The Structure of the Japanese Proficiency Exam, the Main Hurdle to Passing
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The Japanese Doctor is a recurring feature written by Friend Of JET, Jon Hills, who maintains the blog for Hills Learning (www.hillslearning.com). 
Hills Learning is a NY-based language learning services company offering customized and personal Japanese and Chinese language learning options. Their main service is private one on one language lessons in the NYC area.
The Japanese Proficiency Exam, like any other exam, tests your ability to take the test. Of course people that are fluent in Japanese also can take the exam and pass without prior knowledge of how it works, but for the rest of us who are non-native speakers learning the structure of the Japanese Proficiency Exam is key to passing. Learning the structure and taking practice tests beforehand also calms the nerves, so on test day you will be much less intimidated while undergoing your 5 hour exam.
The best way to pass the Japanese Proficiency Exam is first learning which section is the easiest to pass. The good news is on the Japanese Proficiency Exam, the easiest and lowest counting sections…
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From the Summer 2009 “1/4 Cheap Trick” Issue of JQ (JETAA NY Quarterly) Magazine:
Like Japanese Girls? Then You Need This Book
By Rick Ambrosio (Ibaraki-ken, 2006-08)
There I was again, outside my apartment, in the car with Hitomi. Again, at this awkward moment where we both fidget and she puts the Toni Braxton CD in. This is of course, about 10 months ago now, back in Japan. Even after living in Japan for a year and a half, I still had moments like this; social impasses as I liked to call them. We both didn’t know what to say, what to do. Well, in reality, I didn’t know what to say or do. This was before I understood what “nan demo ii” really meant, before I could fully understand all the silent cues. This was before I read David Radtke’s Understanding Japanese Women.
I know I know, you’re thinking, “oh no, not another pick-up line book. Not another cheesy how-to.” It’s what I feared before I started reading it, too. However, I was delightfully surprised that Read More
J-News Mini-Roundup: The Swine Flu Returns
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J-News Mini-Roundup is a recurring feature written by Friend Of JET, Jon Hills, who maintains the blog for Hills Learning (www.hillslearning.com). Hills Learning is a NY-based language learning services company offering customized and personal Japanese and Chinese language learning options.
Background: Earlier this year in May, the first fatal case of the swine flu was reported in Japan. The man was 57 years old, and he lived in Okinawa. Although panic set in to the point where Japan had to be split off into different zones (infected areas, not infected areas, areas that are starting to be infected), over the summer the excitement died down. People stopped wearing masks, department stores started to see customers coming back to shop, and salarymen went back to their daily routines.
That could all change now with the second fatality from the swine flu now confirmed in Japan. Each newspaper had a different take on how exactly the man died, and the circumstances surrounding the return of the swine flu.
Yomiuri “A 70 Year Old man died in Kobe from the Swine Flu while undergoing Dialytic Treatment” The Yomiuri describes the 70 year old man being infected in the city Kobe, the first city to be hit by the swine flu…
(CLICK HERE for the rest of the article, that includes Japanese News Summaries)
The Japanese Proficiency Exam – How to sign up and secure a seat
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The Japanese Doctor is a recurring feature written by Friend Of JET, Jon Hills, who maintains the blog for Hills Learning (www.hillslearning.com). 
Hills Learning is a NY-based language learning services company offering customized and personal Japanese and Chinese language learning options. Their main service is private one on one language lessons in the NYC area.
So here’s the scenario, you’ve been studying for the Japanese Proficiency Exam. Maybe you need it because you’re interested in pursuing a job with Japanese and you want to communicate to employers that you have Japanese ability. Maybe you’re a prospective student trying to enter university in Japan, and doing well on the Japanese Proficiency Exam is your ticket to a good scholarship. Or probably it’s just a personal goal of yours to get official recognition for your Japanese abilities. At any rate, the secret to securing a seat on the Japanese Proficiency Exam is signing up in a timely and organized manner, don’t put it off.
Don’t believe me? Here are some examples…
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Job: Attorney who is fluent in Japanese (Northern Virginia)
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Great opportunity for an attorney who is fluent in JAPANESE!
A hi-tech company in Northern Virginia needs an attorney with at least four years of experience who can modify and negotiate contracts in Japanese. The contracts include content licensing, distribution and other technology related agreements.
The position is expected to begin in Mid-September and should last for at least six months. The work must be done on-site. Please apply on-line at www.AssignedCounsel.com. If you have any questions, please call Alisa Austin of Assigned Counsel at 301-924-0368. Thank you very much!
See the direct job posting on Assigned Councel HERE.
Job: Garden Instructor at the Redwood Heights Parent Fund Assoc. (Oakland, CA)
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Via JETAA Northern California:
Position: Garden Instructor (Independent contractor)
Employer: The Redwood Heights Parent Fund Association
Location: Redwood Heights Elementary School, Oakland, CA
Salary: $16 hr. 15-20 hrs. per week for the 2009-10 school year.
(No benefits, must have TB test and fingerprinting completed. Currently we have funding for approximately 40 weeks to be spread throughout the school year.)
Starting date: As soon as possible (school starts 8/31/09)
Position Details:
The Garden Instructor will be an integral part of the students’ and teachers time in the Redwood Heights outdoor classroom. Weekly, standards based garden curriculum will be designed and implemented with teacher oversight. The instructor will help to instill a sense of teamwork, responsibility, organization and overall care for the garden area with groups of students. The Garden Instructor supervises general care and maintenance of the Outdoor Classroom, communicates with teaching staff throughout the year and with the principal and Garden & Ecology Committee on a weekly basis. Read More
Job: Website Content Manager at Senior Services (Seattle, WA)
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Via JETAA Pactific-Northwest:
Website Content Manager at Senior Services
OPENING DATE: August 12, 2009
CLOSING DATE: August 24, 2009
POSITION: Website Content Manager
HOURS: Full-time, exempt
SALARY RANGE: $24.85 – $26.90
PROGRAM: Information Technology
LOCATION: 2208 2nd Ave, Seattle 98121
Job Summary:
The Website Content Manager is responsible for planning, designing, creating, enhancing, and maintaining all agency web sites. The primary agency web site (www.seniorservices.org) is built on the DotNetNuke CMS platform. The position is responsible for managing the DotNetNuke system and for researching, purchasing, and documenting new modules. The position will be expected to guide different levels of staff in the planning of web pages and then implementing those pages independently, obtaining or creating all graphics required, assisting in the creation and processing of video, and building the web pages within DotNetNuke. The Website Content Manager is responsible for training staff in the use of DotNetNuke modules to allow other departments to manage their web sites and pages. The position is responsible for gathering and reporting web stats and for search engine optimization. The Website Content Manager is responsible for managing, enhancing, and promoting the agency Intranet – also on the DotNetNuke platform. Read More
Job: Part Time Grant/Proposal Writer (D.C.)
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Via JETAADC :
Position: Part-Time Grants/Proposal Writer
Location: Washington, DC; or telecommute opportunity
Job Category: Editing & Writing, Fundraising & Development
Area of Focus: International Medical Relief
Type: Contract, Part Time
Salary: Competitive depending upon experience
Last day to apply: September 4, 2009
As a result of its growth, Merlin USA is seeking an experienced proposal writer to join its expanding team on a part-time, contract basis. The proposal writer will have primary responsibility to write and submit letter of inquires and proposals to private and corporate foundations as well as assist with research. The ideal person for this position will be comfortable juggling multiple writing and editing projects against tight deadlines with minimal oversight. The proposal writer will work closely with the development team and reports to the Director of Merlin USA. Read More
Job: Customer Service Representative at Outdoor Research (Seattle)
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Thank you JETAAPNW (Pacific Northwest) for the following job listing:
Outdoor Research has a job opening in Customer Service. This is a full time position with benefits.
Job Summary
To handle dealer telephone inquiries and product questions in a timely, accurate and professional manner, analyze sales data and make proactive sales accordingly, maintain and update order entries, and resolve discrepancies in orders and billing.
Read More
Adbusters: “The Soul of Japan” by Roland Kelts
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Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, has an article in the August issue of Adbusters magazine addressing the long lineage of Japanese artists’ resistance to the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty and subsequent interdependence. With the elections looming on August 30th, perhaps this additional context will be of interest JET alum.
The Soul of Japan: Japan’s crisis is not political, but psychological
© hideaki kawashima | soak, 2004 | courtesy tomio koyama gallery, tokyo
https://www.adbusters.org/magazine/84/soul-japan.html
Job: Director of Admissions (Nagoya University)
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Institution: Nagoya University
Location: Nagoya, Japan
Admin – Admissions and Enrollment
Application Due: Open Until Filled
Type: Full Time Read More
J-News Mini-Roundup: Japanese Prime Minister Just Says NO to Yasukuni Shrine
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J-News Mini-Roundup is a recurring feature written by Friend Of JET, Jon Hills, who maintains the blog for Hills Learning (www.hillslearning.com). Hills Learning is a NY-based language learning services company offering customized and personal Japanese and Chinese language learning options. 
Background: Yasukuni Shrine is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) diplomatic challenges that Japan has with its neighbors. The shrine exclusively celebrates the Japanese war dead, so naturally when an anniversary of a war comes up the prime minister needs to look patriotic and pay homage to fallen soldiers. The problem is that those fallen soldiers, to neighbors such as China and Korea, also include Class A war criminals that tortured and killed their people. Every prime minister in recent years that has visited the shrine has ended up getting key diplomatic missions cancelled, and on a more extreme level countries will shut off economic and political negotiations entirely.
Prime Minister Aso today commented on Yasukuni, in the background of the anniversary of the end of WWII coming up on August 15th. Each newspaper had a different take on the event.
Nikkei “I’m Against Visiting Yasukuni While in Office” On the evening of August 10th at the Prime Minister’s residence, Prime Minister Aso stated in regards to the anniversary on the 15th of WWII…
(CLICK HERE for the rest of the article, that includes Japanese News Summaries)
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(Originally posted on April 28, 2009.)
Here’s your chance to help JetWit. Just share a comment on this post saying what you like about JetWit. (Or email your comment to jetwit [at] jetwit [dot] com and I’ll post it.)
Thanks for your help and yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Update: Thanks to everyone who has posted comments so far!
Sake World e-Newsletter by John Gauntner (August 2009)
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The August 2009 issue of the Sake World E-mail Newsletter by JET alum and leading sake expert John Gauntner (aka “The Sake Guy”) is now available online. In this issue:
- Cost of Sake & that of Rice
- Did You Know?
- Guided Sakagura Tours
- NEW! Sake Professional Course in Las Vegas
- Sake Events
- Learn More About Sake eBooks
- Odds-n-Ends
Job: Country Manager for United Planet, Japan
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Via the Hokkaido JETs Yahoo group:
United Planet (UP) is a leading international non-profit organization based in Boston devoted to fostering cross-cultural understanding and addressing shared challenges to unite the world in a community beyond borders. As featured on CNN, United Planet conducts creative local, online, and international initiatives to build global community.
United Planet is searching for a Japan-based Country Manager in Tokyo, Saitama, or Chiba to help United Planet further develop our program in Japan and expand our partnerships with NGOs and universities.
This highly competitive position requires a compassionate, globally minded, hard-working individual with strong communications, leadership, and organization skills. United Planet currently receives international volunteers into Japan for 1-12 weeks to support a variety of community service projects, while immersing in the Japanese culture. United Planet plans to develop an outgoing program to recruit Japanese volunteers to serve in countries around the world, including the United States. United Planet also seeks to develop Ambassador Clubs at schools and communities in Japan.
As a vital United Planet team member, the Country Manager will: Read More
