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My "statement of purpose" for JET application
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Hey guys, if you've got a minute (or 5-10 
), I would really appreciate any feedback on my statement of purpose short essay. It's got a 2-page (double spaced) limit and is a part (quite an important part I gather) of the application for the JET Programme.
Would love any comments from past/current JETs in particular. There shouldn't be many typos left, but I've been staring at this for too long and need a fresh pair of eyes. 
ps. yes it's long and yes it's cheesy and unrealistic. よろしくね！
Statement of Purpose:
If you were successful in your application, what particular goals would you like to achieve, and what specific contributions do you think you could make in your position as a CIR or ALT?
When I enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education program at Sydney University, I did so hoping to become a high school English and history teacher. In my first year however, I was also able to pick Japanese as an elective subject. My previous experience learning Japanese was limited to grade 7 of high school—where I quickly decided I was just not ‘cut out’ to learn a second language. I had no reason to expect anything different at university, however a few encouraging teachers and a growing interest in Japanese culture helped me hang in whenever giving up looked like a tempting option. My love for the language and culture continued to grow and by second year I had stopped studying history in order to continue taking Japanese, eventually electing it as a major alongside my education studies.
Having just recently completed my degree, I have a strong passion to teach Japanese language and culture to students in Australia and to show them how rewarding and fun studying a second language can be. This is a long-term goal of mine, but I do not feel at this stage that my Japanese ability or knowledge of authentic Japanese culture is sufficient to teach with confidence. My experience with learning Japanese and my desire to be an expert languages educator in the future frames the goals I would hope to achieve if I were chosen to participate in the JET Programme, and also forms a part of my strengths as a potential candidate.
Firstly, my personal goals include an earnest desire to improve my Japanese language ability and to experience authentic Japanese culture first-hand. It is hard for me to think of a better opportunity to interact with Japanese people and experience their customs and ways of life than to work as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) on the JET Programme.
Secondly, my background in Japanese language and education makes me a strong candidate with a lot to contribute if I were chosen to participate in this program. During my studies I completed four teaching placements, however the very first one was unique in that it involved teaching Japanese to junior students at Hurlstone Agriculture High School—a school fortunate enough to host university students from Japan as ALTs on a regular basis. As a non-native and relatively inexperienced speaker of Japanese, I quickly realised just how useful working with an ALT can be—for the classroom teacher and for the students themselves.
It would be a pleasure to find myself on the other side as an ALT: assisting and working with a Japanese Teacher of English and interacting with students to boost their motivation, celebrate their successes, and encourage them to persist through the difficulties of learning English. I enjoy working with students and young people in general and the potential for meaningful and significant interaction is an exciting prospect. During a TESOL placement at Fairfield Intensive English Centre I enjoyed the challenge of teaching English to a mixture of Iranian and Vietnamese students, alongside one Japanese girl who had arrived in Australia only two weeks earlier. Volunteering to assist international students with English conversation at Monash University and Queensland University of Technology during trips organised in my summer holidays were similarly rewarding experiences.
Finally, I take seriously the role of a participant in the JET Programme as an ambassador of both one’s home country and of the JET Programme itself. Japan is a near neighbour of Australia with many common regional and international interests, and both countries have benefitted from close strategic and economic partnership over the past 50 years. The strength of this relationship is reflected in the fact that Japan is Australia’s largest export market and that Japanese is the most widely taught foreign language in Australia—a unique situation among Western countries. If I am chosen to participate in this programme, I will gladly represent both Australia and the JET Programme by acting in a professional manner at all times and taking opportunities to share Australian culture and customs in a mutual exchange with Japanese students, teachers and the wider community.
Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I suspected I might have put too much emphasis on the "what I'm hoping to get out of the program" side of things...I guess I mentioned my degree/language studies so much because it really was what sparked my interest in Japan in general. I didn't grow up watching anime or having Japanese friends or anything like that. But you guys make a good point, so I'll try and rework the first part in particular to cut down some of the references to my degree etc.
As for international experience... I have been to Japan 3 times, but only for very short, ie. 2-3 week periods. First two times were for holidays, third time was a 3 week scholarship study trip for current and pre-service language teachers. Do these count? Should I be mentioning this somewhere?
Only other "international experience" involves various holidays to New Zealand, France, Scotland, England, etc. No actual experience living abroad. Holidays don't really strike me as being particularly useful or relevant, right?
I appreciate the tips and thanks for taking the time. And yes, I definitely wont be submitting a Japanese version! 
Last edited by SammyB (2011 November 26, 10:31 pm)
Hey
It's a good statement!!!
Apart from what everyone else has already said about making more clear what you'll contribute to the program, i would just change the order of what you've written, and make it almost backwards...
So, first i'd write what i hoped to contribute to the program, then i'd write what i wanted to get out of the program short term, and then what i wanted to get out of the program long term.
I would also change your 1st paragraph slightly... rather than use it as a lead in to talking about what you hope to do in the future, i would use that experience to say that it made you understand just how much difference encouraging teachers make to the study of second languages, and so that kind of encouragement is what you want to contribute to the Jet program (or something along those lines, but better;)).
glglgl!!! hope you get it!!!
IceCream... thank you! I wasn't feeling comfortable about the order either, but couldn't work out any other way since my intro seemed to lead into talking about my personal goals etc. Your suggestion to change the focus of the intro was what I needed!
I've reworked the whole thing and it reads much better now and a lot less like someone using JET as an excuse to get to Japan and improve their proficiency.
Putting it all in the post tomorrow and will keep you all posted if I get an interview.
UPDATE:
So I passed first stage and attended an interview during February (I felt that it went pretty well!)
After two months of waiting... I found out the other day that I had passed the second stage and am on the shortlist (ie. I have been accepted!)
Departure date is July 29. I don't find out where I will be placed until May sometime, but will post it up when I do know. I'm sure I'll have some questions too, like how the heck do you fit your life into 20kg of luggage. O_O Haha...
Thanks again to all who gave advice regarding the SOP. 
Congratulations!
I remember going through the same process and waiting for that email. Sort of nerve racking until it comes and then all excitement after that
おめでとう！！！ i hope you have a great time in Japan!!!
Any preference for where you end up, or is it completely random??
Anyway, keep us updated!!!
Congratulations! Definitely let us know what it's like.
So I'm heading to Kobe! Was pretty shocked when I found out, as I'm under the impression that JET placements in major cities are few and far between. If you're interested in having a quick squiz on google maps or something, it's gakuen nishimachi, nishi ku, kobe.
Anyone else living close by? Places to recommend? I noticed it's not too far from Osaka, Kyoto, Nara. Daytrips woo!!
About 5 weeks to get sorted (anyone in Sydney want to buy a fridge?!) Haha...
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