w00tw00t
ok, some of you misunderstood my last entry. sorry, i should have explained more because JET likes to use sucky terminology.
so, what did my last entry mean?
I've officially been accepted into the JET Program
I'M GOING TO JAPAN!!!!
*does a little big dance*
what else does it mean? i'll try to go into detail (not just for your benefit), but let's start from the very top and see how well i can organize this.
some of you may still be a little in the dark, so... JET is a program ran by 3 government ministries of Japan that brings thousands of ppl from around the world every year to Japan. Their goal (supposedly) is to further "internationalization" in Japan (I say "supposedly" because some question their motives).
there are 3 positions in JET:
- SEA: Sports Exchange Advisors - basically, a prestigious sports teacher. only 1 or 2 are hired every year, so to get this position you basically have to be an olympic champion.
-CIR: Coordinator for International Relations - CIRs work in city/prefectural offices and are fairly fluent in Japanese as well as their native language. they help organize and plan international events for their city/prefecture, do translation work, sometimes teach english in a community/government setting and generally represent their country in their area.
+ALT: Assistant Language Teacher - this is what i'll be. ALTs help JTEs (japanese teachers of english) teach courses and prepare materials and school activities using english. ALTs can work in high schools, junior high schools, and recently even elementary schools. they're usually public schools, but sometimes private schools hire ALTs through JET too. ALTs aren't limited to just classroom activities, however. being a part of after school english clubs, english speech contests, cultural festivals, etc are all part of the game as well.
being an ALT is a full-time job, work is minimally 5 days (30 35 hrs) a week (more if you get involved with after school activities and such, of course). the length of the initial contract is 1 year, but one can recontract up to 4 more times. JETs make ¥3,600,000 (approx $30,500) annually.
now that i'm officially in, paperwork paperwork paperwork. hopefully mom will be express mailing me the packet of stuff that was sent to my Vegas address soon... i have to reply and official accept the position and then get my ass into gear. i have to:
- get an FBI background check
- apply & get my passport
- GRADUATE
- find a decent doctor and get a full physical exam done
- save every penny i can, even though every thing above this costs $$$
so yeah... i've got my work cut out for me. but it'll be worth it, of course. :] i also believe that there will be a pre-departure orientation in late june which i want to attend, of course. after that, i plan on going back to Vegas to spend the next month with my family. ...what am i going to do with my cats.... i love them so much....
the Portland (i will have to return to Portland) departure date is set for sunday, august 5th. a day or two before that will be a departure orientation, then once i'm there, i'll be in Tokyo for i believe 3 days for the welcoming/training orientation. after that, i'm off to wherever it is i'll be teaching.
i wont find out where i'll be living, what i'll be living in, where i will be teaching and how many schools i'll be teaching at (ALTs usually teach at more than 1) until sometime in May ~ June, so yeah.... that sucks, but who cares-- i'm just happy i'm in! ^.^ but of course, the second i find out all of this, it'll be posted here. ;)
ok, what am i leaving out.... i know i'm leaving out a lot... but anyway, sorry for not updating properly yesterday... i got the email telling me the news in between classes and then... yeah. me and nick have been trying to work things out for months and yesterday was a big day. :/ so there was a lot of talking.
but anyway, this is enough information for now. not that it matters much to you anyway. :P
MUST GET ASS INTO GEAR.
so, what did my last entry mean?
I've officially been accepted into the JET Program
I'M GOING TO JAPAN!!!!
*does a little big dance*
what else does it mean? i'll try to go into detail (not just for your benefit), but let's start from the very top and see how well i can organize this.
some of you may still be a little in the dark, so... JET is a program ran by 3 government ministries of Japan that brings thousands of ppl from around the world every year to Japan. Their goal (supposedly) is to further "internationalization" in Japan (I say "supposedly" because some question their motives).
there are 3 positions in JET:
- SEA: Sports Exchange Advisors - basically, a prestigious sports teacher. only 1 or 2 are hired every year, so to get this position you basically have to be an olympic champion.
-CIR: Coordinator for International Relations - CIRs work in city/prefectural offices and are fairly fluent in Japanese as well as their native language. they help organize and plan international events for their city/prefecture, do translation work, sometimes teach english in a community/government setting and generally represent their country in their area.
+ALT: Assistant Language Teacher - this is what i'll be. ALTs help JTEs (japanese teachers of english) teach courses and prepare materials and school activities using english. ALTs can work in high schools, junior high schools, and recently even elementary schools. they're usually public schools, but sometimes private schools hire ALTs through JET too. ALTs aren't limited to just classroom activities, however. being a part of after school english clubs, english speech contests, cultural festivals, etc are all part of the game as well.
being an ALT is a full-time job, work is minimally 5 days (30 35 hrs) a week (more if you get involved with after school activities and such, of course). the length of the initial contract is 1 year, but one can recontract up to 4 more times. JETs make ¥3,600,000 (approx $30,500) annually.
now that i'm officially in, paperwork paperwork paperwork. hopefully mom will be express mailing me the packet of stuff that was sent to my Vegas address soon... i have to reply and official accept the position and then get my ass into gear. i have to:
- get an FBI background check
- apply & get my passport
- GRADUATE
- find a decent doctor and get a full physical exam done
- save every penny i can, even though every thing above this costs $$$
so yeah... i've got my work cut out for me. but it'll be worth it, of course. :] i also believe that there will be a pre-departure orientation in late june which i want to attend, of course. after that, i plan on going back to Vegas to spend the next month with my family. ...what am i going to do with my cats.... i love them so much....
the Portland (i will have to return to Portland) departure date is set for sunday, august 5th. a day or two before that will be a departure orientation, then once i'm there, i'll be in Tokyo for i believe 3 days for the welcoming/training orientation. after that, i'm off to wherever it is i'll be teaching.
i wont find out where i'll be living, what i'll be living in, where i will be teaching and how many schools i'll be teaching at (ALTs usually teach at more than 1) until sometime in May ~ June, so yeah.... that sucks, but who cares-- i'm just happy i'm in! ^.^ but of course, the second i find out all of this, it'll be posted here. ;)
ok, what am i leaving out.... i know i'm leaving out a lot... but anyway, sorry for not updating properly yesterday... i got the email telling me the news in between classes and then... yeah. me and nick have been trying to work things out for months and yesterday was a big day. :/ so there was a lot of talking.
but anyway, this is enough information for now. not that it matters much to you anyway. :P
MUST GET ASS INTO GEAR.