Comments on: Is the JET Program the right job for you? http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/is-the-jet-program-the-right-job-for-you/ travel culture worldwide Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:30:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Brianna http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/is-the-jet-program-the-right-job-for-you/#comment-39128 Brianna Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:16:51 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=80#comment-39128 I live in rural Japan, where I've founded a private eikaiwa. If I ever meet another foreigner here (although I avoid doing so), it's pretty much guaranteed that they're a JET or eikaiwa teacher. Since the JETs come to Japan in a big group of foreigners, I find that most of them create a 'foreigner bubble' for themselves, just hanging out with each other all the time, partying at the same expat bar, not progressing in the language any more than they would in their home country. If you see a group of 5 westerners on a train drawing attention to themselves by talking loudly while everyone else on the train is silent (and about the most vulgar topics, or whining about how stupid everything in Japan is, because they're sure no one around them can understand them), they're probably JETs. Furthermore, don't be surprised when these people who are so clueless about their surroundings tell you they've been in the country for 2 or 3 years. They're the same as American military. But I really can't blame them, because I think the fault lies with the program, which indirectly encourages this non-integration. They offer no means of introducing ALTs to local people their own age or showing them how to pursue their hobbies in their new home with local Japanese. As far as I know, the only connection the program offers with Japanese people is with Japanese coworkers (older people who are often bitter that ALTs earn greater salaries and treated like royalty despite not being 'real teachers', not having to work insane overtime, etc.), unmotivated children, and sometimes their parents. It's no wonder that JETs often end up feeling lonely, stressed, underappreciated, and rejected by the culture, and when you add a healthy dose of normal culture shock on top of that, I think it's not unusual that they end up either hating the country or retreating to JET partyland, building a psychological wall around themselves and radiating an air of foreignness which makes them even more inapproachable than before, and therefore even more likely to feel isolated and rejected, so it spirals into a vicious downward cycle. Then some of these people go home and write horrible things about their host country online, perpetuating their misunderstandings about the country. I feel sorry for them. Honestly, as has been outlined in this article, JET has a lot to offer recent grads (I would kill for that kind of salary and job stability in this economy!), but if you're looking to experience cultural or linguistic immersion, or at least not become like the people I described above, there are a lot of things you will have to take into your own hands. Study about culture shock before you go. Read the complaints of those bitter expats so that you can prepare for the worst (while taking everything you read with a grain of salt). Make a local Japanese friend or two online (on a Japanese forum/community like mixi if you want to speak Japanese there, or on an English forum/community if you don't mind being milked for English practice) before going, so you have a starting point for making local friends, going to local parties, participating in clubs/sports teams/events (besides the JET Program's usual offerings of 'Tea Ceremony for Gullible Foreigners' or the local 'JET Ultimate Frisbee Team' - way to go to the other side of the world to do cheesy things in English you could be doing at home). Maybe before going, you should outline the things you want to be able to do in the country. Anything is possible, but just don't depend on the program to do it for you. I live in rural Japan, where I’ve founded a private eikaiwa. If I ever meet another foreigner here (although I avoid doing so), it’s pretty much guaranteed that they’re a JET or eikaiwa teacher. Since the JETs come to Japan in a big group of foreigners, I find that most of them create a ‘foreigner bubble’ for themselves, just hanging out with each other all the time, partying at the same expat bar, not progressing in the language any more than they would in their home country. If you see a group of 5 westerners on a train drawing attention to themselves by talking loudly while everyone else on the train is silent (and about the most vulgar topics, or whining about how stupid everything in Japan is, because they’re sure no one around them can understand them), they’re probably JETs. Furthermore, don’t be surprised when these people who are so clueless about their surroundings tell you they’ve been in the country for 2 or 3 years. They’re the same as American military. But I really can’t blame them, because I think the fault lies with the program, which indirectly encourages this non-integration. They offer no means of introducing ALTs to local people their own age or showing them how to pursue their hobbies in their new home with local Japanese. As far as I know, the only connection the program offers with Japanese people is with Japanese coworkers (older people who are often bitter that ALTs earn greater salaries and treated like royalty despite not being ‘real teachers’, not having to work insane overtime, etc.), unmotivated children, and sometimes their parents. It’s no wonder that JETs often end up feeling lonely, stressed, underappreciated, and rejected by the culture, and when you add a healthy dose of normal culture shock on top of that, I think it’s not unusual that they end up either hating the country or retreating to JET partyland, building a psychological wall around themselves and radiating an air of foreignness which makes them even more inapproachable than before, and therefore even more likely to feel isolated and rejected, so it spirals into a vicious downward cycle. Then some of these people go home and write horrible things about their host country online, perpetuating their misunderstandings about the country. I feel sorry for them.

Honestly, as has been outlined in this article, JET has a lot to offer recent grads (I would kill for that kind of salary and job stability in this economy!), but if you’re looking to experience cultural or linguistic immersion, or at least not become like the people I described above, there are a lot of things you will have to take into your own hands. Study about culture shock before you go. Read the complaints of those bitter expats so that you can prepare for the worst (while taking everything you read with a grain of salt). Make a local Japanese friend or two online (on a Japanese forum/community like mixi if you want to speak Japanese there, or on an English forum/community if you don’t mind being milked for English practice) before going, so you have a starting point for making local friends, going to local parties, participating in clubs/sports teams/events (besides the JET Program’s usual offerings of ‘Tea Ceremony for Gullible Foreigners’ or the local ‘JET Ultimate Frisbee Team’ – way to go to the other side of the world to do cheesy things in English you could be doing at home). Maybe before going, you should outline the things you want to be able to do in the country. Anything is possible, but just don’t depend on the program to do it for you.

]]> By: Helen http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/is-the-jet-program-the-right-job-for-you/#comment-37493 Helen Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:43:47 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=80#comment-37493 JET skims off the cream from the top. Don't expect to get a job with them unless your grades are excellent. JET skims off the cream from the top. Don’t expect to get a job with them unless your grades are excellent.

]]> By: No More Easy Money for English Teachers in Japan? http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/is-the-jet-program-the-right-job-for-you/#comment-37090 No More Easy Money for English Teachers in Japan? Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:21:01 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=80#comment-37090 [...] teaching English in Japan with the JET Program for two years, I saved enough money to travel in Southeast Asia for over a year and launch my [...] [...] teaching English in Japan with the JET Program for two years, I saved enough money to travel in Southeast Asia for over a year and launch my [...]

]]> By: What To Do When Your ESL Student Has A Crush On You http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/is-the-jet-program-the-right-job-for-you/#comment-37075 What To Do When Your ESL Student Has A Crush On You Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:38:10 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=80#comment-37075 [...] Is The JET Program Right For You? [...] [...] Is The JET Program Right For You? [...]

]]> By: 没有英语教师更轻松赚钱的日本？ « 哎，口语 http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/is-the-jet-program-the-right-job-for-you/#comment-36057 没有英语教师更轻松赚钱的日本？ « 哎，口语 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:08:57 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=80#comment-36057 [...] 与 JET计划 [...] [...] 与 JET计划 [...]

]]> By: Rose http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/is-the-jet-program-the-right-job-for-you/#comment-35457 Rose Sun, 02 Aug 2009 05:53:34 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=80#comment-35457 Are Eikaiwa the conversation schools that primarily target adult students? What are the pros and cons of Eikaiwa vs JET? I know the big plus of JET is that they pay your return airfares and find you accommodation but I wonder about the working hours/conditions, the fact you are committed for a year, and that you have to fly to and from your home country. My main reason for wanting to work in Japan is to fund travels through Asia so I wonder what would be the best option? Are Eikaiwa the conversation schools that primarily target adult students? What are the pros and cons of Eikaiwa vs JET? I know the big plus of JET is that they pay your return airfares and find you accommodation but I wonder about the working hours/conditions, the fact you are committed for a year, and that you have to fly to and from your home country. My main reason for wanting to work in Japan is to fund travels through Asia so I wonder what would be the best option?

]]> By: Japanese Words http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/is-the-jet-program-the-right-job-for-you/#comment-34459 Japanese Words Thu, 07 May 2009 03:33:56 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=80#comment-34459 I have friends who have really enjoyed the program and those who couldn't wait to get out. I guess it depends on what you want to get out of it. I hear they are in the process of restructuring the entire program. I have friends who have really enjoyed the program and those who couldn’t wait to get out. I guess it depends on what you want to get out of it. I hear they are in the process of restructuring the entire program.

]]> By: Turner http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/is-the-jet-program-the-right-job-for-you/#comment-34690 Turner Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:58:30 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=80#comment-34690 Yep. I think eikaiwas can justify it by claiming they are casting a character in a play, not a teacher. Yep. I think eikaiwas can justify it by claiming they are casting a character in a play, not a teacher.

]]> By: Tim Patterson http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/is-the-jet-program-the-right-job-for-you/#comment-34609 Tim Patterson Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:23:51 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=80#comment-34609 Yeah, I agree Turner. English schools in Japan prefer blonde blue-eyed workers. But schools don't hire JETs - Japanese consulates in western countries do all the interviews, application reviews and hiring. That's why I don't think JET discriminates on the basis of appearance / race. If an Eikaiwa discriminates, that's unfortunate and wrong but understandable. If the Japanese foreign service discriminates, that's a much more serious issue. Yeah, I agree Turner. English schools in Japan prefer blonde blue-eyed workers. But schools don’t hire JETs – Japanese consulates in western countries do all the interviews, application reviews and hiring. That’s why I don’t think JET discriminates on the basis of appearance / race. If an Eikaiwa discriminates, that’s unfortunate and wrong but understandable. If the Japanese foreign service discriminates, that’s a much more serious issue.

]]> By: Turner http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/is-the-jet-program-the-right-job-for-you/#comment-34611 Turner Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:45:02 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=80#comment-34611 I believe, if given the choice between two equally qualified candidates, an employer will choose the one who most looks like what the majority considers to be "foreign". Maybe I'm wrong. I believe, if given the choice between two equally qualified candidates, an employer will choose the one who most looks like what the majority considers to be “foreign”. Maybe I’m wrong.

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