Living in Japan
 

Hi,

Once I graduate from university in the UK, I'm going to spend about a year in Tokyo. I'm probably going to take the ALT route, although if someone offered me a job in IT (however unlikely) I wouldn't turn it down.

I know I could apply for ALT positions from the UK, but I'm a bit wary about agreeing to work somewhere and live in an apartment reasonably blind. I'd much prefer to move there on a wh visa and get to know the area a bit better; live in a gaijin house or something similar until I get my bearings.

I'm interested in people's experiences of applying to ALT positions from within Japan? How competitive are they? I have previous teaching experience (of Computer Science to 2nd year uni students, not English) and I'm quite well spoken. I'd be interested in Tokyo or any of the surrounding suburbs - Chiba, Yokohoma etc.

I understand any apartment would require a guarantor. Do ALT agencies normally offer to guarantee the apartment or would I be restricted to Gaijin Houses/LeoPalace21? I've seen adverts on craigslist offering shares - that might be another option.

Finally, when does most ALT recruiting happen? I have a choice of entering the country in September 2009 or Jan/Feb 2010 (I want to spend a few months elsewhere either before or after). The first term seems to start in April, so would I be right in assuming Jan/Feb 2010 would be the right time?

Thank you for any help you can give me. I've lived in both Abu Dhabi, UAE and various places in England, so I'm looking forward to adding two more countries to my list (I'm English btw; I just lived in Abu Dhabi during the 90s)!


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I'm afraid I don't know when or how competitive applying for JET within Japan is, as I applied from the outside, but I can give you some information about your other questions.

First of all, it's not very likely you'll become a JET in Tokyo - even some of the smaller, surrounding areas (like Chiba) don't take in that many people, but it's still possible. Just out of curiosity, why are you set on Tokyo?

As far as accommodation, JET will help you with that - for ALTs, you usually simply take the same apartment as the ALT that you are replacing, which means you'll have a furnished place. You'll also most likely get the place without paying any 'key money'.

If you have the funds and the time to check out Japan on a WH visa first, I'd say do it. JET is a fairly big commitment, and it always pains me to see people who come over on JET or any other organization and end up hating things because they don't "get" Japanese society. That's not to imply that a lot of them do, but there are a few individuals who obviously had different expectations.

To my knowledge, it's impossible to apply for JET within Japan. You must do it at an embassy in another country.

You can apply for non-JET English teaching positions, with companies like AEON, from within Japan. After NOVA closed, the market became much tighter though, and in a poor economy, private English schools are likely hiring fewer teachers and fewer Japanese people are spending money on English lessons...