JET Programme – CIR Interview
Interviews for Top Jobs at JET Program
CIR Interview
I applied online. The process took 5 months. I interviewed at JET Program (New York, NY) in Mar 2015
Interview
There were three interviewers. One asked questions in English, one in Japanese, and the other only took notes and did not interact with me at all. I was asked some basic questions about information from my application, then some more questions about my experience in more detail (in English). Mostly seemed intended to determine whether I would get homesick and try to get out of the contract early. Then the interview switched to Japanese. I was asked to introduce myself. Then I was given a short article and some time to scan it. I was asked to then read it out loud, then given some comprehension questions answer.
- What experiences have you had living among people of a different culture than your own? How did you handle any troubles you had at that time?
– Reviewing and learning new kanji – Reading Japanese newspapers and magazine articles – Taking the practice JLPT tests (there are several resources online and you should strive to be equal to level 2) – Take sample Japanese exams from the MEXT scholarship applicant Japanese tests (MEXT Scholaship webpage: Examination Questions
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Upon review of your paper application at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C., select candidates will be invited to interview. To find out if you have been invited to interview, please check the Embassy of Japan JET webpage . Instructions on how to determine if you have moved on to the interview phase and how to locate your JET Program application ID number are posted to that website as soon as the information becomes available. Please be patient, as they review thousands of applications. Candidates who have successfully moved on to the interview phase of the application process will be interviewed at a predetermined time and location on one day during the interview period. Interviews are conducted over a period of a few days, but candidates will only be interviewed ONCE during this time period. There are not multiple interview phases. An average of 80-100 candidates are interviewed annually through the Consulate-General of Japan in Denver. Interviews are conducted both in Denver, CO and Salt Lake City, UT in late January / early February. Candidates who have moved onto the interview phase of the selection process and have requested to be interviewed in Denver or Salt Lake City will receive detailed instructions and information from the Denver JET Program Office. This information is sent out via email, so please be sure your spam filters allow email from our office (@de.mofa.go.jp) to come through. Every year we have candidates who miss crucial pieces of information due to spam filters. There are many online resources for preparing for your JET interview. Please take into consideration the source of the information. While some forums and websites have very helpful information, others may not be so accurate. There are no official JET Program-sponsored websites to help prepare you for interviews, but please keep in mind this is a professional interview for a professional job. You should treat it as such. CIRs will have a Japanese language assessment component to their interview. The best way to prepare for a CIR interview is to brush up on your Japanese by:
If you have questions regarding JET Program interviews please contact the JET Program Coordinator at the Consulate (or Embassy) that you are interviewing at. Although the actual interviews are conducted using the same guidelines and at approximately the same time, specific information can differ from location to location.Visit the Embassy of Japan JET webpage: Contact to see a contact list for each consulate and the Embassy.
Read over your Statement of Purpose
To start prepping for the interview, read over your applications Statement of Purpose essay. Those two pages (probably) got you the interview, and theyll be studied by the panel so you know youll be asked questions based on what you wrote. Think of your essay as the “spirit” behind what you want to convey.
B. ” I choose the JET Program because of reputation. I know from research that JET supports candidates with orientation, training, and an essential network of connections. I believe JET will help me become a well rounded ALT, so I can support my students and JTEs in the classroom. For example, I have never taught abroad; however, I know from research that there are invaluable resources available from sites such as KumaJET and AkitaJET who are there support ALTs with free resources and activities to ALTs who aren’t from those areas or regions…
B. “I believe there are a numbers of ways I can involve myself with the local community and make a positive impact. For example, I spoke with JET Alumni on how they made an impact in their local community, and one way I found that was very interesting was joining a local taiko club. I’ve loved music ever since high school. I used to play the drums, which is very similar, but so different in many ways. The taiko is just one dream that requires a lot of strength to strum…for these reasons I believe I can make an impact on the local community while acquiring new skills to bring back to my country from playing the taiko.”
My Japanese is not great, but I introduced myself and discussed a game I did in Japanese as an ALT for Interac. Even though I don’t explain it well, I give it my best, and said students gradually learned English while playing it and having fun. This is an extensive self introduction. A short introduction only is about your home town, job, schooling or whatever other hobbies you want to discuss.
FAQ
What questions do they ask at Jet interview?
- Why the JET Programme?
- Why do you want to teach English in Japan?
- Do you have any experience teaching?
- What would you do if the Japanese Teacher of English (JTE) made a mistake during class?
- If a student asked about politics, how do you respond?
How do I pass the JET Program interview?
- Know Your Application.
- Know Your Statement of Purpose.
- Know Your General Questions & Answers.
- Flex Your Flexibility.
- Using Japanese.
- Demo Lesson/ Teaching.
- Asking Question(s)
What does a jet Cir do?
How hard is the jet interview?
The hardest part is passing the interview. That process is another beast itself and something you shouldn’t worry about till you get an invite. A number of applicants start preparing for it too soon and never get an interview. Focus on the application first.
