Anyone out there with a hankering for the Orient has only nine days left in which to apply for the Japanese government's Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) scheme. Under the scheme, participants teach English in Japan for a year. They work mostly as assistant English teachers, with a salary equivalent to that which a Japanese teacher of five years' experience would earn.

Jet duties can vary since the visitors are employees of their host institution. Most help with classes, teachers' language training, supplementary materials and foreign language clubs. Japanese fluency is not required, though an effort to learn or continue learning the Japanese language after arriving is expected.

People fluent in Japanese can apply for the position of "co-ordinator of international relations" - they are placed mainly in local governments offices and help with projects, language instruction and exchange activities. Last year, 44 Irish people took part in the programme, from about 180 who applied. Sixty will be accepted this year. Applications are due by November 27th. You must be healthy, under 35, have excellent English pronunciation and voice projection and hold a bachelor's degree or expect to hold one by June 2000. Enquiries to the JET desk at the Japanese embassy (tel: (01) 269 4244, ext 136).