Assistant Language Teacher（ALT）

Most JET Programme participants work as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs), assisting English teaching in schools across Japan. As an ALT you will assist Japanese Teachers of English (JTE) rather than lead classes on your own. However, the exact nature of the ALT positions can depend on numerous factors, such as the number of schools visited, the frequency of visits, and the differing approaches of JTEs. No two situations are the same, therefore a flexible attitude is essential.
 
Japanese school children begin formally studying English at the age of 10 in their fifth year of Elementary School and continue to do so throughout Junior High School. At 15 years of age, 95% of students progress to Senior High School and the vast majority continue to study English there for another three years.
 
As an ALT, you will play a key role in promoting communicative training in the classroom. Contact with an ALT also provides your students with a valuable chance to become familiar with another culture. 

General Conditions

(1) Remuneration
– Participants receive a remuneration of approximately 3.36 million yen (approx. 17.9 lakh) for their first year of appointment. Remuneration increases with subsequent appointments.

(2)Period of Participation
– In principle, participation is for a one-year period starting from the day after arrival in Japan and may extend up to 3 years or in exceptional cases to a total of 5 years.

(3) Work Hours
– 35 hours per week, standard (typically Monday to Friday)

(4) Holidays
– Saturday, Sunday, Japanese national holidays, paid leave (at least 10 days)*
* Due to work circumstances, participants may be asked to work during weekends and national holidays.

(5) Assignment
– Participants are assigned to local government organisations and schools throughout Japan. Although placement requests are possible, they are not guaranteed.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

ALTs will work in private or public schools or local boards of education in the prefecture or municipality they are assigned. The primary task of an ALT is to assist in classes led by Japanese Teachers of English in the following manners:

• Assisting in the preparation of teaching materials,
• Planning and supervising extracurricular activities for students, such as English club or sports activities.
• Organizing cultural or international exchange programs.

         

Applicants must:

• Hold an Indian passport.
• Hold a Bachelor’s degree in any subject by July 2025.
• Be adept in contemporary standard pronunciation, rhythm and intonation in English and possess excellent language ability that can be applied accurately and appropriately. Ability to form sentences comprehensively and logically.
• Be both mentally and physically healthy.
• Have a keen interest in Japan and be willing to deepen their knowledge and appreciation of Japan after arrival.
• Can adapt to living and working conditions that could be significantly different from those previously experienced by the applicant.
• Not have lived in Japan for six or more years in total since 2015.
• Not have participated in the JET Programme since the 2021 JET Programme (inclusive of April 2020 arrivals) or for more than six years in total.
• Not have declined, without justifiable reason, a position on the JET Programme after receiving notification of placement in the previous JET Programme year.
• Obey all Japanese laws.

Additional points will be given to applicants who:

• Have a bachelor’s degree or higher in English or Education.
• Have a professional language teaching license and/or experience (especially in a classroom setting).
• Have a general teaching experience or qualifications.
• Have a Japanese language background (JLPT) and/or Japanese study background.
• Have experience traveling/living in foreign countries.

Month	Schedule
September – December	Application window opens
6 December	Application deadline
December - January	First stage of screening process (written applications)
January - February	Second stage of screening process (in person interview in Delhi)
April	Evaluation
May	Placement Notification
Late June	Pre-Departure Orientation
Late July	Departure

STEP 1: Read the Application Guidelines
 
STEP 2: Download and print out the Application Form and fill it out in neat handwriting (please use block letters) or fill the form digitally (referring to the Chart Sheet codes).
 
STEP 3: Prepare all other necessary documentation (see Application Checklist below for further explanation)
Self-Report of Medical Conditions
Statement of Physician Form (if applicable) 

Application Checklist

 

Document

(1) Application Form referring to the Chart Sheet codes

(2) JET Programme Applicant Self-Report of Medical Conditions

(3) Letters of Reference from two referees in Japanese or English. (If you have not graduated yet, one of the referees must be someone related to your university and must contain a reference to your expected date of graduation.)

(4) Certified Record/Transcript of all college/university courses Inclusive of all college/university courses Please note, transcripts must be original documents or certified versions (each page signed and stamped by the university). These can be obtained from the Registrar's Office of your college/university Must include certified transcripts from any separate college/univeristy attended (as part of Study Abroad/placement). These transcripts should be issued by the separate college/university.

(5) Essay (Statement of Purpose) Typed, single-sided, double-spaced essay on an A4 paper (210mm x 297mm), not exceeding two pages. This page limit must be strictly observed

(6) Proof of Degree            a) For those who will graduate by July 2025: Certificate of expected date of graduation. b) For those who have already graduated: A scanned copy of Graduation Certificate or Degree. Please restrict these copies to A4 size wherever possible. Include all the degrees earned in higher education (i.e. BA and MA, or BSc and MSc, etc.)

(7) Document which shows your nationality Please include a copy of your passport. If your passport is out of date at the time of the application deadline, please also include a copy of your birth certificate or your std. 10th result

(8) Teaching or language proficiency qualifications (TEFL/TESL/JLPT) (*Only for applicants who already have these types of certifications)

(9) If you answered “Yes” to either questions 1, 2a, 2b or 3 on the Self-Report of Medical Conditions, please also include a completed Statement of Physician Form.

(10) Criminal Record/Police Certificate (*Only for applicants with a criminal record, or applicants who indicate on their application an interest in going to Japan in April, or an Early arrival) In the case the applicant is unable to obtain his/her criminal record by the time of application, a document proving that you have applied for the certificate will be accepted. In this instance, the criminal record itself must then be submitted by Friday, 31 January 2025. Please see Guidline 6.(1) in regards to obtaining a criminal record.

(11) Certificate of Health (form provided) (*Only for applicants who indicate on their application an interest in an April arrival, or an arrival after April but before July or August arrival)

STEP 4: Submit all documents to the JET Desk by email no later than 5.00 pm, Friday, 6 December 2024. You must try to combine all necessary documents in one file in the numerical order in the above Application Checklist. Please note that the Embassy email server cannot receive e-mails larger than 10 Mb in size. Only if your attachment is larger than 10 Mb, please split your submission into 2 e-mails.
 
Email: jetindia@nd.mofa.go.jp
 
 
STEP 5: Contact the JET Desk only if you have not received a confirmation email from the Embassy after 1 week of submission of your application forms.
Candidates shortlisted for the interview will be notified by email in January 2025.
Preparing an application for the JET Programme can take longer than expected, so applicants are strongly advised to start preparations well in advance of the deadline.
 

Enquiries to:

JET Desk, Information and Culture Section, Embassy of Japan in India
TEL:11-4610-4610
E-mail: jetindia@nd.mofa.go.jp