JET Programme

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (語学指導等を行う外国青年招致事業, Gogaku Shidōtō wo Okonau Gaikoku Seinen Shōchi Jigyō?) or JET Programme (JETプログラム, Jetto Puroguramu?) is a Japanese government initiative that brings college (university) graduates—mostly native speakers of English—to Japan as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) and Sports Education Advisors (SEAs) in Japanese kindergartens, elementary, junior high and high schools, or as Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs) in local governments and boards of education. JET Programme participants are collectively called JETs.

Participants currently come from a total of 36 countries. As of July 1, 2010, 4,334 participants (in CIR, ALT, and SEA positions) were employed on the programme, making it the world's largest exchange teaching programme. Of that number, about half are from the United States (2,420), with Canada (474), the United Kingdom (399), Australia (254), New Zealand (206), Ireland (112) and South Africa (110) for ALTs as well as China (72) and Korea (56) mostly CIRs, making up most of the remainder. Holders of Japanese passports may participate in the programme, but must renounce their Japanese citizenship to do so. The focus of the program is on English language learning and teaching, so about 90% of the participants on the programme are ALTs; the remaining 10% are divided between CIRs and SEAs. The number of alumni totals over 54,000 from 54 different countries.