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Explore the world and gain work experience. That, in a nutshell, is one of the most important features of the Japan Exchange and Teaching, JET, Program. The application for the JET Program is now open. Interested? Apply now until Nov. 14. The JET Program recruits English speakers from different countries to teach English as a foreign language in Japanese schools and corporate settings. While proficiency in the Japanese language is not required, applicants must at least have a bachelor’s degree in any field. For more information about the JET Program and to access the application form, go to jetprogramusa.org. My own experience Chosen participants will reside in a prefecture of their choosing or, in my case, a prefecture of the program’s choosing. I was placed in Ehime, one of four prefectures in the Shikoku region, just right outside the city of Imabari. Imabari is famous for its towels and mikan (tangerines). Every year, I receive a surplus of mikans from coworkers and neighbors. And because my small town knew I was from Guam, two days after moving into my own apartment, I was introduced to Bill Leon-Guerrero. Leon-Guerrero’s confectionery is famous in Shikoku. He makes the popular mikan daifuku, a sweet mikan covered in shiro-an and wrapped in mochi. Leon-Guerrero and his family run the sweet shop in Imabari and also sell their products on various sites. When Leon-Guerrero’s father-in-law had fallen ill in 2002, he and his wife Toshie decided to go to Japan to take over the family business. Read more about Leon-Guerrero’s story here: gov-online.go.jp/eng/publicity/book/hlj/html/201509/201509_10_en.html. Meeting the Leon-Guerreros during my first month in Japan was a privilege as they helped me adjust to my new life smoothly. From 2019 to 2021, my time in Ehime was full of lessons learned in assimilation of cultures, living alone, and stepping out of my safety bubble. Any JET alumni on Guam would tell you that once you’ve moved in the small town you will call home for a year or so, you will feel like a “celebrity” because everyone will know about you. People will approach you at the grocery store or start conversations with you in an onsen (bathhouse). You will meet people from different ages, cultures, countries, and religions. These experiences will test and shape you, and it’s a privilege to have learned from everyone I have met. While I’m writing from the perspective of someone who had done their time for JET and is now reminiscing on the good memories, two assistant language teachers, ALTs, who are currently under the program, share their experiences from Japan. Jenica Velasquez From the northernmost prefecture, Jenica Velasquez has been staying in Hokkaido for over two years now. She teaches at one junior high school, two elementary schools, and two kindergartens. According to Velasquez, some of her favorite moments so far are seeing firsthand the progress her students have made to be more confident in communicating in English. “Especially when my kindergarten students see me in public and shout their loudest ‘Hello,’ it always brightens my day!” she said. Every summer, Velasquez also volunteers to carry a mikoshi (portable shrine) during the summer festival. “It’s one of my favorite things to do because it makes me feel like I am part of the community,” she said. “I also enjoy seeing my students spot me during the parade and run after me to say hi!” When asked what to prepare for before heading to Japan, Velasquez said “homesickness and loneliness.” “Reach out to other ALTs in your area or attend events in your town to get to know your community better. It will make your experience more enjoyable and help you adjust faster,” she said. “Culture shock will hit, especially in the workplace. Schools in Japan run differently so that means lesson plans, schedules, and teacher expectations will vary each week.” Velasquez said one must observe how routines go, ask co-teachers questions, and adjust accordingly. “There will be a language barrier,” she said. “Even basic communication can get tricky so make sure to ask questions if you’re not too sure about something and have a translation app on hand, especially for paperwork.” And one experience for almost everyone in Japan, local or visitor, struggles with: “Make sure to find out your town’s trash sorting system.” “Some towns are very strict with where and how you throw your trash. For example: specific trash is thrown in color-coded bags that are picked up on a designated day,” she said. She encourages interested applicants to explore the town as soon as they can. Visiting parks and trying local restaurants are great ways to familiarize oneself with the area. “I recommend looking for a local bakery because the breads in Japan are delicious. Take advantage of Japan’s convenient public transportation, and once you’re settled in, travel as much as you can,” she said. “There’s so much to do and see, even if it’s just within your prefecture.” Don’t get discouraged easily. “Students will seem shy or quiet at first, but if you keep trying with an energetic attitude, they’ll eventually warm up. Even a simple greeting from a student can be meaningful so enjoy the small wins,” she said. Your physical and mental health matters. Homesickness comes in waves. For some people, it’s immediate. For others, it hits every five to six months. “Living in a new country will get very stressful. Make sure to eat well, get enough sleep, and have personal hobbies to enjoy during your free time. Documenting your experience is essential too,” she said. “Take many photos, start a scrapbook, or note down memorable moments.” In Osaka with her 4-year-old daughter, Kyra Antoinette Perez is currently in her 2nd year of the program. She teaches at only one junior high school in the Senshu area. One of her most memorable moments so far is when she worked with Imelda Loroco, a former ALT for the program now teaching at Inalajan Middle School, to organize a student exchange event. “While on a school trip to Osaka, Laroco was able to bring her students from IMS to Tottori JHS. It was amazing to see kids from home engaging with the students at Tottori JHS,” she said. “There were short presentations about the differences in schools in Guam and Japan, a tour of the after-school sports clubs, and a small crafts workshop with the culture clubs.” She said while students in Osaka often see foreign visitors, it is rare for them to directly interact with visitors their age in a school setting. “My students at Tottori loved being able to practice their English with students their age,” she said. Perez recommends keeping records of memories all the time by taking photos. “If you’re coming from Guam or Saipan, take lots of pictures from home. Of course you’ll have your standard fiesta plates and beach sunset pics, but don’t forget the seemingly mundane, everyday things, like your outside kitchen or local mom and pop store,” she said. Perez recalls a time when a tiny miscommunication occurred in class. “There was a funny instance when I was teaching English and said, ‘I cook dinner with the stove.’ Cue five minutes of pure confusion. The Japanese commonly use the word ‘stove’ for ‘heater,’ as in room heater, so my students had an image of me cooking a meal using a room heater in their heads. Then, when I pulled a photo of a standard American four top stove with the two rack oven below it, more confusion ensued as Japanese stoves don’t usually have an oven built in,” she said. Perez’s advice to those planning on joining the program: Have an open mind and few expectations. “JET participants get placed anywhere from the bustling metropolis of Tokyo City to outer islands that have a population of less than 100 people. Some people work at one school their entire time here, while others have to juggle eight schools in a five day workweek,” she said. “Depending on your placement, you might have to walk to work, take a train, drive, or even use a ferry on the daily. The JET Programme truly is a test of adaptability.”
