Japan Times: “Don’t blame JET for Japan’s poor English” by Debito Arudo
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A recent Japan Times piece by long-time contributor Debito Arudo:
Don’t blame JET for Japan’s poor English
BY DEBITO ARUDOU
The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme, touted as the world’s largest cultural exchange scheme, has brought thousands of non-Japanese into the country to teach at local boards of education. These days, with many government programs being told to justify their existence, a debate is raging over whether JET should be left as is, cut or abolished entirely.
Essentially, the two main camps argue: a) keep JET, because it gives outback schools more contact with “foreign culture” (moreover, it gives Japan a means of projecting “soft power” abroad); versus b) cut or abolish JET — it’s wasteful, bringing over generally untrained and sometimes unprofessional kids, and offers no measurable benefit (see Japan’s bottom-feeding TOEFL test scores in Asia).
The debate, however, needs to consider: 1) JET’s misconstrued mandate, and 2) Japan’s psychotic — yes, psychotic — system of language teaching. Read More
Kyodo News “Rural JET alumni” series: Daneeta Loretta Jackson (Fukuoka)
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“My JET programme experience and my seven years in Japan have had a profound influence on me. It changed me into a more peaceful, communal person.”
News agency Kyodo News has recently been publishing monthly articles written by JET alumni who were appointed in rural areas of Japan, as part of promotion for the JET Programme. Below is the English version of the column from September 2013. Posted by Celine Castex (Chiba-ken, 2006-11), currently programme coordinator at CLAIR Tokyo.
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Daneeta Loretta Jackson (Fukuoka-ken, Buzen-shi, 1993-95) was born and raised in the backwaters of Southeast Louisiana. She was educated at public school where she discovered her love for storytelling. She holds a B.A. in English from Loyola University of the South, an M.A. in English from George Mason University, and an M.A. in the Art and Technique of Filmmaking from the London Film School. Her hobbies are international travel, watching movies, anything having to do with dogs, and sleeping. She works as a writer and filmmaker and is a Creative Producer at the ElekTrik Zoo, an arts partnership she co-founded with her husband, Patrick Jackson. She joined the JET programme in 1993 because she wanted adventure. It had a profound affect on her and changed the course of her life.
I was a JET Programme participant from 1993 to 1995 in Buzen-shi, Fukuoka-ken. I never expected to go to Japan. I never dreamed about it when I was a child like so many of my counterparts did. I don’t mean to sound flippant, but the JET Programme for me was a kind of accident. It is too long of a story to recount here. In short, my husband applied for the both of us. He requested a rural post in Fukuoka-ken because a boy from his Japanese baseball team in California was from Fukuoka. When he got word we had been accepted, he told me we were going to Japan. I had about two months to prepare.
Before I knew it, I was on a plane to Tokyo in July of 1993. The first few days were a whirlwind. The orientation in Tokyo and the jet lag made it seem like I was in some sort of dream. I had no idea what awaited me in the countryside, I couldn’t speak much Japanese, and everything seems so strange… so different from my native Louisiana. Read More
Job: Associate Director (Japan, Asia) for Pharma Research co. (Illinois)
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Posted originally by Steven Sundstrom to the JETAA Chicago LinkedIn group. Posted by Kim ‘Kay’ Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Associate Director, Area & Affiliate, (JAPAC) Japan, Asia Pacific
Posted by: AbbVie
Type: Full-time (some travel)
Location: Abbott Park, Illinois
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A
Overview:
AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) is a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott. AbbVie combines the focus and passion of a leading-edge biotech with the expertise and capabilities of a long-established pharmaceutical leader to develop and market advanced therapies that address some of the world’s most complex and serious diseases. In 2013, AbbVie will employ approximately 21,000 people worldwide and markets medicines in more than 170 countries.
Primary Function / Primary Goals / Objectives:
Primary contact for Japan and Asia Pacific Region in Regulatory Affairs. Responsible for developing and implementing regulatory strategies for products in assigned therapeutic areas, for filing and MAH approvals in Japan and Asia Pacific Region. in conjunction with Global Regulatory Lead(GRL), Global Regulatory Product Team(GRPT), and affiliate local teams. The Associate Director will ensure application of best practices and compliances on regulatory activities internally and externally for filings and agency interactions. Read More
Job: Executive Director – Japan-America Society of Northern California (SF)
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Thanks to JET Alum Grant Thompkins for passing on this listing. Posted by Kim ‘Kay’ Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Executive Director
Posted by: The Japan Society Of Northern California
Type: Full Time
Location: San Francisco, CA
Salary: Compensation commensurate with qualifications with bonus opportunity; salary range available upon request.
Start Date: N/A
Overview:
The Executive Director, serving at the will of the Board of Directors, is chief executive officer of the Society with responsibility for day-to-day management and operations of the organization. This includes working with the Board on strategic plans, formulating the annual business plan and budget, gaining approval for said plan by the Executive Committee and the Board, active fundraising, and managing the staff and other resources of the Society to achieve the business plan. The Executive Director is an ex officio member of the Board. Read More
Japan UK Careers Seminar – Tues Nov 12
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Via JETAA UK. Posted by Kim ‘Kay’ Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Don’t miss out on any emails from JETAA UK – add events@jetaa.org.uk to your address book or safe list. You are registered on the JETAA UK website with the email address stevenwaseda@jetwit.com. To unsubscribe, login to your account at www.jetaa.org.uk, click on “My Profile” and update the “Receive JETAA mailshots” field.
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Job: Artisans of Luxury – 4 openings (NYC)
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Thanks to JET Alum Elizabeth Mandel (Yokohama-ken, 1992-93) who works in Sales & Marketing for the company for sharing these JET-relevant listings. Posted by Kim ‘Kay’ Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: 4 openings at travel planner Artisans of Luxury
Posted by: Artisans of Leisure
Type: Full Time
Location: New York, NY
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A
Overview of openings:
1.) Luxury Travel Expert
Artisans of Leisure is looking for extremely knowledgeable, sophisticated, well-traveled professionals to work in our New York City office.
Ideal applicants will have lived, worked, and/or traveled extensively in international destinations. Applicants should be familiar with the main cultural highlights of a wide range of countries in each region as well as be familiar with a variety of special-interest attractions and activities, including local arts, cuisine, history, customs, luxury hotels and resorts. Travel industry experience is not necessary. An ability to articulate your passion for cultural travel within these destinations is.
This creative, multi-tasking position includes the following responsibilities:
•Working one-on-one with affluent travelers to customize private international tours based on firsthand travel expertise and experience
•Product development: designing, costing and creating new tours and related materials
•Writing for tours, newsletters, website, blog and other collateral materials
•Research related to tours and special interests (culture, food, family activities, art, architecture, gardens, historic attractions, etc.)
•Assisting with administrative projects and activities
•Using own initiative to develop new activities, destinations, and partnerships
•Other creative and design projects and sales activities
•Attending events related to travel Read More
Job: ESL Full-time faculty position at American University in Kosovo
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Via the Hunter MA TESOL list serve. Posted by Kim ‘Kay’ Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Instructor For Foundational English
Posted by: American University in Kosovo (A.U.K.)
Type: Full Time
Location: Kosovo
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A
Overview:
The Academic Support Center at the American University in Kosovo (A.U.K.) seeks a full-time experienced TESOL teacher to steer the university’s Foundation English program. The Foundation English program prepares students to achieve the high competence in English writing and comprehension skills needed for successful transition to the regular degree courses offered at A.U.K. in conjunction with its partner-institution, Rochester Institute of Technology, New York.
Position & Responsibilities
The university seeks a candidate for a non-tenure track, renewable full-time faculty position to teach foundational English classes to A.U.K. students whose English skills do not meet entry requirements for the higher level RIT English courses. The selected candidate will be responsible for teaching English Foundation and Basic Writing courses, curriculum development, student and faculty workshop development, training and supervising undergraduate English tutors as well as directing and developing the Academic Support Center. Read More
Job: Teacher of History, Geography, Economics and Social Studies – Teikyo School, Buckinghamshire (UK)
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Thanks to JET Alum Nic Klar (author of “My Mother is a Tractor”) for passing along this interesting job listing at a Japanese boarding school in the UK. Posted by Kim ‘Kay’ Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Teacher of History, Geography, Economics and Social Studies
Posted by: Teikyo School
Type: Full Time
Location: Buckinghamshire
Salary: Dependent on experience and qualifications
Start Date: April 2014
Overview:
Teikyo is a Japanese boarding school offering a senior high school education to Japanese students aged from 15 to 18 years old. The school follows the curriculum laid down by the Japanese Ministry of Education; all teaching is conducted in the Japanese language.
We require a well-qualified, enthusiastic teacher to start from April 2014 to teach History, Geography, Economics and Social Studies. There may be a requirement to stay overnight in the school dormitory as a duty organiser once a week.
A teaching qualification recognised by the Ministry of Education in Japan and fluency in the Japanese language are essential. Salary is dependent on experience and qualifications but is expected to be in the range of £20,000 to £30,000. Accommodation on site may be available.
Please apply in writing to the Headmaster, Teikyo Foundation UK Ltd, Framewood Road, Wexham, Bucks SL2 4QS.
Closing date: 8th November 2013.
Teikyo Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including checks with previous employers and the DBS.
http://www.tes.co.uk/job/Teacher-of-History–Geography–Economics-and-Social-Studies-170267/s_cid/48
Job: Melbourne Consulate – Political/Economic Research and Analysis Officer (Australia)
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Thanks to Eden Law for sharing this posting. Posted by Kim ‘Kay’ Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Political/Economic Research and Analysis
Posted by: The Consulate-General of Japan
Type: Full time position
Location: Melbourne
Salary: Decided according to your personal history and professional experience etc. Wages paid monthly.
Start Date: N/A
Overview:
The Consulate-General of Japan in Melbourne is seeking a Political and Economic Research Analyst. Reporting to Japanese Consuls, the successful candidate will examine issues related to Australian political and economic affairs, and discharge other related duties as required.
Primary Accountabilities:
a) Analysis and preparation of reports on relevant political and economic issues. Monitoring the media and important press releases to keep watch of important political and economic events.
b) Liaison with various government departments and other bodies.
c) General support to Consuls, including arranging meetings and drafting correspondence.
d) Preparation of speeches and letters.
e) Other duties as required.
f) Working at consulate events. Read More
JETAA Canberra establishes Facebook group, updates website
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Originally posted by Eden Law to the JETAA Oceania FB group:
Recently the JETAA Canberra chapter in Australia unveiled a new-look site as well as starting up a Facebook group, joining the rest of the JETAA Oceania chapters online. While it may have been a long time in coming, the JETAA Oceania chapters had a long-term strategic plan to increase their presence and outreach through the use of social media, formulated in the 2011 regional conference on the topic.
For an Antipodean (i.e. Down Under) point of view, you might like to look at what the southern JETAA chapters have been up to:
- – JETAA Oceania: Facebook
- – JETAA Queensland: Facebook and Website
- – JETAA NSW (New South Wales): Facebook, Website, Twitter/Instagram: @jetaansw
- – JETAA Canberra: Facebook and Website
- – JETAA Vic/Tas/SA (Victoria/Tasmania/South Australia): Facebook, Website, Twitter: @JETAAVicTasSA
- – JETAA WA (Western Australia): Facebook and Website
- – JETAA Wellington (New Zealand): Facebook, Website, @JETAAWellington on Twitter
- – JETAA Auckland (New Zealand): Facebook, Website, @aucklandjetaa on Twitter
- – JETAA South Island (New Zealand): Facebook, Website, @JETAAsthisland on Twitter
JQ Magazine: Book Review – ‘Three Scenarios in Which Hana Sasaki Grows a Tail’
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JET alum Kelly Luce’s first published collection of fiction, Three Scenarios often utilizes magic realism to tell stories that take place in Nippon. (A Strange Object)
By Rashaad Jorden (Yamagata-ken, 2008-10) for JQ magazine. A former head of the JETAA Philadelphia Sub-Chapter, Rashaad currently studies responsible tourism management at Leeds Metropolitan University. For more on his life in the UK and enthusiasm for taiko drumming, visit his blog at www.gettingpounded.wordpress.com.
As mysterious as Japan seems to be, there are numerous occurrences in the country that leave you amazed.
Enter Kelly Luce (Kawasaki/Tokushima-ken, 2002-04). The JET Program alum’s first published collection of fiction, Three Scenarios in Which Hana Sasaki Grows a Tail (which is also the title of one of Luce’s stories) often utilizes magic realism to tell stories that take place in Nippon.
Three Scenarios contains ten stories and the first one, titled “Ms. Yamada’s Toaster” (which previously appeared in the anthology Tomo), tells the tale of a toaster that can predict one’s death (the toaster even predicted the death of Ms. Yamada’s husband by popping out a piece of bread three days before he suffered a heart attack). In other stories in Three Scenarios, a teenage girl disappears during karaoke and a stone is haunted by a demon.
While there may be times in Luce’s stories that Japan may seem inconsequential, the “it could only happen in Japan” moments make her stories came alive. For example, in “The Blue Demon of Ikumi,” a foreigner woman who was considered a demon because a child died under her care is set to be executed (she eventually escapes). In “Wisher,” people make seasonal wishes at a fountain’s stone steps, such as students and parents praying before entrance exams in autumn and during summer for travel. And in the above-mentioned “Ms. Yamada’s Toaster,” some villagers wish to make the toaster a deity.
Job: Student Affairs Specialist – University of Alabama (Birmingham)
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Posted by Jayme Tsutsuse (Kyoto-fu, 2013-Present). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Student Affairs Specialist
Posted by: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Overview
Under general supervision, identifies potential recruiting sources, develops recruiting materials and presentations, provides admissions counseling and guidance in student-related matters. Plans, organizes and conducts department programs and special events. Determines applicants admissibility, manages recruitment territory, conducts high school and community visits. Participates in the development and implementation of the University’s marketing and recruitment plan. May identify new and expands relationships with employing organizations. May supervise student employees. May act as business/advertising manager and production manager.
Job: Reporter/Researcher at The Yomiuri Shimbun (NYC)
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Thanks to JET alum Olivia Nilsson (who used to work for Yomiuri) for passing on this listing. Posted by blogger and podcaster Jon Dao (Toyama-ken, 2009-12). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Reporter/Researcher
Posted By: The Yomiuri Shimbun
Location: New York City
Overview:
Main duties involve assisting a Japanese business news correspondent by covering markets and earning calls, arranging and conducting interviews, attending press conferences, doing research, and tracking relevant news stories in industries such as tech, auto and banking.
Requirements:
- Strong interest in journalism
- Attention to accuracy
- Ability to multitask under daily deadlines
- Taking directions well and working collaboratively with others
- Able to rapidly synthesize information and write concise memos
- Rapid and precise transcription ability Read More
Job: Assistant/Associate Director of Graduate and International: Programs at University of San Diego (San Diego, CA)
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Posted by Jayme Tsutsuse (Kyoto-fu, 2013-Present). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Assistant/Associate Director of Graduate and International
Posted by: University of San Diego
Hours: 37.5 hours per week. Monday-Friday from 8:30am-5:00pm, with some Wednesdays 9:30am-6:00pm.
Location: San Diego, CA
Salary: Commensurate with experience; Excellent Benefits.
Application Deadline: October 10, 2013
Overview:
The Assistant/Associate Director of Graduate and International Programs, School of Law is responsible for the following: coordinate recruitment and marketing efforts for the Graduate and International Programs Office; manage new student enrollment and scholarships; serve as the Law School’s Designated School Official (DSO); oversee the development and regular update of LL.M., M.S. in Legal Studies, Study Abroad and other international initiative websites and marketing materials; and develop retention strategies to promote and assure a positive student experience. The Assistant/Associate Director reports to the Director and works in a collaborative relationship with the other Assistant/Associate Director, other student services offices, and the faculty. Position requires a valid CA driver’s license and US passport; some overnight and international travel is required. This position works under the general supervision of the Director of Graduate and International Programs, and assists in the general supervision of the Executive Assistant and work-study students.
Job: Intercultural Programs Manager – University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
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Posted by Jayme Tsutsuse (Kyoto-fu, 2013-Present). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Intercultural Programs Manager
Posted by: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Overview:
The Center for Global and Intercultural Study (CGIS) was founded in July 2009 to provide a wide variety of global engagement and learning opportunities to the University of Michigan community. CGIS programming serves students with diverse academic interests at international and domestic sites on every inhabited continent.
Job Duties:
- Lead a team of global and intercultural study advisors. Serve as liaison between advisors and management team, making recommendations regarding changes to policies and practices related to admissions, advising and orientations. Oversee admissions for all programs under CGIS umbrella. Conduct regular meetings and work planning with staff. Assign and evaluate work of these staff members. Provide back-up advising as needed.
- Manage academic and disciplinary oversight of students. Coordinate background checks. Hold disciplinary conferences, implement behavioral contracts and update students ‘ files as needed. Coordinate response to disciplinary cases with appropriate units on campus. Ensure that all CGIS students meet pre-departure requirements.
- Direct programming for pre-departure and returning students, including orientations and debriefings. Coordinate student survey administration.
- Oversee the portfolio of Global Course Connections programs.
- Serve on management team, assist with strategy. Rotate on-call phone coverage on evenings and weekends to handle emergencies and other urgent matters.
- Represent CGIS at professional meetings and conferences. Make occasional site visits to evaluate potential partners and assesses current partners.
- Committee work and special duties as assigned. Liaise with other administrative offices on campus, including but not limited to: Office of Financial Aid, Registrar’s Office, Dean of Students, Office of Student Conflict Resolution, Newnan Advising Center.
