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JET Return on Investment (ROI)<\/a><\/strong><\/em> is a category on\u00a0JetWit<\/strong><\/em> intended to highlight the various economic, diplomatic and other benefits to Japan resulting from its investment in the JET Program. \u00a0Why is this important right now? \u00a0Because the JET Program and JET Alumni Association may be cut by the Japanese government, as explained in this post<\/a> by Jim Gannon (Ehime-ken, 1992-94)<\/strong> titled \u201cJET Program on the Chopping Block<\/strong><\/a><\/em>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The Japan Times<\/em> just ran an article worth reading on the debate over the value of the JET Programme in the face of potential budget cuts titled “Ex-students don’t want JET grounded:\u00a0 Eric Johnston and Kanako Nakamura ask ‘children of JET’ whether the program deserves to be on the chopping block<\/a>.” <\/strong>(Here’s the URL:\u00a0 http:\/\/search.japantimes.co.jp\/cgi-bin\/fl20100727zg.html<\/a>)<\/p>\n The article does a nice job of highlighting the main schools of thought in the public discussion about the JET Programme (and by association, the JET Alumni Association).\u00a0 But it also falls into the “he said\/she said” trap by laying out anti-JET arguments that miss the bigger picture or are based on false assumptions.\u00a0 That said, hearing these is helpful to understanding how JET is perceived by many people, including Japanese taxpayers.<\/p>\n The article is also the first I’ve seen (there may be others) that attempts to give voice to one of the primary constituents of the JET Programme:\u00a0 students in Japan.<\/p>\n In attempting to analyze this situation, the first thing to be aware of is that JET has a dual purpose:<\/p>\n 1.\u00a0 English Teaching<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n With regard to English teaching and “internationalization” in Japan, the article is correct that it’s a difficult thing to quantify.\u00a0 However, making English test scores by Japanese students a basis for evaluating the benefit of JET is comparing apples and oranges.\u00a0 JET never had the mandate to improve test scores.\u00a0 If anything, we were there to teach “living English” which doesn’t get tested for.\u00a0 And also to inspire students to connect with English and gain valuable experience interacting with people from other cultures.<\/p>\n In that vein, perhaps a more important aspect to track and focus on is the number of students who went on to gain greater proficiency in English or travel and work abroad over the past 22 years, giving Japan a stronger, more internationally-savvy workforce.\u00a0 Japan doesn’t need every student to become proficient in English.\u00a0 Just some percentage that will help lift Japan’s abilities over time and perhaps even become a source of more fluent-speaking English teachers over time.<\/p>\n I talk to a lot of JET alums, and I hear so many stories of students who have kept in touch, of students who have gone on to great achievements as a result of their access to JETs.\u00a0 And also many JETs who have maintained relationships with their towns, have helped continued exchanges and given back to their communities in a variety of ways.\u00a0 Just because you don’t hear all of the stories doesn’t mean they’re not happening, because they most certainly are.\u00a0 (The most visible example, perhaps, is Anthony Bianchi (Aichi-ken, 1987-89)<\/strong><\/a> who is now a city councilman in Inuyama-shi, Aichi-ken where he previously taught on JET.)<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0 Foreign Relations and JET Alumni<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n On the second count, there’s not really a counter argument to even make.\u00a0 JET alumni have provided (and continue to provide) a huge return on Japan’s initial investment in them as JETs.\u00a0 JET alumni have written books about Japan and work for many Japanese companies and organizations, including Japanese Consulates and Japan-America socieites.\u00a0 JET alumni are major feeders into Japan-oriented academic fields.\u00a0 JET alumni invest in Japan and start Japan-related (and Japan-located) businesses.\u00a0 And many JET alumni are now in major government and policy positions in their countries.<\/p>\n As an alumni organization, the JET Alumni Association (JETAA) is young at only 22 years old.\u00a0 As the community matures, the value, influence and impact of JET alumni for Japan will continue to grow at an increasing rate as more and more JET alumni become experts and are established in their fields.<\/p>\n Additionally, with a population of over 50,000 worldwide, JET alumni help provide a sort of substitute ex-pat community that Japan has lacked in comparison to the United States and other countries.\u00a0 Contrary to the assertion in the Japan Times<\/em> article that JET alums are taking away jobs from Japanese people, JETs are providing huge economic benefits to Japan.\u00a0 For example, after 9\/11 when getting work visas became harder for ex-pats in the U.S., Japanese staffing agencies began seeking out more JET alums to fill positions, as they were the best alternative option to filling roles in Japanese offices in the U.S.\u00a0 Additionally, JET alums constantly find themselves in facilitating roles, helping their companies navigate cross-cultural communication issues.\u00a0 Bi-culturalism can be an extremely valuable skill.<\/p>\n JETAA is also perhaps the cheapest and most efficient and effective public relations arm the Japanese government could hope to have.\u00a0 JETAA chapters everywhere are constantly organizing cultural outreach events and providing volunteers for Japan Days, Japan-related festivals and other cross-cultural events like the Japanamania event JETAA New York does with the local Big Brother\/Big Sister chapter.\u00a0 For a good sense of JETAA chapter activities around the globe, just read a few of the “JETAA Chapter Beat<\/a>“<\/strong> posts by Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08)<\/strong>.\u00a0 I saw a comment posted on a blog cynically suggesting that if Japan really wanted PR, it would hire a PR firm to place ads in the New York Times<\/em>.\u00a0 Believe me, a PR firm cannot produce the kind of grassroots positive publicity and loyalty that the JET Alumni Association continues to provide.<\/p>\n What I’ve written above is a small summary, the tip of the iceberg, of the kinds of things going on.\u00a0 Thanks to JET and JETAA, Japan has an army of committed ex-pats around the world (including in Japan) who feel a strong connection to Japan and care deeply about the country and the people.\u00a0 To cut this goodwill off at the roots would do far more harm to Japan than any benefit resulting from saving a few dollars.<\/p>\n\n