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JET Program Alternatives: Interac vs JET, Which Works for You?
Applying for a position as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) is a fantastic opportunity to actualise your dream of experiencing life in Japan, all whilst excelling in your career.
For many people who are interested in teaching in Japan, the ALT labor market might seem confusing and there are various options available. In this article, we’d like to compare and contrast the government’s JET Programme and Interac, so that you can make an informed decision.
There are about 7000 full-time ALTs currently working in schools in Japan. Of those,
- 34% are with the JET Programme,
- 46% with private ALT providers,
- and the remaining 20% are directly employed by local schools.
In the private ALT provider sector, Interac is the largest company, with almost half of market share. To put that into perspective, Interac’s ALTs teach about 25% of all school-age children in Japan.
Interac is Japan’s leading private provider of ALTs to local school boards across Japan. With a mission to enrich lives through language and cultural exchange, we strive to bring the world closer — one student, one school, and one community at a time.
A direct comparison: JET Program vs Interac
Interac and JET are two major providers of ALTs in Japan, each offering distinct experiences and benefits.
To help you better understand the differences between these two programs, we conducted an anonymous survey among Interac’s current ALTs and internal staff, the majority of whom have either worked for or applied for the JET program, too. The survey aimed to compare various aspects of working conditions, support, and overall satisfaction, all with the purpose of providing a rounded, balanced comparison of the two.
Key Takeaways | |
Interac | JET Program |
Ongoing application process throughout the year. | Fixed application windows once per year |
Hiring decisions based heavily on recruiter feedback on the candidate. | Hiring decisions are geared towards paperwork screening versus interviewer opinions. |
Teaching-based orientation sessions. | Culture-based orientation sessions. |
Salary per annum: ¥2,400,000-¥3,000,000 | Salary per annum: ¥3,360,000-¥3,960,000 |
Placement requests are taken into consideration, along with school needs. | Placement logic is seemingly random for most participants |
ALT accommodations are standardized nationwide. | ALT accommodations are left to each local authority to decide. |
10 vacation days (increasing by year) | 10-20 vacation days (does not increase) |
Standardized nationwide welfare services. | Welfare services available. |
Regular training sessions per prefecture. | Optional enrollment in the AJET association. |
Annual transfer opportunities. | No transfer opportunities. |
Internal career opportunities after 2 years. | No internal career opportunities. |
Here are our findings from our 10 respondents, A-J.
The Application Process
Let’s start at the beginning.
JET
According to our respondents, JET has time periods each year for each stage (e.g. applications accepted for X weeks, then those windows close, interviews are conducted, and so on), and only once per year. JET’s application process is considered to be detailed, stringent, and rigorous overall (Respondent D, et Respondent H, 2024).
Expectations are deemed to be higher when it comes to the statement of purpose or cover letter for JET, which is where a lot of applicants get rejected (Respondent G, 2024).
From what Respondent C understands, JET asks their applicants to supply a “Self-Report of Medical Conditions” at the start of the application process, along with a submission of all their documents (university transcripts/graduation certificates of completion, proof of citizenship, reference letters (2), “Statement of Purpose”). There is no phone interview, only an in-person interview at the embassy or consulate, preceded by a predominantly paper-based process. The in-person interview is only given if you pass the paper application.
Waiting periods between stages of the recruitment period are typically longer for JET vs Interac, and you can wait a number of months to hear back on whether you’re accepted into the program at all (Respondent E, 2024).
Interac
Interac has an ongoing application process that continues throughout the year, starting with resume screening and a phone screening stage, followed by the demonstration lesson video, and a 1-to-1 online interview. The overall process is shorter than JET’s and can be initiated at any time (Respondent J, 2024).
Much like JET, Interac only requires applicants to submit the required documents at the time of application (Respondent C, 2024).
In general, you’ll have more of a human touch during the Interac application process when compared to JET. With Interac, you work with a recruiter who will coach you through the process, whereas, this is not a resource available to you with JET; if you need to correct any information later, you can ask your Interac recruiter to update your profile. On the other hand, JET does not offer the opportunity for amendments to your application after submission.
It seems that JET rejects a good number of candidates before the interview stage. However, Interac tends to engage more candidates (via email and phone) very early on in the process, and favors the opinion of the recruiter in charge, rather than determining suitability by paperwork alone.
Interac candidates will not progress to the next stage unless they meet the requirements of the current phase for their application, so, if the rejection comes, it feels more conclusive and provides closure, rather than waiting months for results (Respondent A, 2024).
Training
JET
Respondent A was a JET ALT and training associate before coming to work for us here at Interac. They tell us that the initial JET training program consists of a few days in Tokyo with all new JETs. Trainees can then select from a range of sessions, covering topics related to living in Japan, and preparing to integrate into Japanese culture (Respondent I et Respondent E, 2024).
Although, if you’ve never taught or lived in Japan, Respondent A questions how trainees are meant to know which sessions will be the most useful, and risk missing out on more relevant sessions.
After the initial training period, JET ALTs are offered one training session a year per prefecture. These sessions are more focused on the teaching aspect of the ALT experience, and are taught by more experienced JET ALTs.
According to Respondent A, the training is all lecture-based. The first time a new teacher could be standing in front of a room might be their first day of class!
Interac
The common consensus is that, compared to JET, Interac’s training is more structured and focused on how to do the job — teaching. Starting a few days into the training program, Interac ALTs will have the opportunity to practice lesson planning and demo lesson modules, where they receive direct feedback to help them improve (Respondent C, 2024).
Respondent H and Respondent I felt that JET’s training went more into depth about the living aspects and cultural expectations of being an ALT in Japan. Interac, whilst covering living in Japan and cultural differences, emphasized different teaching methods and utilities for ALTs.
Respondent J expressed that the orientation process is similar, but, once ALTs are assigned a post, JET’s training depends on the board of education you are working with. They also felt that Interac’s is more established, while JET leans on fellow ALTs to help each other more.
Interac has a national-level training department with veteran teachers and a PHD-level linguist at the helm, producing standardized training for all ALTs. Initial training ends with ALTs leading their own self-introduction to the other trainees. This not only gives them an opportunity to make friends, but it also prepares them for the self introduction all ALTs will have to conduct when they are with their students in the classroom for the first time (Respondent A, 2024).
Salary
JET
The JET Program offers their assistant language teachers a progressively increasing salary based on their tenure:
- First year: ¥3,360,000 (approximately $23,000 USD) before taxes
- Second year: ¥3,600,000 (approx. $25,000 USD)
- Third year and beyond: ¥3,900,000 (approx. $27,000 USD) or more annually
- Fourth and fifth years: ¥3,960,000 annually (approx. $27,500 USD)
This is above the average for an ALT provider, and Respondent H expressed that they didn’t struggle much on their JET salary as an ALT.
Interac
Interac salaries are competitive within the ALT industry, and additional allowances may be paid if the position the ALT is assigned to requires Japanese language skills, prior teaching experience, or is located very rural etc (Respondent A, 2024).
Interac ALTs will most likely receive a gross annual salary of approximately ¥2.4 ~ ¥3.0 million per year, paid in equal monthly payments, rather than pro-rata, during summer and winter breaks.
This converts to approximately (September 2024 rates, before tax):
- £12,674 – £15,843
- $16,670 – $20,840
- €15,048 – €18,810
Respondents B, E, and F said that the salary is enough to support oneself in Japan, due to the cheaper cost of living in Japan. An Interac salary gives you the freedom to live on your own in your own apartment, dine out occasionally, and enjoy your time in Japan with hobbies and occasional travel during long weekends or breaks.
They also recommended that ALTs should be financially responsible people and continue to be budget-conscious during their time in Japan.
You can learn more about Interac’s salaries, and tax reductions, on our website.
Placements
JET
The matter of placements is a tricky one, no matter which ALT program you opt for. There are only a certain number of placements in any given location each year — once they’re full, they’re full.
JET do take requests from their candidates about which cities they’d like to be placed in. However, it “seems they give precedent to requests from people with a sister-city relationship, or other connection or a family tie — otherwise, you are out of luck.” (Respondent A, 2024.)
Interac
Interac has placements all over the country, in all 47 prefectures. This includes major cities, such as those in the Kanto region (North and South), as well as other areas like Fukuoka in the West and Sapporo in the North, smaller cities and towns all throughout the country, and even island positions.
When determining placements for ALTs, Interac considers requests alongside the list of positions that will be opening — from new boards of education that are starting working with Interac, as well as in positions where ALTs have decided to move to other ventures (going back home, etc.).
Then, there are a multitude of other factors to take into consideration, such as whether the position requires driving, if it requires a certain level of Japanese, or if the school(s) requested such points. There are also instances where schools may make requests for particular skills or other qualifications (Respondent B, 2024).
For both JET and Interac, placement is largely determined based on the needs of the schools at the time. Some placements will require a car for work and daily life, others will be in the hustle and bustle of a big city. In rural areas, you will become part of a community and really get into what it means to live in Japan, while urban areas can offer exciting leisure opportunities, and a fast-paced lifestyle.
Accommodation
JET
According to the JET Programme’s FAQ section, housing is not provided for JET Programme participants, they say “In principle, JET Programme participants will be responsible for their own accommodation arrangements” and “All JET Programme participants should expect to pay rent while in Japan.” (7.3)
Their advice is that “in some cases, the contracting organisation may have suggested housing arrangements or offer different choices, so it is essential to consult with your contracting organisation well in advance of arriving in Japan.” (7.4)
Interac
On the other hand, Interac does their best to find affordable single occupancy accommodation within a reasonable commute of an ALTs assignment (Respondent C, 2024). Most Interac ALTs, regardless of location, are connected with a single occupancy apartment with washer, kitchen, and other such facilities. If their placement is in a rural area that requires driving, Interac will also arrange a parking spot near their accommodation as required.
The apartments are smaller than most western apartments, but they are the standard living arrangements available on the Japanese market, the same that would be available to any locals looking to move to that area.
Most, but not all, apartments are furnished and typically come wired for internet, if that is not the case Interac will assist with leasing furniture and setting up internet when needed. From a Western perspective, Japanese apartments can be quite small and walls can be quite thin. However, these apartments are usually more open to working with non-Japanese tenants and have lower move-in fees than other housing options in Japan (Respondent C, 2024).
Sick Days and Vacation
JET
According to JET’s General Information Handbook, JET ALTs’ work hours are set at 35 hours per week.
Every year, JETs receive 10-20 nenkyuu (vacation) days to take at the discretion of their placement school. 12 days can be rolled over to the following year, but JET ALTs can have no more than 32 nenkyuu in one year (jetprogramguide.com).
However, it seems like the question of whether ALTs receive additional byokyu (sick leave) outside of their nenkyuu is entirely dependent on the placement school’s wishes. Most commonly, sick days will come out of the JETs’ standard paid time off.
Interac
With Interac placements, working hours are 8 hours a day, between 8AM and 5PM, from Monday to Friday, as standard. First year Interac ALTs are entitled to a maximum of 10 days of nenkyuu per year (Respondent A, 2024). ALTs receive more nenkyuu per consecutive year of service, basically in line with labor standards.
Infact, Interac goes a bit above the standards and actually grants the holidays after 3 months (instead of half of year), and then each April for successive contracts.
5 of the 10 days of nenkyuu are assigned by Interac, often in accordance with school closures, such as for a schools’ foundation day. There are 16 national holidays per year, and Interac ALTs are free of work responsibilities on these days. (Respondent D, 2024).
It’s important to note that Interac’s ALT position is about 200 days a year on average, when counting in national holidays and school breaks. Compared to the UK and US workers, Interac ALTs receive an instant 2+ months of extra leisure time a year!
Any leave due to sickness must be taken as nenkyuu, as is common across professions in Japan.
Plus, there are a number of ways you can strategically plan your paid time off to get the most out of your allowance. Interac ALTs typically use their vacation days to create long weekends, and to get the most out of holiday periods, extending their break to explore other parts of Japan, and travel to major cities for events.
HR and Support Structures
JET
JET’s Support page on their website details the pathways ALTs can follow to seek support for a number of issues. They advise that the first point of contact should always be the contracting organisation directly, be that a superior, supervisor or a co-worker, and they can direct them from there.
JETs are encouraged to form a trusting relationship with their supervisors from the start, as they will know each ALTs employment and living situation better than anyone else. Supervisors, the schools’ primary English teachers with additional duties, are there to support JET ALTs with anything they might be concerned about.
If the issue is of a more serious nature, there are 3 levels of support at a JET’s disposal: Prefecture Advisor (ALT volunteer position), the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR), and the home country’s embassy in Japan.
Interac
Interac offers a lot of support for ALTs, especially the ones who are newly arriving in Japan. The company does their best to help them settle in, and there are usually regular check-ins by phone (Respondent B, 2024).
With Interac, ALTs have ample support available to them, and each branch is entrusted with the welfare of their ALTs, including
- Mental health support
- Training
- Advice
- Support in setting up bank accounts
- Housing
- Questions about bills and taxes
And much more (Respondent A, 2024).
Most areas have regular meetings for ALTs and typically carry out follow-up training mid-year plus observations, where a staff member from the regional office will come to visit the ALT at their school. ALTs are also welcome to contact their local office to speak with head teachers or instructor development managers at any time to consult or ask questions (Respondent C, 2024).
Community Building
JET
It seems that one of the JET Program’s strong points is that their AJET associations schedule a range of events and activities for ALTs to meet up and forge friendships (Respondent C, 2024).
According to Reddit users, local activities are organised by individual prefectures who have AJET councils, comprised of JET Program volunteers, generally on the monthly basis but mostly at the discretion of their AJET council.
Interac
Interac ALTs can look forward to meeting like-minded ALTs in their placement area through regular training sessions, where they can come together to learn, share challenges, and foster connections (Respondent B, 2024).
What’s more, there are plenty of online groups for ALTs to meet other Interac participants in prefectures across Japan, broadening their opportunities for travel and friendship. It’s very common for ALTs to have gatherings and outings on an impromptu basis in local areas, providing plenty of opportunities to forge lifelong connections.
Start your journey with Interac
Interac is proud to offer you the opportunity to thrive in an authentic Japanese teaching environment, bringing the world closer together — one student, one school, one community at a time.
When it comes to Interac vs JET, both have their ‘pros’ and ‘cons’, much like any other career path. What it really comes down to is the reason you want to be an ALT in the first place.
Is it your dream to immerse yourself in Japanese culture and customs? To experience the personal enrichment of teaching a language and inspiring the next generation? Are you passionate about building a career in education, or career in Japan more generally?
If so, then Interac’s for you. We want to make sure that you stand the best chance of achieving your dreams, so, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide on how to prepare for your ALT interview, and a wealth of articles about the ALT experience, life in Japan, Japanese culture, and more.
If you’re interested in becoming an ALT in Japan, consider applying with us here at Interac.
About the Author
Brian McDonough is a consultant at Interac, Japan’s largest provider of ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers). Originally from the US, Brian has lived in Japan for over 25 years, giving him a unique perspective on the cultural differences and challenges people face when moving to Japan. He has first-hand experience of working in Japan as an American.