Ka Leo O Hawaii

Issue date: 1/23/08 Section: Mixed Plate

Media Credit: www.jetprogramme.org Alex overlooking a writing assignment,"I'll never forget my double-take when a second year boy approached me on my way home one day and asked: 'Mr. Alex, what is your favourite 'Kaiser Chiefs' song?" [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: www.jetprogramme.org some of your prospective students in the JET exchange program [Click to enlarge]

So you just got your Bachelor's in whatever field you thought would be controlling the rest of your life; yet you look back at your college years and feel as if there's something you should have pursued. Sure, you've been in a theater production, fundraised for a club, volunteered at some hospital - but what about visiting a foreign country?

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) is a government-sponsored program to promote international exchange at the local level by fostering ties between Japanese youth and foreign youth. Anyone with a BA earned before July 8 can participate in the year-long JET program as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT), Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) or a Sports Exchange Advisor (SEA).

ALTs go to public schools to teach English alongside a teacher and, eventually, share a piece of their own culture with the students. CIRs can follow a mayor around ceremonies translating for public affairs; SEAs generally assist sports trainers.

On Oct. 8, JET and University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa alumni came to Campus Center to talk about their experiences in the JET program.

"I really wanted to travel Japan and to be working in a fun environment as opposed to studying there," said JET Alumnus Lauren Kawana. "JET is an organized program and you'll feel safer (participating in it)."

Participants work 35 hours a week - Mondays through Fridays - and have a choice of where to be placed in Japan. There's no guarantee that participants will get their choice, especially for hard-to-get-areas like Tokyo or Kyoto. JET helps find homes, but in most cases, participants will be staying in the homes of their predecessors.

"My rent was about $500 - which was on the cheaper side, because I shared an apartment," said JET Alumnus Krystal Sakata.

The JET program is actually a job, but many people misunderstand it as a study abroad program. JET can help its participants get a job in Japan - especially jobs in education.

When asked what her favorite accomplishment in JET was, Jaimie Gusman said, "Being able to survive (the JET program and living in a foreign country), make international friends and to be able to act like an international ambassador."

The JET program started in 1987 and receives about 48,000 participants from 50 countries each year.

"(JET) gives them an opportunity to work and travel abroad and really broaden their verizons," said Lisa Sakamoto, JET Coordinator for Hawai‘i. "It's a government-sponsored program, so it's safe.

Job Openings for JET
Assistant Language Teacher (ALT)
These participants are engaged in language instruction. ALTs are placed mainly in local boards of education or public junior and senior high schools. There may be a very limited number of cases in which the participants are placed in private junior and senior high schools through the prefectural offices or designated city offices.
Coordinator for International Relations (CIR)
These participants are engaged in internationalization activities. CIRs are placed in offices of local authorities or related organizations.
Sports Exchange Advisor (SEA)
SEAs promote international exchange activities through certain designated sports. They are generally placed in sporting facilities or boards of education from which they assist in sports training.

For information about the JET program and its application process visit: http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/JETProgram/homepage.html