Get ready to say "hai"
The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) programme brings graduates from around the globe to work in teaching and cultural exchange positions in Japan. Two such graduates are young leaders Ryan Smith and Olivia Upton, who are in early stages of year-long placements as assistant language teachers (ALTs).
Olivia's placement is a 40-minute train ride from Tokyo. She has only good things to say about her experience so far. “My first impression of teaching is that it is a demanding but extremely rewarding profession. At first the students were too shy to talk to me, but now they cheerfully greet me in the corridors – so much so that now I sometimes feel more like a rock star than an ALT!”
In her first days in the job, Olivia sought to build a relationship with her class. “I introduced each English class to New Zealand and myself through a Powerpoint presentation. All the students listened intently as I played them the haka, and laughed while turning their noses up at the smell of the Marmite I had brought from home!
“I also wanted to bring together both New Zealand and Japanese culture in my presentation. So I got the students to make origami kiwis, which we are going to display on a New Zealand board.”
One of the highlights for Olivia has been a matsuri (festival), attended at the invitation of her supervisors. “At the matsuri, I was able to see traditional Japanese dance, Taiko drumming and eat delicious food from the street stalls. The hanabi [fireworks display] was also a real Japanese experience. Everyone sat in the middle of a field on tarpaulins, eating and drinking while watching the fireworks, which lasted a whole hour. I have never seen anything so beautiful!”
Ryan’s situation is a somewhat different, as he spreads his teaching time between three schools in the Aomori prefecture. “You’ve got to be able to be a bit flexible and proactive. Some days I’ll teach a full set of classes and others I’ve got the whole day free.”
That free time has given Ryan time to pursue a range of activities – studying Japanese, learning Japanese abacus and playing sport. “Most days after school I’ll join in with a school sport like soccer, archery, tennis, kendo, or even flower arrangement! My Kiwi sportsman pride has definitely taken a few healthy and humbling blows.”
He is relishing the chance to explore Japan in a more in-depth manner than he was able to do on shorter visits.
“My two previous trips to Japan had both felt like time was put on fast-forward. You are on sensory overload in the big cities a lot of the time, and the rest you are marvelling at the peaceful tranquillity of a temple in the mountains, and how the two can co-exist so seamlessly. I had thought that because I was going to be living in Japan, things would slow down a bit, but that really hasn't been the case. I can barely fit in everything I want to do.”
“The JET Programme is a great experience to be pushed outside your comfort zone. If you’re willing to be a ‘yes’ man or woman, there are so many things you’ll experience that you normally wouldn’t have the chance to. If you’ve always dreamed of living in Japan, like I did, then I’d definitely recommend it.
“Come with an open mind and ready your best ‘Hai!’ for all invitations and I’m sure you’ll have an unforgettable time.”
Images:
1. Olivia, Kyle Mullen (another JET participant) and Ogino-san, supervisor at the Kamagaya City Board of Education, at the hanabi
2. Performers on stage during the matsuri.
