Parksey wrote:G-Ratasaurus Rex wrote:final-fx wrote:Got approval to finish my application for spending my first semester in France and then the second in Spain, with full funding.
Might have to apply to the JET programme next year now, looks good. How competitive is it, out of interest? I assume, even though it's not required, most successful applicants have a good level of Japanese?
I hear it is quite competitive, but we can't get official numbers on applicants and successful applicant number. As you say, I would imagine that having Japanese does help your application, but I would say that it helps it more in the fact that you are willing to put effort in to learn the culture and language, rather than that you need it for the job at hand; at least for the ALT position.
I have a Chinese qualification, but not a Japanese one - this would still help any application, right?
I basically need to sort something out soon - maybe even start applying for next year's JET if it is re-open already -rather than leave things to the last ruddy minute.
I got a tax rebate last week that enables me to pretty much go to Japan for a two week holiday now. Should I go in the summer to test the waters (as no matter how much preparation you do on the language side of things, it could still be a massive culture shock), or just put that money towards a year abroad (as not all the programmes are as financially... healthy, like JET)?
I imagine the Chinese qualification shows that you at least have an interest in Asian culture, or at least shows that you are capable of learning a foreign language which is also vastly different from your mother tongue.
Next year's JET applications will probably open from August at the earliest, so not much point looking into that just now. I would recommend against going to Japan right now, if only for financial reasons, as the £ is pretty week, so you're getting less than 120 yen for each £, which is the lowest I've seen it.
I don't think any courses or holidays will prepare you for a life in Japan. It's impossible without going there in the frame of mind that you are there for a long time, and chances are, you will only scratch the surface, even in a month of being there; I know it took me a few months to even realise how deep-rooted the culture is.
There are, however, plenty of English-teaching schools/other programmes that you can apply to directly to spend time working in Japan. For example, Aeon is one based in Tokyo, iirc. I'm sure they are always looking for new teachers/employees, but other than that I can't help anymore, I'm afraid. Best to look into those things yourself if you are interested.