What is the primary role of an ALT?

The Assistant Language Teacher position is the most common type of job for teaching English in Japan. Almost every participant in the program will be an ALT, except CIRs and SEA JETs.

As an Assistant Language Teacher, you will be responsible for assisting in the classroom and team-teaching with Japanese Teachers of English (JTEs). ALTs are not certified MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology) instructors. You should not be acting as the lead teacher if you do not feel comfortable doing so.
This can be difficult to stress to incoming JETs.

JTEs should be with their ALTs whenever possible, but there are times when you may be asked to “solo” teach a lesson. You can always decline if you do not feel up for it, but it can be a rewarding experience depending on the class and grade level.

From my experience, I usually was the lead teacher in elementary school classes. In this setting, you have a lot of freedom to teach simple English lessons and get students engaged and interested. It can be a great time to immerse young learners in English and have fun.

ALT Responsibilities

As mentioned in the Three Types of JET Positions, ALTs can fulfill a variety of duties on the JET Program. Many of these roles are simple and fun to do.

For example, by simply eating lunch with your students each day, you are fulfilling your role to promote positive international relations with students.

This is just one way that you may be expected to participate in school life and contribute as a civil servant in Japan.

Inside Classroom Responsibilities

• Reading dialogue and word pronunciation
• Assisting in group activities
• Answering questions
• Handing out papers and tests
• Monitoring the students
• Eating lunch in classrooms
• Playing games!

Outside Classroom Responsibilities

• Grading and correcting papers
• Assisting in test creation and audio recording
• Making worksheets and handouts
• Maintaining an English board
• English speech contest preparation
• English Club participation
• Joining school events such as Sports Day and Culture Day
• Summer English camp
• Joining recess with students
• And so on!

As an ALT, you will find that you have many more events and activities outside the classroom than inside. Sometimes, just roaming around your school and joining in other classes is acceptable and well received. Teachers in other departments are very welcoming to having the school ALT participate in their lessons!

Cultural Exchange Responsibilities

• Presenting your culture and customs
• Participating in local events and festivals
• Joining extracurricular activities at school or with the BOE

What grades do ALTs teach?

ALTs are primarily assigned to any of the three types of schools:
Elementary, Junior high, and/or High school.

Occasionally, ALTs will be asked to assist in teaching at pre-schools.

All three types of schools have their advantages and disadvantages. A large majority of JETs are assigned to a mixture of elementary and junior high schools, while a portion of JETs only work in high schools.

Elementary School (ES): 1st – 6th Grade

Junior High School (JHS): 7th – 9th Grade

High School (HS): 10th – 12th Grade

The way students act depends on their age and grade level. Very young students in ES are ready to play and be adorable every day. Students in JHS tend to be going through puberty and have their own opinions. HS can be the best since students are gaining their freedom and have a better understanding of the English language to carry out in-depth conversations. ESID (Every Situation Is Different).

Dissatisfaction as an ALT

ALT life is not always the greatest. It has its frustrations just as any other job.

Usually, you will discover these during your first year as a JET. It can’t be helped that you may have a more difficult time than another ALT, at another school, in another town, in another prefecture. Every situation is different.

Challenges of an ALT:

• It can be boring
• You’re a “human tape recorder”
• Your JTE does not want to do anything new
• Desk warming, with nothing to do
• You don’t get invited to events
• People don’t know what to say to you
• Students/teachers call you by your predecessor’s name
• Students/teachers forget your name
• Your favorite teacher is changing schools
• Your favorite students are graduating
• It’s the end of your contract; it’s time to move on

There can be challenges/disappointments working as an Assistant Language Teacher, but they are relatively small. Yes, you might lose a close teacher to another school, but you will gain new teachers along the way. It can be hard to deal with bureaucracy in schools, but you will find your own way to contribute effectively.

Remember, this is all part of the JET Experience. Inevitably, most people will experience culture shock and certain frustrations with the job. However, the benefits of being an ALT and the opportunity that it presents far outweigh the negatives.

Employment Length

The Assistant Language Teacher position is held on a yearly contract basis. It depends on the program or company. Those who work for dispatch companies like Interac or Altia Central can be employed indefinitely.

JET Program participants, however, can re-contract up to 4 times to complete a maximum of 5 years in the role. The decision to offer you another year’s contract is up to the local Board of Education for which you work.

Usually, it is based on your annual performance review and other budgetary considerations. Some BoEs have additional requirements for ALTs who wish to re-contract, such as passing a certain level of the JLPT.

When given the option to re-contract for another year, the ALT must accept or decline several months in advance of the new contract beginning. This allows adequate time for the BoE to request a replacement ALT if you decide not to stay.