Are you looking for education jobs? If you’re having trouble finding education jobs in the U.S., maybe it’s time to take your job search overseas. One of the world’s most popular international teaching programs is the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program is a great way to find work and earn good money as a teacher.
The only requirement is that you need to have a college degree and be 35 years old or younger. No prior teaching experience is required, although it doesn’t hurt to have an education background.
As a member of the JET Program, you’ll be teaching English in the Japanese public schools, serving as an assistant and “team teacher” with Japanese teachers of English. English is a required subject in Japan, starting in 7th grade. Responsibilities and opportunities vary depending on where you’re located; some school districts give their JET Program teachers more freedom to design lesson plans and even teach classes independently, while others mainly employ their teachers to help with pronunciation and conversation skills.
The work pays well, and for most Americans (unless you have other income or a high-earning spouse) the income is usually tax free – under the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, Americans who live abroad and meet certain requirements do not have to pay taxes on up to $91,400 of income earned in foreign countries.
The work pays well, and for most Americans (unless you have other income or a high-earning spouse) the income is usually tax free – under the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, Americans who live abroad and meet certain requirements do not have to pay taxes on up to $91,400 of income earned in foreign countries.
Advantages:
- Get paid to teach. If you’re having trouble finding education jobs in America, but you still want to keep your skills sharp and develop as an education professional, the JET Program can be ideal.
- Experience a new culture! Learn Japanese language, eat the freshest sushi in the world, see beautiful temples, mountains and forests, and make new friends from Japan and all over the world.
Drawbacks:
- The teaching experience might not be “real” enough. If you’re committed to building an education career, depending on where you are assigned on the JET Program there might not be enough “real” teaching to keep you challenged. Or the language barrier might be an issue – if you don’t speak much Japanese, it can be hard to communicate with other teachers and administrators to ask for more work or to suggest ideas for new things to do in the classroom.
- Culture shock: The JET Program is a big commitment – you have to fly halfway around the world, live in a new country, learn a new language, and live thousands of miles from your family and friends. This can be a big challenge, and there are stressful aspects of living in another culture. If all you want is a job in education, you might want to keep looking in your home country – the JET Program is an amazing experience, but it’s much more than “just a job” – you have to be prepared for all the challenges that go with it.
If you’re interested in living in Japan and getting paid to teach English, the JET Program might be right for you. Just remember that it is a big commitment, and make sure you’re prepared for the possible challenges – but a year on the JET Program can be one of the most influential years of your life.
By: Ben Gran
Ben Gran is a freelance writer based in Des Moines, Iowa, and served on the JET Program in Hidaka City, Japan from 2001-2002. He is an award-winning blogger who loves to write about careers, personal finance and the future of work. Ben can be reached at http://BenjaminGran.com
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