So, I have talked about a few things here and there in regards to my life in Japan, but there are some of you reading this who don’t really know why I’m here, or may be slightly misinformed/ confused. This post’s intention is to clarify how I got to this position, my duties as an ALT, and my intentions for my stay in Japan.
Where do you live, Jimmy?
Although I’ve stated this before, just to be clear, I live in a small town called Shiojiri-shi, which is in Nagano-ken. Quick lesson: The square mileage of Japan is very close to that of the U.S. state, Montana, but many compare it to California due to its vertical shape and latitudinal alignment. So, to keep it simple, I will compare it to the latter. Keep in mind that California is about 10% larger and has milder winters.
California has 58 counties, Japan has 47 prefectures. Within each county, there are several cities, towns, and villages. Ex: Los Angeles county has multiple cities with police forces, mayors, and citizens. Japan’s prefectures have the same. Towns, cities, and villages with individual local governments. Also, much like in the states, each county has a county seat. The county seat for L.A. county is Los Angeles. The prefectural capital for Nagano-ken is Nagano City. I live in Shiojiri-city, a small town located in the middle of the prefecture.
How did you get over to Japan?
Besides the obvious “I boarded an international flight to Japan, and the pilot navigated over the Pacific Ocean” response, many people are curious as to the avenue I took to get my job here.
I applied through a Japanese government initiative called the JET Programme. It started in 1987, and its purpose is to bring native English speakers over to Japan to serve as cultural representatives of their homelands. Most people employed by JET are language teachers. There are a few other job titles that one can have, but I will only discuss my situation. The Japanese government wanted to promote cultural exchange and internationalization.
What’s the application process like?
You must be patient to even think about applying for JET. The application process begins in the fall. Usually in October, the embassy releases the official application via the U.S. Embassy website. The application is supposed to be filled out and turned in online, as well as submitted in hard copy. There are also several supplementary documents that need to be turned in: two letters of recommendation, a certificate of health, university transcripts, etc. Most importantly, there is a statement of purpose. The statement of purpose, much like an SoP for graduate school, should be well thought out and planned to a tee. It addresses why you want to be on JET, what special skills you bring to the table, specific reasons for choosing Japan over other nations, and what qualities make you stand out more than the next guy. This is one of the places in you application where you can shine. Several JET participants release their statements of purpose online, but it’s frowned upon, so you’ll just have to imagine that mine was tolerable.
The application, along with the other documents are due sometime in November- usually right before Thanksgiving. Once this deadline passes, you begin the waiting game, round one. Granted, many American applicants are too busy with the holidays to notice, but once New Year’s day is over, the agony truly begins. While you are living your life stateside, going to school, work, church, soccer practice, bunko night, jazzercise, your application is at the embassy being scored. Each question is given a specific weight along with your statement of purpose. The people who make the cut are notified by email that they have passed the first round.
Once you have passed the first round of screening, an interview will be arranged at the local consulate general in your region. Lucky for me, there is one in Houston. This interview happens in mid to late February. Interviews are usually panel-style with three “questioneers” and one very nervous interviewee. Once again, the questions in my interview are supposed to be private, and I signed a confidentiality agreement, so I refuse to put them on the internet. If you’re that curious as to what they asked, you can check the internet for a general idea of interview questions, or you can ask me in person. The interview is only about twenty minutes, so make sure you do your best to leave a great impression.
After the interview is over, and you have had your shirts laundered to remove the sweat stains, the waiting game, round two begins. The next phase of the interview process is announced in April. Of those interviewed, one has three possible outcomes. You can be short-listed, which means you essentially made the cut and you are going to Japan. You can be an alternate, which means that there’s a waitlist: you did exceedingly well, and you’ll be upgraded as short list candidates drop out or refuse their positions for whatever reason. The third and final outcome is rejection. This means that you did not make the final cut, and will have to try again next year.
If you made the short list, the waiting game, round three begins. They will let you know your placement anytime between the months of May and July. I was fortunate enough to know my placement fairly early: I knew right around my birthday, May 13th. I have heard some horror stories about JETs not finding out their placement until July. Yikes. The JET Programme mantra is: ESID (Every Situation Is Different). If truth be told, I don’t necessarily like that saying, as I find it redundant, but I won’t go into my rant on ESID. That soapbox rambling could be an entire blog post in and of itself…
What are your duties?
I am an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher). I stand alongside a Japanese teacher of English, and help him or her run their English class. I help with pronunciation of difficult words, I help grade students’ papers, and I assist with difficult grammar. I am supposed to be a representation of “Living English.” Sure, a Japanese person can learn “Dick has a red wagon. Jane has a blue camisole. Spot has a flea collar.” What good would that really do, though? Living English is more about basic survival skills. “Where is the toilet? What are your hobbies? Sorry, boo, but your train left three minutes ago; would you like to wait over there till the next one comes?”
I am also supposed to be a “cultural ambassador.” I know that term makes me sound like a tool, but it’s the most accurate buzzword I can think of. Japanese teachers of English are capable of teaching English to the kids on their own. They studied it in university and are pretty fluent. My job is to show what my English-speaking culture is like. I’m supposed to represent not only the United States, but also Texans, and to a lesser degree, the Afro-American male. The story of black Jimmy, the American from Texas will be significantly different than that of Liam, the Jewish New Yorker, Sandra, the Latin-American from Los Angeles, or even Kevin Liu, the Chinese-Australian from Sydney. Please forgive the name stereotypes. I’m trying to make a point… While on stereotypes, check out this book I found on display in a Thai restaurant:
 |
| Black Chibi: San(m)bo- This baby's black... |
That sounds fun. Do you think it’d be possible for me to do the JET Programme?
The JET Programme isn’t for everyone, but I think many people are qualified. Keep the following pointers in mind:
- For U.S. citizens, you must have a bachelor’s degree to work in Japan. It doesn’t have to be in English. It could be in psychology, education, general studies, nursing, engineering, art history, Japanese, underwater basket weaving (I can’t believe people still use this as an expression), or whatever other degree that’s out there. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but they are few and far between.
- The application process is arduous. It spans from October to April. If you are truly interested, I suggest mentally preparing yourself. Don’t wait till the last minute. Be detail-oriented: astuteness is key. Be ready to wait a long time in between the various phases, and keep yourself occupied.
-The application process is competitive. Period. End of story. Much like “Disney People,” “JET People” are a breed on their own. I will spare you my take on “JET People” for another post. I will reiterate, however, that JET is no joke. Every year there are thousands of applicants trying their hand at this opportunity. Make sure you have all your ducks in a row. Don’t give the application committee or interview panel any reason to dismiss you as a potential candidate. Although many may think this is a vacation, and in its own international way, it kind of is, JET is a j-o-b. You have benefits. You have a contract. You can get fired.
- Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Sitting on your rump waiting for JET without a back-up plan isn’t a great idea. I for one didn’t break my contract with my school district until after I received confirmation that I would actually be going.
-JET isn’t the end-all-be-all. There are other ways to come and work in Japan. I am only familiar with my experience and what the JET Programme is like. If you wanna know more options, there is tons out there on the world wide web. Also, Japan isn’t the only country needing English teachers. There are programs in China, Korea, Europe, South America…
What are your goals for staying in Japan?
While nothing is really set in stone, and tomorrow is a whole day away, I can safely say that I’m planning on staying here for a while. I could stay for a maximum of five years with JET. While I’m not convinced this will be the case, it is a possibility. I also could experience the first winter here and decide to come home at the end of my first year. If I had my druthers, I would be here for two or three.
I want to learn as much Japanese as possible. I don’t think I will be completely literate or anything like that, but conversational fluency is a target. If I can speak as much Japanese as I can Spanish, I think I will be in good shape.
Another goal is to travel to other prefectures and Asian countries. Japan is a very small country. My home state, Texas, is significantly larger, so it isn’t unheard of for people to pick up and travel across the country. The transit infrastructure is top notch.. Trust me, there is a whole blog post coming up about my obsession with the J.R. It is also quick and easy getting to other countries. I can make it to Seoul by plane for about 200 USD round trip. That’s cheaper than flying from IAH to DFW and back.
My final goal is to save money. Sure, I’m making decent money. If truth be told, the take home is about the same, maybe 10% more than my previous job. The kicker is, however, my cost of living. I don’t have to pay car insurance, I don’t buy gasoline, I won't even go into the health care here, as I don’t wanna take a dump on my home country, my rent is subsidized, and I don’t live in an expensive city. Needless to say, it would be stupid to blow all my money on frivolity. I would like to return to the states and buy a place in Houston. Whether I will live there or rent it out is yet to be foreseen...
I hope this was a helpful post, and not a one-sided verbose explanation that wasted everyone’s time. If you have any further questions, you can most certainly leave comments or email me at jimidarudenu@aol.com I will be more than happy to answer them. Until next time...
I really love this blog and all the easter eggs it contains for me :)
ReplyDelete