CLAIR News
CLAIR News March 2026
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Testimonials
Breathe in, breathe out, and come enjoy being both side of the medal! I certainly do not regret it.
Joke is on me now, is it?
I am still at a loss whether I want to become a certified teacher once I head back to Canada. Even so, briefly turning into the person (rightfully) staring towards the back of the class is infinitely edifying. Past the first year, you get to follow your students’ English journey from beginning to end. You see them grow (and sometimes, amusingly outgrow their uniforms) at lightning speed.
What is the most bizarre thing about all of this? You get to do the exact same thing (except, maybe, the uniform part), at the exact same time. Coming to Japan might make you an educator, but it most notably makes you a student.
Breathe in, breathe out, and come enjoy being both side of the medal! I certainly do not regret it.
Assistant Language Teacher (ALT)
Frédérique Gamache
Prefectures：Niigata
FAQ
Are non-JET spouses able to legally work in Japan?
If a spouse of a JET Programme participant wishes to find work prior to arriving in Japan, they are required to obtain a work visa ahead of time. In this case, their prospective employer must first issue a ‘Certificate of Eligibility’. If a spouse of a JET Programme participant wishes to find work after arriving in Japan, they are able to apply at their local immigration office for permission to work up to a limit of 28 hours per week. The responsibility for acquiring a work visa for spouses falls entirely on the participant and their spouse, and there is no support offered by the JET Programme.
Application procedures are handled at Regional Immigration Bureau of Japan offices and may have separate limitations, so please enquire at your closest Regional Immigration Bureau of Japan.
Can I make my own travel arrangements to Japan?
No, it is not permitted to come to Japan on any flight other than the one arranged for you. In exceptional, unavoidable cases, it may be permitted under the condition that all relevant expenses are paid for by the JET Programme participant.
Can I change my date of departure?
All new JET Programme participants depart for Japan on the day designated by their Embassy or Consulate (General) of Japan. Participants are not able to change their date of departure.
JET Streams
JET Streams is an online publication compiled by CLAIR, with the goal of strengthening the JET alumni network by providing an international forum for JET alumni to share their activities and experiences with one another.
JET Streams – Issue #61 (Winter 2025)