Aug 26

JET ROI: More extensive Kyodo News article on JETAA USA Conference

Return on JET-vestment, Uncategorized Comments Off on JET ROI: More extensive Kyodo News article on JETAA USA Conference

Kyodo News has published a more extensive article on the JETAA USA National Conference (“US JET alums rally to save group’s funding from chopping block”) held in New York City August 12-15.  Quotes from JETAA NY President Megan Miller (Hyogo-ken, 2000-02) feature prominently and help make the case for the value of JETAA to Japan while building on existing momentum.  Such as:

“We now have a unified goal and position, which enables us to send a strong and consistent message to the Japanese government and to our local communities that JET and JETAA are not only worthwhile but essential to U.S.-Japan relations.”

Here’s the link to the full article in The Mainichi Daily:  http://mdn.mainichi.jp/features/news/20100826p2g00m0fe075000c.html

And here’s a scan of the first page of the original Kyodo article which includes a photo of Megan.  (The Kyodo version is only available via subscription.)

Click here for more JetWit posts about this topic and related media coverage.


Aug 25

Notable JET alums: Tim Harms

Celebrity, Notable JET Alums Comments Off on Notable JET alums: Tim Harms

Tim Harms (1994-95) is film producer for the indie film The Vicious Kind among other films.  Tim was also the line producer for The Harimya Bridge, a film written and directed by fellow JET alum Aaron Woolfolk.


Aug 25

Notable JET Alums: Maynard Plant and Monkey Majik

Celebrity, Notable JET Alums, Uncategorized, Video Comments Off on Notable JET Alums: Maynard Plant and Monkey Majik

Members of Monkey Majik with Deputy Minister Len Edwards

Maynard Plant (Aomori-ken, 1997-2000) is the founder of the well-known Japan-based band Monkey Majik (www.monkeymajik.com), which consists of two Canadian members (Maynard and his brother Blaise) and two Japanese members-tax and DICK.

For more information you can check out their:

Here is their song Change with the Yoshida Brothers (a video all JET alums will appreciate):

Do you know of any notable JET alums?  Let us know at jetwit [at] jetwit.com.


Aug 25

Call for Volunteers: JET Ambassadors for School Visits

Cultural Outreach, Uncategorized, Volunteer Comments Off on Call for Volunteers: JET Ambassadors for School Visits

From Mauric Maloney, President of JETAA DC:

We’d like to thank those members who responded to our earlier call for volunteers for the JET Ambassadors Program. This is a second call for volunteers before we begin our orientation and school visits in the fall.

The JET Ambassadors program wishes to establish a network of volunteers who can visit local schools and discuss their experiences in Japan through photos, videos, games, and other props.

The main focus of these presentations will be life at a Japanese school, but they will vary from person to person.

The goal is to begin presentations in the Fall of 2010 and include all interested schools in the JETAADC area, including the Baltimore Region, Annapolis and the Eastern Shore, Richmond and other points South, and even West Virginia. So regardless of your distance from D.C., please respond if you are interested.

Each presenter will receive be reimbursed for his or her time and travel.

If you are interested, please respond to this e-mail with the following information.

Name:
Current Location:
Preferred E-mail address:
Phone:
Years on JET:
Prefecture:
Grade Levels Taught in Japan:
Current Profession:
Access to Metro/Public Transport:
Access to Car:

There will be an orientation on September 14 at the Embassy of Japan. More details will follow. Please respond by Friday August 27 if you are interested. If you have any other questions, do not hesitate to contact me.

Maurice Maloney
President, JETAADC
president.dc@jetalumni.org

PS – If you know of or work at a school that might be interested in receiving visitors, please let us know with the name of the school, its location, and the best person to contact.


Aug 24

Notable JET Alums: Barefoot Ted

Notable JET Alums, Uncategorized Comments Off on Notable JET Alums: Barefoot Ted

Thanks to JET alum Sacha Battrick (currently working at CLAIR-Tokyo) for sharing this:

Barefoot Ted (aka Ted McDonald), a JET from 93-96, has established himself as one of the leading proponents of barefoot running.  He’s also has a company that makes sandals based on models originally developed by indigenous peoples. He gave a Google talk about barefoot running back in March for the Authors@Google series.

More info about Ted at his blog:  www.barefootted.com

Do you know of any notable JET alums?  Let us know at jetwit [at] jetwit.com.


Aug 24

JET ROI: Japanese media coverage of the JETAA USA National Conference

JETAA Chapters, Return on JET-vestment, Uncategorized Comments Off on JET ROI: Japanese media coverage of the JETAA USA National Conference

Update 8/25/10: Kyodo has put out an English version of the article.  Here are links:

Kyodo News Service ran an article in Japanese on the JETAA USA National Conference dated August 16 that was carried by a number of Japanese local newspapers.  The article resulted from the JETAA press release issued at the end of the Conference.  Below is the list of the papers.  Thanks to Noriko Furuhata of the Consulate General of Japan in New York for sharing the information.  (BTW, if anyone wants to write up an English summary of the article in the comments section of this post, that would be greatly appreciated.):

  1. 徳島新聞　Tokushima Shimbun http://www.topics.or.jp/worldNews/worldTopics/2010/08/2010081601000165.html
  2. 京都新聞　Kyoto Shimbun http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/politics/article/20100816000030
  3. 千葉トピ　Chiba Nippo http://www.chibanippo.co.jp/news/world/entertaiment_kiji.php?i=nesp1281924322
  4. 山形新聞 Yamagata Shimbun http://yamagata-np.jp/news_core/index_pr.php?kate=Lifestyle_Human_Interest&no=2010081601000165&keyword=%A5%B8%A5%A7%A5%A4%A5%BD%A5%F3
  5. 新潟日報 Niigata Nippo https://www.niigata-nippo.co.jp/world/lifestyle/2010081601000165.html
  6. 大分合同新聞 Oita Godo Shimbun http://www.oita-press.co.jp/worldTopics/2010/08/2010081601000165.html
  7. 山陽新聞 Sanyo Shimbun http://www.sanyo.oni.co.jp/news_k/news/d/2010081601000165/
  8. 河北新報 Kahoku Shimpo http://www.kahoku.co.jp/news/2010/08/2010081601000165.htm
  9. 西日本新聞 Nishi Nippon Shimbun http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/item/191143
  10. 山陰中央新報 Sanin Chuo Shinpo http://www.sanin-chuo.co.jp/newspack/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1059682016
  11. 北國・富山新聞 Hokkoku Toyama Shimbun http://www.hokkoku.co.jp/newspack/09kurasi2010081601000165.html
  12. 高知新聞 Kochi Shimbun http://203.139.202.230/?&nwSrl=224803&nwVt=npd
  13. 中日新聞 Chunichi Shimbun http://www.chunichi.co.jp/s/article/2010081601000165.html
  14. 神戸新聞 Kobe Shimbun http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/knews/0003323442.shtml
  15. 下野新聞 Shimotsuke Shimbun http://www.shimotsuke.co.jp/news/domestic/life/news/20100816/367829
  16. 岩手日報 Iwate Nippo http://www.iwate-np.co.jp/newspack/cgi-bin/newspack_s.cgi?s_lifestyle_l+CN2010081601000165_1
  17. 静岡新聞 Shizuoka Shimbun http://www.shizushin.com/news/culture/topix/2010081601000165
  18. 大阪日々新聞 Osaka Nichinichi Shimbun https://www.nnn.co.jp/dainichi/knews/100816/20100816024.html
  19. 中国新聞 Chugoku Shimbun http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/News/Sp201008160110.html
  20. 佐賀新聞 Saga Shimbun http://www.saga-s.co.jp/news/global/corenews.0.1706307.article.html
  21. 熊本日報 Kumamoto Nippo http://kumanichi.com/news/kyodo/life/201008/20100816004.shtml

A few more links to the article that ran in major Japanese publications online:

  1. http://sankei.jp.msn.com/world/america/100816/amr1008161052004-n1.htm
  2. http://www.47news.jp/CN/201008/CN2010081601000165.html
  3. http://www.nikkei.com/news/latest/article/g=96958A9C9381959FE3E4E2E3E38DE3E4
  4. http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/country/article/20100816000030
  5. http://www.nagasaki-np.co.jp/f24/CN20100816/li2010081601000165.shtml
  6. http://www.chunichi.co.jp/s/article/2010081601000165.html
  7. http://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/s/article/2010081601000165.html

Also, below is a scan of an article in the Tokyo Shimbun that was written by one of their reporters who actually attended the Conference and has quotes from some of the JETAA chapter representatives with whom he spoke:


Aug 23

JET Alumni volunteers needed for New York Mets’ Japanese Heritage Night – Fri, Aug 27

Events Comments Off on JET Alumni volunteers needed for New York Mets’ Japanese Heritage Night – Fri, Aug 27

The organizers of the First Annual Japanese Heritage Night are looking for JETAANY volunteers.

Email Donna Tsufura at thedayako@gmail.com for more details (use “JETAANY” as the subject line).

Volunteers are needed for:
1) Information Tables: setting up and manning two tables with info on Japanese and Japanese Americans
2) Pre-Game performance: coordiinating taiko and bon dance participants
3) Mets Spirit Awards: coodinating Award participants
4) Transportation: JET members w/cars driving Award participants &others to & from Citi Field
5) Partnership outreach: generating ticket donations/ funding / services from companies & individuals
6) Program: assisting with writing & production for printed program
7) Outreach: reaching communities who are not yet aware of Japanese Heritage Night
8) Press/media: assisting with media needs, individual interviews
9) Documenting:video, photo & reporting coverage of the event

A general timetable of events:

SCHEDULE FOR JAPANESE HERITAGE NIGHT

Friday, August 27, 2010

(draft as of 8/23, 2:30pm)- subject to change

4:15 Material for Information tables can be dropped off at Mets office

4:40 Information tables set up

5:40 Performers enter Bullpen Plaza Gate, escorted by Mets staff

6:30 Pre-game entertainment begins (20 min)

Taiko drumming by Soh Daiko  “Hachidan Uchi” (10 min piece)

Obon dance “Tanko Bushi” led by Japanese Folk Institute of New York (3 min piece)

dance participants include people from the Japanese heritage community and friends

6:50 Spirit Award Ceremony (5 min)

Awards given to the following communities and received by members of those communities.

Baseball  – received by Satoru Tsufura (Nisei ballplayer) and Shuji Kato (JAA baseball league)

Military Service – Kaz Yamagushi (WWII vet) and Lt. Janelle Kuroda (Navy, active duty in Iraq)

Community Service – Suki Terada Ports and Sam Kiyomi Turner  (activists, HIV AIDS, Ninth Ward)

In attendance: Ambassador Nishimiya

6:58 National Anthem sung by Kurt Sanchez Kanazawa

7:10 Game starts

5th inning  Information Tables broken down

Also, for our pre-game event, JET alumni are invited to dance the Tanko Bushi on the Mets centerfield! It is a simple and fun bon dance honoring one’s ancestors. Here are the online instructions for the dance  and an an mp3 of the song for you to practice.

TICKETS: All JET alumni volunteering and/or dancing at Citi Field must have a ticket to the game.  The Mets have made available discounted tickets in specific areas of the stadium. I believe your website has a draft of the flyer with outdated information saying that the ticket purchase cutoff was August 5.  Please inform your members that discount tickets are now available until Thurs, August 26. Regular tickets can be bought on the day of the game.


Aug 17

Japanese high school English classes to be taught *in* English starting 2013?

Uncategorized Add Comment (1)

According to a letter published in the Japan Times by a Nara-based Japanese teacher of English, high schools will be required to teach English class in English.  And she doesn’t think the schools will be ready.

Here’s an excerpt:

Beginning in 2013, high school English classes are to be taught in English. New guidelines from the education ministry also state that English grammar should no longer be taught as a whole subject but instead incorporated with expressions and vocabulary of the new textbook “English Communication I-III.”

Here’s the link to the full letter:  http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/rc20100812a6.html


Aug 17

JET ROI: Japan Times article – “JETs Press to Keep Program Intact”

Return on JET-vestment Comments Off on JET ROI: Japan Times article – “JETs Press to Keep Program Intact”

JETAA issued a press release following the JETAA USA National Conference in New York this past weekend, and the Japan Times has responded with a Kyodo News article titled “JETs Press to Keep Program Intact.”

Here’s the link:  http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100817a8.html

*Thanks to JETAA Hawaii’s Krystle Hara for sharing the article with JetWit.


Aug 16

Japanese press coverage of the JETAA USA National Conference

Return on JET-vestment Comments Off on Japanese press coverage of the JETAA USA National Conference

The JETAA USA National Conference (which brings together officers from the 19 U.S. JET Alumni Association chapters) was held this past weekend in New York City (Aug 12-15).  Much of the conference discussion surrounded the potential cuts and/or changes to JET and JETAA.  One of JETAA’s primary challenges has been not only communicating all the positive and beneficial activities and efforts of JET alumni on behalf of Japan, but getting it communicated in Japanese to the Japanese media so that more Japanese citizens are aware of all the value JET alums bring to Japan, it’s foreign relations and its economy.

As a result, it’s encouraging to see an article in Japanese today from Kyodo News today about the JETAA USA National Conference that has been picked up by several Japanese publications:

*Thanks to Noriko Furuhata, JET Liaison at the Consulate General of Japan in New York, for sharing the links with JetWit.

Reader extra credit:  Post an English summary of the article in the comments section below!


Aug 16

JET ROI: “Because of JET……”

Return on JET-vestment, Uncategorized, Video Comments Off on JET ROI: “Because of JET……”

JETAA NY Webmaster and tech/social media guru Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, 2003-06) got the ball rolling with a video series called “Because of JET…..“ in which he uploaded short video clips of JET alumni sharing some good things that they experienced and witnessed as a result of participating in JET.  The first few videos were taken at the JETAA National Conference this past weekend in New York.

Here’s the link to see all the videos so far:  http://becauseofjet.tumblr.com/

  • Send your own video testimonial to webmaster@jetaany.org to have it included and let people know about some of the positive effects of JET that they might not otherwise be aware of.
  • If you can say your piece in Japanese that would be particularly helpful, according to Matt Gillam of CLAIR NY.
  • Additionally, you can post your own “Because of JET…” testimony in written form by posting in the comments section here or in this other post on JetWit:  https://jetwit.com/wordpress/2010/07/04/jet-roi-because-of-jet/
  • Written testimony in Japanese is also potentially very helpful.

Here’s one of the videos:


Aug 16

Top 10: If a JET Alum were President of the U.S……

Humor Comments Off on Top 10: If a JET Alum were President of the U.S……

This past weekend at the JETAA USA Conference hosted by the JETAA New York chapter, there were several references in speeches (including by Ambassador Fujisaki) to the possibility of a JET alum someday becoming President of the United States.  Fortunately, this issue was already addressed in the Spring 2004 issue of the JETAA NY Quarterly Newsletter so we’ll all know exactly what to expect:

Spring 2004 – THE “POLITICS” ISSUE TOP 14!

It could happen.  One of these days one of our very own from the JET Alumni community could become President of the United States.  What would that be like, ka na…?

THE TOP 14 THINGS THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF A JET ALUM WERE PRESIDENT

14. Fifty-minute self-introduction on first day in office.
13. Press conference with Japanese media to promote internationalization and clear up confusion over ability to use chopsticks.
12. Presidential toilet seat warmer.
11. Future school history books include section on famous “I Have a Pen!” speech.
10. Vending machines with hot corn soup installed throughout White House
9.  Pre-Departure Orientation in the Rose Garden
8.  Curry rice included in public school lunch menus across the U.S.
7.  All Foreign Service language training outsourced to AEON.
6.  Inauguration Karaoke!
5.  All JETAA Chapter Reps appointed to ambassadorships.
4.  President works half days, then goes on vacation.  (Wait a second…)
3.  Spin control involves slapping Vice President on the back of the head to evoke laughter from audience and divert controversy.
2.  All policies explained very clearly, slowly and loudly.
1.  Oval Office Happy Hour!

*(Click here for more Top Ten lists from past Newsletter issues.)


Aug 15

Notable JET Alums: Aaron Woolfolk’s “The Harimaya Bridge” wins at Pan African Film Festival

Celebrity, Film, Notable JET Alums, Writers Comments Off on Notable JET Alums: Aaron Woolfolk’s “The Harimaya Bridge” wins at Pan African Film Festival

Aaron Woolfolk (Kochi-ken, 1991-93)

Aaron Woolfolk (Kochi-ken, 1991-93), director and writer of the Kochi-based film, “The Harimaya Bridge,” recently won a director’s award at the 2010 Pan African Film Festival.

Click the link below to read the article and learn more about Aaron and his acclaimed film.

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/08/12/18655970.php


Aug 11

JET ROI: Japan Times runs AP article about JET

Return on JET-vestment Comments Off on JET ROI: Japan Times runs AP article about JET

Better late than never.

For some reason Japan Times just ran the AP article about JET…..nearly 2 weeks after it initially appeared in the Washington Post, LA Times, etc.  And it’s the first article in the online edition for the moment:  http://www.japantimes.co.jp (Here’s a more permanent link to the article:  http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100811f1.html)

While the additional attention from the article is welcome, it actually does not do a great job of giving readers a way to determine which side of the debate to support.  For a better sense of why the JET Program and JETAA are no-brainers in terms of the return on investment for Japanese taxpayers, read here:  https://jetwit.com/wordpress/2010/07/29/jet-roi-washington-post-and-atlanta-journal-constitution-run-ap-article-on-jet/

Also read some of the comments to Jim Gannon’s “Chopping Block” article:  https://jetwit.com/wordpress/2010/07/03/jet-roi-jet-program-on-the-chopping-block-by-james-gannon/
And of course read any and all of the JET ROI (Return on Investment) posts:  https://jetwit.com/wordpress/category/jet-roi/


Aug 7

JET ROI: JALT Hokkaido blog comments on Japan Times article

Return on JET-vestment Add Comment (1)

A recent post on the JALT Hokkaido blog (which is the official blog for JALT Hokkaido) makes some good points in response to the recent Japan Times article titled “Ex-students don’t want JET grounded.”

The Japan Times has just come out with an article “Ex-students don’t want JET grounded.” JET has been around since 1987, and its stable of ALTs has been on the decline since an peak in the early 2000’s. The article briefly lists some pros and cons of JET, and pretty much says the Government Revitalization unit has added the JET program to its list of possible budget cuts.

I don’t know. The article states that since JET began “over 50,000 young foreigners with few, if any, teaching credentials have come to Japan and partied for a year at taxpayer expense. They have usually enjoyed their stay, but their effectiveness in improving the English language ability of their students was never quantitatively measured and, given Japanese students’ performances on international English tests, is questionable at best”. Gee, if the original and long-standing goal has been internationalization, not English improvement, what’s the major beef? Yeah, one look at the Big Daikon web site forum shows a lot of immaturity from JET ALTs, and JET itself does not mandate an ALT must have teaching credentials, but let’s be fair here. Unless JET requires them, they will get more people without such qualifications. A source I know at JET says that there has been an increase in the professional credentials as of late, but it’s a small and slowly growing figure.

Also, if there has been no quantitative measurement of English from Japanese students as a result of any JET ALT participation, how can anyone say either way whether any language venture has been accomplished?  You can’t! ALTs and JTEs (Japanese teachers of English) have a mixed bag of relationships. Sometimes they get along famously, sometimes not, and there is a lot of gray area in between. Perhaps what JET needs to succeed is to train the ALTs further in how to deal with JTEs, and get the JTEs in on this training. Wouldn’t hurt to require more Japanese language ability from the ALTs, either.

Click here to read the full post.


« Previous Page — « Older Posts Newer Posts » — Next Page »

Page Rank