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
0181Telephone: 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 local authorities as well as public and private elementary, junior high and senior high schools in Japan.
The Programme is implemented 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 2013, there were 4,372 participants in the Programme from 40 countries.
As the JET Programme has achieved an excellent reputation over the last 27 years, it is of great importance that this reputation 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 deep interest in Japan.
Generally, participants are appointed by a contracting organisation for a one-year period. The cost of transportation from the participant’s origin to Japan, as well as remuneration, will be funded by the tax payers of Japan via the contracting organisation where the participant is appointed. Because participants serve as civil servants of their contracting organisations, they are required to uphold behaviour befitting civil servants.
Withdrawal from the Programme after receipt of placement or early termination of appointment should be avoided as it causes many problems for contracting organisations, in addition to severely impacting the administration of the Programme itself.
Position and duties
Participants engaged in language instruction. ALTs are placed mainly in local boards of education or publicly run elementary, junior high and senior high schools.
Participants who are mainly assigned to local boards of education or elementary, junior high or senior high schools are to carry out their duties as ALTs under the guidance of language teachers’ consultants or Japanese teachers of the foreign language as specified by the supervisor and/or principal of the board of education and/or school. The following is a general outline of duties, though they may vary from one contracting organisation to another.
- Assistance in foreign language classes, etc. taught in junior and senior high schools.
- Assistance in foreign language activities, etc. in elementary schools.
- Assistance in preparation of materials for teaching a foreign language.
- Assistance in language training of teachers of a foreign language, etc.
- Assistance in extracurricular activities and club activities.
- Provision of information on language and other related subjects for people such as teachers’ consultants and foreign language teachers (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
Other information
Useful sites: 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: ryan.keet@embjapan.org.za
