Why teach in Japan?

[ozzmit]

I've been wondering why people decide to join the Jet program to teach in Japan. I would really like to know what sort of individual reasons there are out there in order to help me know if the Jet program is right for me.

To be fair, here are my own reasons:

1) I like visiting other cultures and have been to a few where the native language is not English.
2) I like learning other languages.
3) And I like teaching.

I wish I knew more Japanese. I am starting to learn the alphabet (it's long!), but I'm having fun so far.

[stsparky]

Japan is desirable as it has a better set of amenities lacking in China or South Korea. But there's nothing more compelling than following your muse.

You could sign up with the Peace Corps and even do Africa if you're not into Asia. - Sparky

[nice gaijin]

the peace corps is a two-year deal; I have a friend who applied with a different program to teach English in Ghana, and it's only for 8 months, after which he's free to go into the corps if he wishes (it takes over a year to process an application anyways).

[ozzmit]

Actually, I have applied to the Peace Corps. However, I would like to teach English and they will not take anyone for that job who has not already taught English in some capacity.

And don't get me wrong, I do like Asia. Japan has never jumped out at me as THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE EVER, but I still think the country is pretty cool.

I just want to know the sorts of reasons people have for joining Jet. Is wanting to teach high on the list? Or is teaching secondary to learning about Japanese culture? I would put teaching first, but I could be totally wrong. Perhaps I need to be crazy about Japanese culture first and foremost. I mean, I can actually see how that might be the case. :)

[ozzmit]

You get vacations in the Peace Corps though, so two years is not so bad.

[Komachi Angel]

Well, JET is a good program. The work is good, the pay is great and you generally have a good time. The people on the program take good care of you, and you will be given so many orientations and get-used-to sessions that you will be almost physically sick at the mere mention of more general reading material.

Living in Japan can be quite an interesting experience (as anyone at this site should know well by now :p) and international travel and experience can be an extremely valuable thing.

I myself am using it as a way to do a bit of work while getting the living in Japan req. for a more formal career. Some people want a bit of a trip overseas, while some people like the money/ culture/ women/men, yadda yadda yadda.

[Henjin]

My current proposed life plan is to get a job here, pay off my current student loans, get a little more established then go back for a quick BA... Something I can do nights and weekends or maybe even online so that I can actually apply for JET sometime. I think I'd like to try to live in Japan for at least a year. It's a goal anyway, and if it doesn't happen, at least I'll have a BA, which doesn't hurt.

[Xuande]

My own reasons are as follows.


I want to become a professor eventually, so teaching experience is a good thing for me to have.
I like the Japanese language. I studied it for two years as an undergraduate (although I've since forgotten much of what I knew thanks to a lack of chances to practice). Total immersion is a good way, if not the best, to become fluent in a language, and the JET program seems to be a good way to achieve that.
My fields are artificial intelligence, logic, and robotics. There is a lot of ongoing research in these areas in Japan that is often not easily accessible to academics outside the country. I would like to eventually help increase collaboration between Japanese- and English-speaking researchers. For that, I need to be familiar with the language and culture.
Philosophy is a personal interest of mine, but there seems to be very little mention of contemporary Japanese philosophy in the English literature beyond vague characterizations of the Kyoto School. I'm curious about what's going on in philosophy nowadays in Japanese universities, and it looks like I'll need to know Japanese to find that out.
I like traditional Japanese art and architecture. I'd like to see some of the historical buildings in person, and maybe take a calligraphy class if I can find one.
I want to have the experience of being immersed in an alien culture. Jumping right into the deep end is exciting. I'm normally not much of a thrill-seeker because I don't like physical danger, but there's usually not much of that as a JET ALT (kancho aside) so this is a rare opportunity to indulge myself. :D

[Henjin]

I forgot to post my reasons:

- I like learning Japanese, and my goal is as close to fluency as I can get. I don't see any other way to achieve this besides immersion.
- I think the experience of living in a foreign country for awhile would be amazing. Definately hard, but it's something I'd like to try.

[jindojim]

oh, I can smell the b.s., ahaha

C'mon, list the real reasons why Japan over any other country. If you want to immerse yourself in a super alien place, go to Africa, not Japan.

Everyone's real reasons for doing JET:
1) Samurai and ninjas are everywhere in Japan, and they are kewl.
2) Japanese girls are super #1 KAWAIIII~~ (especially those schoolgirls...yum)
3) Paid vacation for a year
4) Giant robots = kewl
5) ANIME!!!!!!11111 '133t' 'l0lz' 'r0x0rz'
6) VIDEO GAME mecca of the WORLD.
7) You are secretly worshipped in Japan for being foreign.
8) You can be a fat pig of a man here, but in Japan, hot girls will FLOCK to U!!!
9) Japanese all speak English secretly and eagerly want to practice it with gaijins.
10) Anime...did I say that already?

Don't buy into the lies by PLF and Az. They just don't want you to know the true paradise that is JAPAN.
(Xuande, if you are from Georgia, you and I are competing to get into the JET Program at the same embassy. hehe)

[ozzmit]

Thanks everyone for your opinions. It helps to know that my expectations are not too far out there. Well, except in the case of jimmyjindo...You have opened my eyes to new aspects of Japan. ;) Although I would like to point out that if Anime is any indicator, most Japanese school girls are either ninja or have very violent tendencies. So I would try to find some kind of Japanese school girl repellant if I were you.

Oh, and I'm from Georgia too! And thanks Xuande for giving me such detailed reasons for your wanting to teach in Japan. Although I know you very well, I didn't know you were as interested in teaching as I am.