The 2006 JET Programme

Carly Bode, International Affairs Division

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (commonly abbreviated as JET) invites young overseas graduates from foreign countries to work in Japan teaching the languages of their home countries (usually English) and/or promoting internationalization on a local level. It seeks to foster ties between Japanese citizens (mainly youth) and JET participants at the person to person level. The program is offered by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs(external link); Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications(external link); Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology(external link); and the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations(external link). This year 6,100 participants are working mostly as Assistant Langauge Teachers (ALTs) at Japanese high schools and junior high schools. Participants can also work as Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs) or Sports Exchange Advisors (SEAs). The number of alumni totals around 40,000 from 40 countries.

JET Programme participants are placed in Contracting Organizations throughout Japan. Contracting Organizations consist of 47 prefectural and 12 designated city governments; individual city, town, and village governments; and some private schools. JET participants sign their contracts with their Contracting Organization and as such, they are under the jurisdiction of the local authority which employs them.

In Ibaraki Prefecture, there are two types of JET Programme participants, ALTs and CIRs. The positions are explained below.

  • ALT (Assistant Language Teacher): Those engaged in language instruction. These participants are placed mainly in local boards of education or publicly run junior and senior high schools. There may be a very limited number of cases in which the participants are placed in private junior and senior high schools through their prefectural/designated city office.
  • CIR (Coordinator for International Relations): Those engaged in international activities. These participants are placed in offices of local governments or related organizations such as international associations, universities, convention bureaus and so on.

More information about the program can be found on the official JET Programme website(external link).

The JET Programme in Ibaraki in 2005–2006 consists of 68 participants:

  • 37 junior high school ALTs
  • 27 senior high chool ALTs
  • 4 CIRs
Ibaraki JETs taking part in an International Sports Day

This year's participants come for 6 different countries and are spread through out the small and large towns of the prefecture.

  • USA
  • Canada
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • UK
  • South Africa
  • Jamaica

Further information about the JET Programme in Ibaraki can be found on the Ibaraki Jets website(external link).