Hello, I just got rejected from a dream program and I am absolutely crushed. It was a sister cities program to be an ALT for a year with a relatively high wage, subsidized housing, and in a semi-large and well-connected city. They would have supported my visa process and paid for my flights. Basically, it was the perfect program and I’m in the perfect place in my life right now to do something like this. I have been teaching myself Japanese for almost 2 years and dream of being able to learn through every day immersion, I am also very passionate about foreign language teaching.
I’m not sure why I got rejected, there didn’t seem to be much competition at all (they delayed the application due date), they had no requirements besides a bachelor’s degree and being a native English speaker, and I was recommended the program by an employee while I had an internship in a different department of the same city. My qualifications beyond their requirements include some teaching-adjacent experience (I give presentations at schools and have given language lessons at a retirement home, as well as tutored high schoolers), extensive travel experience, and multilingual experience (I am fluent in Spanish). Looking at the bios of past participants, people have been accepted with less.
I just feel very discouraged because if I couldn’t get into this program, I don’t feel like I could get into anything, and I want to do this so badly. How should I respond to their rejection? I know it sounds desperate, but is there any way I could get them to reconsider? What other programs are there out there for me? I’m completely crushed and would love to feel some hope right now.
by Mel_oh_dee