JET & EPIK Lesson Plan Requirements: Ultimate Prep Guide

If you are applying to teach English in Asia through the JET Programme (Japan) or EPIK (South Korea), your journey doesn't start in a Tokyo or Seoul classroom. It starts on a blank document.

Passing the initial application screening for these competitive, government-sponsored programs comes down to one critical piece of paperwork: your sample lesson plan.

To pass the JET and EPIK lesson plan requirements, you must demonstrate a mastery of communicative language teaching by limiting your own teacher talking time (TTT) and maximizing student production. While EPIK requires a highly rigid, multi-section document written entirely in full prose sentences, the JET Programme evaluates your lesson plan dynamically during a live panel interview where you must prove how you would co-teach alongside a Japanese native instructor.

At Go TEFL, we review dozens of applications every single intake. The single biggest mistake applicants make is submitting a generic, cookie-cutter lesson plan scraped off a forum. Both programs use sophisticated screening processes and will instantly reject unoriginal templates.

In this comprehensive guide, we will unpack the exact architecture of a passing lesson plan, provide concrete examples of formatting, and show you how to bulletproof your application.

JET vs. EPIK Lesson Plans: The Core Differences

Before you write a single word, you have to understand who is grading your paper. JET and EPIK operate under fundamentally different educational philosophies and classroom structures.

If you try to submit an EPIK-style lesson plan to JET, or vice-versa, your application will be filtered out immediately.

Requirement	The JET Programme (Japan)	The EPIK Program (South Korea)
Primary Classroom Role	Assistant Language Teacher (ALT). You are a co-teacher working under a Japanese Teacher of English (JTE).	Guest English Teacher (GET). You are frequently leading the class solo or guiding a Korean co-teacher.
Submission Format	Flexible layout, but must explicitly map out how roles are split between you and the JTE.	Strict, non-negotiable template. Must be written in full, descriptive sentences (bullet points trigger automatic rejection).
Methodology Focus	Cultural exchange, authentic pronunciation, team-teaching mechanics.	The PPP Framework: Presentation, Practice, and Production.
The Live Interview Test	You will be asked to simulate a 60-to-90 second slice of your lesson plan on the spot during your interview.	Interviewers will grill you on classroom management issues directly related to your chosen activities.

Mastering the EPIK 12-Section PPP Layout

EPIK reviewers use your lesson plan as a direct metric of your attention to detail and professionalism. If your lesson plan contains bullet points, fragments, or a literal script of what you intend to say, your application will fail. You must explain what you are doing, why you are doing it, and how the students are interacting, using full prose sentences.

Your plan must revolve strictly around the PPP Framework (Presentation, Practice, Production). Here is a deep breakdown of how to execute each phase perfectly.

1. The Warm-Up & Motivation (5 Minutes)

Never jump straight into grammar. You need to activate the students' brains and transition them into "English mode." This should be an energetic, low-stakes activity like a quick chant, a ball-toss game, or a visual puzzle related to the day's theme.

Example of correct EPIK formatting: "The teacher will enter the classroom energetically and greet the students using the target phrase, 'Good morning, how are you?' The teacher will then display a short, animated video clip on the digital whiteboard featuring various food items to visually stimulate the students and introduce the overarching theme of the lesson."

2. Presentation (10–12 Minutes)

This is the only phase where you are the focus of the room. You introduce the target language using visual aids, flashcards, or real objects (realia). However, you must keep your Teacher Talking Time (TTT) under 30% of this block.

Example: "The teacher will display a large visual flashcard of a restaurant menu on the board. The teacher will model the key expression, 'What would you like to eat?' using clear intonation and natural speed, and will subsequently guide the students to repeat the expression collectively, in rows, and individually to practice pronunciation."

3. Practice (12–15 Minutes)

Students now take the language and use it in a highly structured, controlled environment. Your job transitions from "instructor" to "facilitator." This involves guided pair-work, worksheet matching, or low-intensity educational games.

Example: "Students will be instructed to turn to their immediate desk partners and utilize the distributed dialogue worksheets. One student will assume the role of the waiter using the newly introduced expressions, while their partner practices ordering items from the provided menu options before swapping roles."

4. Production (10–12 Minutes)

This is the make-or-break section for EPIK reviewers. Students must use the language independently without your direct assistance. If your production phase is just another worksheet, your plan will be rejected. It needs to be a communicative, immersive task.

Example: "The classroom will be transformed into a mock marketplace. Students will be divided into shopkeepers and shoppers, given play currency, and tasked with navigating the room to successfully negotiate and purchase items from different student-run stalls using exclusively the English expressions mastered during the lesson."

Cracking the JET Programme Co-Teaching Dynamic

The JET Programme is fundamentally a cultural exchange initiative. They are not looking for a rogue educator who wants to hijack a Japanese classroom. They want to see a cooperative team player.

Your JET lesson plan must explicitly feature two separate columns or sections: ALT Actions and JTE Actions.

The Secret to a Passing JET Lesson Plan: Design activities where the JTE introduces the structural rules or context in Japanese when absolutely necessary, while you act as the linguistic model, introducing native pronunciation, natural cadence, and Western cultural contexts.

 

Surviving the JET Interview "Curveball"

If your written lesson plan passes screening, you will be invited to a live panel interview at your local Japanese Embassy or Consulate. Midway through the interview, the panel will suddenly alter their demeanor, pretend to be rowdy, easily distracted 10-year-old Japanese elementary students, and command: "Show us how you would teach the Practice section of your lesson plan right now."

To pass this sudden simulation, keep these three rules in mind:

1. Do not freeze: Smile instantly, shift your physical posture, and project your voice confidently.

2. Use TPR (Total Physical Response): Use clear, exaggerated hand gestures and physical movements to explain instructions without using complex language.

3. Acknowledge your JTE: Even though your JTE isn't physically in the interview room, speak to the empty space where they would be. Say things like, "Now, Tanaka-Sensei will hand out the colored paper while I demonstrate the next step." This proves you natively understand team-teaching mechanics.

How to Avoid the Red Flags That Trigger Instant Rejection

Through evaluating thousands of applications, we have isolated three recurring red flags that cause immediate rejection by both EPIK and JET reviewers:

1. Over-Complicated Vocabulary: Remember, you are likely teaching complete beginners. If your lesson plan relies on sentences like, "Students will analyze the architectural differences of various global landmarks," it will be flagged as unrealistic. Keep target language simple: "Where are you from? I'm from Canada."

2. Vague Timing Blocks: Writing "Activity - 20 minutes" is a massive red flag. Reviewers want to see that you understand classroom pacing. Break your timings down precisely (e.g., Explanation: 3 minutes; Activity Execution: 12 minutes; Cleanup and Wrap-up: 5 minutes).

3. Lack of Backup Plans: What happens if the school's projector breaks? What happens if the advanced students finish your worksheet in 2 minutes while the rest of the class is struggling? A professional lesson plan always includes an "Extension Activity" section for fast finishers and a tech-free alternative.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a TEFL certificate before writing my JET or EPIK lesson plan?

While you can technically apply while finishing your course, having a recognized qualification drastically improves the quality of your plan. Understanding concepts like PPP frameworks, concept-checking questions (CCQs), and student-centered learning is practically impossible to fake on paper. If you are confused about selecting a legitimate pathway, read our guide on [Why Accredited TEFL Courses Matter for Asia Applications].

Can I use the same lesson plan for both JET and EPIK?

Absolutely not. The structural templates are entirely incompatible. EPIK requires a heavily detailed, formal prose document focusing on solo or co-led English instruction. JET requires a dynamic framework focused entirely on the team-teaching relationship between an expat and a Japanese native teacher.

What age group should I design my sample lesson plan for?

If you are unsure, target Elementary School (Grades 3–6) or Middle School (Grade 1). These age brackets allow you to showcase highly engaging, communicative games and clear, foundational language structures, which reviewers prefer to see over dense high school grammar lectures.

How to Guarantee Your Application Lands on the Interview Pile

The hard truth is that if you do not have formal, structured training in educational architecture, critical errors will slip into your application.

When you enroll in the Go TEFL 120-Hour Online TEFL Course, you aren't just clicking through text to get a certificate. Our comprehensive curriculum features a dedicated, deep-dive module on lesson planning designed specifically around the international standards demanded by programs like EPIK and JET.

More importantly, your assignments aren't graded by automated bots. They are evaluated by real, veteran TEFL tutors who provide personalized, line-by-line feedback. We catch the formatting errors, unrealistic timings, and over-complicated vocabulary selections before you officially submit your paperwork to government coordinators.

Invest in your future classroom setup early. Check out our comprehensive break down of [What is Included in the Go TEFL 120-Hour Course Syllabus] to see how we set you up for success, or calculate your potential return on investment with our breakdown of [TEFL Teacher Salaries and Living Costs in East Asia].

About the Author

Ishbel is the co-founder of Go TEFL and an international education specialist with extensive, hands-on experience teaching English across both Asia and Europe. Having successfully navigated the exact hiring, visa, and lesson planning frameworks required by top-tier global cultural exchange programs, she launched Go TEFL to dismantle the confusion surrounding international accreditation. Her mission is to provide aspiring educators with transparent, high-quality, and highly practical training that converts directly into legal visas and competitive global teaching placements.