Question about JET Programmers feeling used
Hi everyone, I'm new here. Sorry if this has already been discussed. If so feel free to tell me so...
I've got a question that I hope you guys can help me with. I'm seriously considering going into the JET program. Got my interview date all set up and everything. But now I'm having second thoughts about it all. See, the last few times I was studying/living abroad, a lot of my interaction with the native people centered around my ability to speak English. It got to the point where I almost felt like I was being "used"- that people would feign friendships or an interest in me just so they could unleash their broken English for me to assist and correct them. My appearance, as a foreigner, made me stick out even more and I ended up feeling sort of isolated a lot of the time.
I know the JET program has you in a teaching position, or at least an assistant position, and I want to ask you all: Do any of you JETters ever get that feeling, like you're just a foreign curiosity or a talking English parrot, while living abroad? What about you people who are kind of shy, like me? Are the challenges of JET even harder as a result of that?
Any feedback/stories/ideas you have would be most appreciated. This is a major decision in my life and I want to think it all the way through.
Cross posted to a few other Japan-related LJ communities.
I've got a question that I hope you guys can help me with. I'm seriously considering going into the JET program. Got my interview date all set up and everything. But now I'm having second thoughts about it all. See, the last few times I was studying/living abroad, a lot of my interaction with the native people centered around my ability to speak English. It got to the point where I almost felt like I was being "used"- that people would feign friendships or an interest in me just so they could unleash their broken English for me to assist and correct them. My appearance, as a foreigner, made me stick out even more and I ended up feeling sort of isolated a lot of the time.
I know the JET program has you in a teaching position, or at least an assistant position, and I want to ask you all: Do any of you JETters ever get that feeling, like you're just a foreign curiosity or a talking English parrot, while living abroad? What about you people who are kind of shy, like me? Are the challenges of JET even harder as a result of that?
Any feedback/stories/ideas you have would be most appreciated. This is a major decision in my life and I want to think it all the way through.
Cross posted to a few other Japan-related LJ communities.