 1987 to 5 853 participants from 44 countries in 2005. On the 29th of July 2006, 36 South Africans departed from Johannesburg to take part as ALTs.
Participants are assigned to be either Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) who provide language instruction in junior and senior high school classrooms, Co-ordinators for International Relations (CIRs) who work in communities on international exchange activities, or Sports Exchange Advisors (SEAs) who promote international exchange through sport.
Please note that South Africans may only apply for the ALT position. The reason for this is that the CIR and SEA positions require that participants have a very high level of spoken and written Japanese.
Participants are placed with local authorities throughout the nation in every imaginable range of venue from large cities, to small and medium-sized towns to rural farming and fishing villages.
The JET Programme has an excellent reputation in Japan as well as abroad and is one of the world's largest international exchange programmes. As the people involved form an international network of relationships, the Programme is expected to greatly contribute to the building of a global society.
JET participants are invited to Japan, and are placed in host institutions throughout the country. Host institutions consist of 47 prefectural and 12 specially designated city governments, municipal governments and some private schools.
These participants sign contracts with their host institutions. Contracts are for 1 year, commencing on the day after arrival in Japan, and are renewable in certain circumstances by mutual consent between the host institution and the JET participant. A JET participant may not renew more than twice. Host institutions provide JET participants with the transportation costs to Japan and approximately ¥3,600,000 remuneration per annum (after exemptions from income tax).
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
0181Telephone: 012-452-1607
Facsimile: 012-460-3880Email: