One of the best assets of JET is the ability to leverage your free time to help position yourself for a good job when returning from the program. Any opportunity to learn and grow your skill set is beneficial to the JET participant in the long-term.
Professional Development for JETs Facebook Group
This is a group in which useful reminders are posted for current JETs and other professionals in Japan. This also serves as a forum to ask questions, search for resources or network with other JETs and professionals seeking to grow their networks. Request access to the group here:
The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program Alumni Association (JETAA)
The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program Alumni Association (JETAA) is a supportive network which serves to maintain the bonds of friendship developed between JET Programme participants. JETAA Chapters provide an opportunity to expand your network and connect with alumni operating as professionals in a variety of fields and interests around the world. Join your local JETAA Chapter for networking, career and volunteer opportunities in your local area.
All of the following JETAA groups are active as of January 2022.
United States
List originally compiled by Sara-Jane Seery, Director of Alumni Relations 2017-2018 (Kochi, 2016-2018). Updated by Julia Sanua, Director of Digital Resources and Webmaster (Kagawa, 2019-2022)
Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT)
The Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT) is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to the improvement of language teaching and learning. JALT promotes excellence in language learning, teaching, and research by providing opportunities for those involved in language education to meet, share, and collaborate. They have nearly 3,000 members in and affiliates across Japan, as well as members abroad.
Over 1200 JALT members belong to one or more Special Interest Groups (SIGs). Through the AJET and JALT relationship JET Programme participants have the unique opportunity to not only attend but also present at conferences, providing both professional development and networking opportunities. Events are held nationwide for various chapters and can be found on their website, or by subscribing to the social media of the group you are specifically interested in. You can view all the JALT regional chapters here.
In addition, to fulfill our Memorandum of Agreement/Understanding between the two organizations, JALT has given access to recent publications via this site: http://jalt-publications.org/tlt/recent
You can see the TLT archives via this site: http://jalt-publications.org/tlt/archive
You can see the JALT Journal archives via this site: http://jalt-publications.org/jj/archive
For the required password, please contact National AJET with an email titled “JALT Publications Access Request” and your JET ID number, full name and prefectural placement in the contents.
Comments from JET Alumni regarding JALT experience
Joe Mecha (Nagano, 2010-2015; Niigata, 2003-2005)
“I became an active member of JALT while in Nagano. I benefited by working to improve my knowledge of teaching, collaborate with university-level teachers, and contribute to language teaching in Nagano through giving presentations. Participating in this group helped me to prepare for university-level teaching after JET.”
Additional Organizations
English as a Foreign Language Teaching Groups
Translation and Interpretation Groups
- Japan Association of Translators
- Japan Translation Federation
- Japan Association of Conference Interpreters
- Japan Association for Interpreting and Translation Studies
- International Medical Interpreters’ Association
Professional Women’s Groups
- Association for Women in Finance Tokyo
- For Empowering Women Japan (FEW Japan)
- International Women in Communications
- Women in Law Japan
- Women Educators and Language Learners (WELL) Japan
