Comments on: The JET Program turns 20 – time to put it to sleep? http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/ Photos, Stories and articles on East Asia Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:15:31 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Mutantfrog Travelogue » Blog Archive » One arm of the JET program possibly misappropriating funds http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-333038 Mutantfrog Travelogue » Blog Archive » One arm of the JET program possibly misappropriating funds Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:22:08 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/#comment-333038 [...] all the extra money they are raking in it looks like they could be accepting even more JETs. I have argued elsewhere that it may have outlived whatever functionality it had as an English teaching program, but as Yomiuri documented around its 20th anniversary the program [...] [...] all the extra money they are raking in it looks like they could be accepting even more JETs. I have argued elsewhere that it may have outlived whatever functionality it had as an English teaching program, but as Yomiuri documented around its 20th anniversary the program [...]

]]> By: Elizabeth http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-102221 Elizabeth Wed, 10 Jan 2007 02:42:38 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/#comment-102221 I just happened upon this blog while googling Abe and the JET Program. As a current JET Program ALT, I'd like to say that your assessment that JET participants have a cakewalk job is not entirely fair. I do have friends on the program that only teach a few classes per week and do little, if no, lesson planning. I, on the other hand, teach more lessons than 75% of the teachers in my department per week to over 300 students, create all lesson plans from scratch, and am treated as another staffed teacher. It's difficult to make generalizations about the program as each prefecture, and then, more specifically, each school, chooses to deal with their ALT differently and the level of responsibility can be radically different for each ALT. This variance is also reflected in the fringe benefits that the JET Program purports to accord to its participants. I, for one, did not receive transportation assistance or free housing. I have JET friends that pay no rent, and I have JET friends that pay more than they did in their home country. In addition, JET housing is usually the standard housing for teachers, which tends to be subsidized but is in no way luxurious as you implied--it's usually some of the less desirable housing around. By making these comments, I am attempting to dispel some of the myths that Program participants are a bunch of spoiled wastes of space who do no actual teaching. Sure, that's true for quite a few (who tend to be the loudest, of course), but I'm trying to put in a word for those of us who care about our jobs, pay our rent, and take the damn vacation time when we should instead of bitching--in short, those of us who treat being an ALT like a job, not an entitlement. I just happened upon this blog while googling Abe and the JET Program. As a current JET Program ALT, I’d like to say that your assessment that JET participants have a cakewalk job is not entirely fair. I do have friends on the program that only teach a few classes per week and do little, if no, lesson planning. I, on the other hand, teach more lessons than 75% of the teachers in my department per week to over 300 students, create all lesson plans from scratch, and am treated as another staffed teacher. It’s difficult to make generalizations about the program as each prefecture, and then, more specifically, each school, chooses to deal with their ALT differently and the level of responsibility can be radically different for each ALT.
This variance is also reflected in the fringe benefits that the JET Program purports to accord to its participants. I, for one, did not receive transportation assistance or free housing. I have JET friends that pay no rent, and I have JET friends that pay more than they did in their home country. In addition, JET housing is usually the standard housing for teachers, which tends to be subsidized but is in no way luxurious as you implied—it’s usually some of the less desirable housing around.
By making these comments, I am attempting to dispel some of the myths that Program participants are a bunch of spoiled wastes of space who do no actual teaching. Sure, that’s true for quite a few (who tend to be the loudest, of course), but I’m trying to put in a word for those of us who care about our jobs, pay our rent, and take the damn vacation time when we should instead of bitching—in short, those of us who treat being an ALT like a job, not an entitlement.

]]> By: Dai-Cast 041 - Ianless at tiltyhouse http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-86212 Dai-Cast 041 - Ianless at tiltyhouse Mon, 27 Nov 2006 15:24:12 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/#comment-86212 [...] Should the JET Program be Cancelled - link [...] [...] Should the JET Program be Cancelled – link [...]

]]> By: Bryce http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-83451 Bryce Thu, 16 Nov 2006 11:13:29 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/#comment-83451 MF, it should be pretty clear where I'm from from the email I sent you. Just to get back on topic its the nation with greatest proportion of JETs per capita (or at least it used to be). MF, it should be pretty clear where I’m from from the email I sent you. Just to get back on topic its the nation with greatest proportion of JETs per capita (or at least it used to be).

]]> By: Mutantfrog http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-82639 Mutantfrog Tue, 14 Nov 2006 12:18:16 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/#comment-82639 Incidentally, where are you from /live? I have no idea. Incidentally, where are you from /live? I have no idea.

]]> By: Mutantfrog http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-82637 Mutantfrog Tue, 14 Nov 2006 12:14:40 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/#comment-82637 Sorry, I was talking to someone from Australia before and got mixed up. Anyway, it doesn't change my point-only make me look stupid. Sorry, I was talking to someone from Australia before and got mixed up. Anyway, it doesn’t change my point-only make me look stupid.

]]> By: Bryce http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-82600 Bryce Tue, 14 Nov 2006 10:20:11 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/#comment-82600 I am not Australian, nor do I live there. I am not Australian, nor do I live there.

]]> By: Adamu http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-82586 Adamu Tue, 14 Nov 2006 09:58:59 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/#comment-82586 That's not where I got the term, but it's an interesting article explaining the way things worked back in 1994. A more updated version of MOFA's priorities in terms of promoting Japan's image can be found <a href="http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/other/bluebook/2006/14.pdf" rel="nofollow">here</a> in the ministry's <a href="http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/other/bluebook/2006/index.html rel="nofollow">blue book</a>. Affecting media coverage seems a higher priority than promoting foreign academics. And don't forget one of America's earlier attempts at international exchange - ultrarightist Yoshio Kodama was a CIA agent for decades! That’s not where I got the term, but it’s an interesting article explaining the way things worked back in 1994. A more updated version of MOFA’s priorities in terms of promoting Japan’s image can be found here in the ministry’s blue book. Affecting media coverage seems a higher priority than promoting foreign academics.

And don’t forget one of America’s earlier attempts at international exchange – ultrarightist Yoshio Kodama was a CIA agent for decades!

]]> By: Mutantfrog http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-82492 Mutantfrog Tue, 14 Nov 2006 04:33:52 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/#comment-82492 I think Adam got the term from <a href="http://www.jpri.org/publications/workingpapers/wp2.html" rel="nofollow">this article</a>. Australia does not need "America handler," since we speak the same language. Yeah, the culture differs, but in ways that are far smaller than between either of our countries and Japan. The reason we talk about JET producing Japan Handlers is that this is specifically part of the program goals, as you can see very clearly if you read any official description of the program. Teaching English to kids in Japan is only one aspect of a program intended to also promote knowledge of and positive attitudes towards Japan in foreigners who will then spread the love around the world. The US does have some programs with partially similar goals, like Fulbright and other scholarships, but they are far more focused and aimed at "high level" people, in contrast to the blanket approach of JET and other similar programs that may exist in other countries. I think Adam got the term from this article. Australia does not need “America handler,” since we speak the same language. Yeah, the culture differs, but in ways that are far smaller than between either of our countries and Japan.

The reason we talk about JET producing Japan Handlers is that this is specifically part of the program goals, as you can see very clearly if you read any official description of the program. Teaching English to kids in Japan is only one aspect of a program intended to also promote knowledge of and positive attitudes towards Japan in foreigners who will then spread the love around the world.

The US does have some programs with partially similar goals, like Fulbright and other scholarships, but they are far more focused and aimed at “high level” people, in contrast to the blanket approach of JET and other similar programs that may exist in other countries.

]]> By: M-Bone http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-82490 M-Bone Tue, 14 Nov 2006 04:31:42 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/11/12/the-jet-program-turns-20-time-to-put-it-to-sleep/#comment-82490 If the Japanese government are trying to buy or "co-opt" academics, they are doing a very, very poor job. Every single article about postwar Japan in "Social Science Japan Journal", "Journal of Japanese Studies", "East Asian Studies", "Journal of Asian Studies", etc. this year is very critical of the Japanese state and the LDP. I would guess that 95% of these scholars have received Japanese government money at one point or another. I ended up getting funding to study with a Marxist history prof who would hold special lectures about why the flag and anthem are bad for Japan.... Come to think of it, if I were to put together a top twenty in my discipline (postwar history), I'm sure that there would not be a single "apologist" on it. There were a handful of apologists at the top of the academic pyramid in the 1980s, but I think that this phenomenon died about 15 years ago. I agree that there are some think tank hacks still kicking around, but I don't think that they have any influence on academic writing on Japan. If the Japanese government are trying to buy or “co-opt” academics, they are doing a very, very poor job. Every single article about postwar Japan in “Social Science Japan Journal”, “Journal of Japanese Studies”, “East Asian Studies”, “Journal of Asian Studies”, etc. this year is very critical of the Japanese state and the LDP. I would guess that 95% of these scholars have received Japanese government money at one point or another. I ended up getting funding to study with a Marxist history prof who would hold special lectures about why the flag and anthem are bad for Japan…. Come to think of it, if I were to put together a top twenty in my discipline (postwar history), I’m sure that there would not be a single “apologist” on it.

There were a handful of apologists at the top of the academic pyramid in the 1980s, but I think that this phenomenon died about 15 years ago. I agree that there are some think tank hacks still kicking around, but I don’t think that they have any influence on academic writing on Japan.

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