[en]This evening, I went to an event that a friend told me about called “Kansai Rise”, in the Hommachi area of Osaka. The basic premise of this event series is to help people involved in social activism and volunteering connect with each other and network with like-minded individuals
This time, I was just a spectator and had the chance to listen some interesting stories, such as Shohei Nakamura’s presentation about the first TEDxOsaka event, which he coordinated. I begun thinking about how education, and English education specifically, can have a role in these events.
Special events like this always motivate me to do even more in the communities which I’m actively involved in, lately I’ve really been thinking about what we can do to mobilize JETs, JET alumni, English teachers, and Technology advocates more. We as JETs have an extraordinary network of professionals, all hungry and all actively looking to make a difference. [/en]
[ja] 今日の午後、私は、友人が教えてくれた「Kansai Rise」というイベントのために、大阪の本町へ行ってきました。このイベントは、社会的行動主義の方々と、ボランティア活動を行っている方々を互いに繋げ、それぞれ同じ意見を持つもの同士との関係を築く場を促進するという趣旨で行われました。私は、この計画についてかなり遅れていて、この一年に活動されてきた方々の発表の中のいくつかには、とても刺激を受けるものがありました。
[en]
Yesterday was a great evening, spent at the Hyatt Regency Osaka’s open-air Garden BBQ competition. It was sponsored in part by the American Chamber of Commerce Japan’s Kansai chapter, which I have recently become interested in.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, it is a large and internationally recognized networking association, which aims to develop commerce between the United States and Japan, as well as improve the international business environment here.
One of the best parts of the ACCJ is its selection of committees which connect foreign professionals by industry, and support the exchange of ideas and information. All in all, they do a tremendous amount of work every year on behalf of individuals just like you and me, who face unique challenges trying to navigate the business landscape of a foreign country.
This grilling event in particular, was a chance for me to meet a ton of new people who are all developing extraordinary things right here in my own city!
In addition to some of the best BBQ I’ve had in a long time, delicious drinks, and inspiring conversation, the weather was perfect and made for an absolutely beautiful Osaka sunset. Thanks to the ACCJ for arranging this exciting event, and I cannot wait see what you are planning in the near future!
For more information on ACCJ’s upcoming events, you can visit their website here.[/en]
Greetings JETs! It’s been another exciting month in the world of the JET Programme. Not only was there a conference for the JET Alumni Association International in Tokyo and a collaborative volunteering trip with Paul Yoo’s Volunteer Akita and JET Alumni in Tohoku, but the JET Programme received a mention by United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in her address at the U.S./Japan Council Annual conference.
After highlighting how important the ties between America and Japan are, she turned her focus toward the issue of the future of education in Japan. Citing the 50% drop in the number of young Japanese students studying abroad in the past 14 years, Secretary Clinton stated her concern toward the future of it’s ties with Japan.
You can read or watch her entire speech here: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/10/175151.htm
Secretary Clinton mentioned that the U.S. was “redoubling” it’s efforts toward connecting Japanese students to universities in America and doing “whatever it takes” to reverse this trend. She spoke directly about initiatives to mobilize JETs in Japan to make Japanese students aware of the options they have to live, study, and learn abroad via Education USA.
US-Japan Council Annual Members Meeting October 8, 2011
We’ve been in contact with United States embassy officials and Education USA about how AJET and you, the JETs across the country, can help to further our internationalization efforts on a grassroots level. By assisting with large-scale initiatives like this, we can increase the impact we have on our students’ lives exponentially. We might not be able to give each and every student the money to live, travel, and study abroad, but we can surely show them the means by which that can become possible.
In Osaka, we’ve slated a time for a representative from Education USA to address JETs ,and our Japanese colleagues, at our ALT Skills Development Workshops (Formerly know as Mid-Year Conference). This is so that we can all be aware of the opportunities available to our students. There has also been a collaboration with the U.S. Embassy to bring in the best of speakers for our fellow JETs.
You may be saying to yourself, “I’m not American, why should I get involved with Education USA?” That’s a fair enough question. Here’s why: How much has the JET Programme helped you to see another culture and way of life? How much do you value that experience? How would you like to be able to CONNECT one of your students to a similar opportunity to study and experience a foriegn culture that they might never have known they had a chance to?The more Japanese students that study abroad, the more that can share with their classmates, friends, and families.
By giving our students an opportunity to see other cultures, we will have empowered them to touch the lives of those around them with that same experience. In the end, our impact as JETs can amount to much, much more than we ever imagined.
In the coming months, AJET will begin distributing information about a variety of ways that JETs can assist their students who have chosen to pursue studying abroad in a foreign country. If you would like more information about initiatives like this, or access to materials and speakers for your contracting organizations, please email us at education@ajet.net
This evening, I went to an event that a friend told me about called “Kansai Rise”, in the Hommachi area of Osaka. The basic premise of this event series is to help people involved in social activism and volunteering connect with each other and network with like-minded individuals
Special events like this always motivate me to do even more in the communities which I’m actively involved in, lately I’ve really been thinking about what we can do to mobilize JETs, JET alumni, English teachers, and Technology advocates more. We as JETs have an extraordinary network of professionals, all hungry and all actively looking to make a difference. [/en]
