Alex Quinn's Japan Journal
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5/31/2005, JET Programme Recontracting Conference in KobeI went to a conference for three days in Kobe, from Monday, May 30 to Wednesday, June 1. It was put on by one of the organizations that administers the JET Programme. It was all at the national level, so there were JETs from all over western Japan - even Okinawa. (Eastern Japan has their own conference.) They did it at a five star hotel on the man-made island of Portopia in Kobe. On the first day, there were presentations from a panel of government people and experts on foreign language education and Japan-foreign relations. They gave us advice on how to be good English teachers. And, they took questions on topics ranging from English department meetings to the future of the program. Okay, but it got a bit dull. These people were there under the auspices of MEXT, which is Japan's equivalent to a Department Of Education. So, they seemed to give the government view on things. The second day, we had fantastic workshops given by particularly good JET English teachers on all kinds of topics. We could choose which ones we went to. I went to workshops on classroom management (discipline, etc.), leading an English club (ESS), enhancing student motivation, and using audio/video materials in class. I took a few pictures of these workshops.
Okay, I guess those pictures aren't so interesting. Sorry for the boring pics. On the third day, I went to two lectures. One was on getting through the second year without going crazy. JET Programme participants do occasionally become clinically depressed, develop paranoia, or even commit suicide. It happens especially when they're isolated in remote areas and don't know how to deal with or understand the culture around them. It was taught by a psychologist. The second lecture was on Zen Buddhism and how it relates to modern-day Japan. Japanese people, especially in cities, are very seldom religious. Buddhist temples are generally for birth, marriage, and death rituals. The guy who taught this lecture has lived in Japan 33 years and studied 9 years to become an ordained Buddhist monk. He talked about how Zen Buddhism is ingrained in the Japanese language, mindset, and mode of operation. Really interesting. I should say that although my time at the conference was a little dry, many people had a very wet time at the conference. It is traditionally a time when JET participants go out and drink themselves silly. A number of clubs in Kobe anticipate this and target events for the JET crowd. In fact, the JET members association, AJET, rented a club exclusively for JET people. But, I spent my evenings studying. I had stuff I wanted to accomplish, and those parties tend to have a lot of people very, very drunk. This year, a JET person reportedly tried to sexually assault somebody at one of these places. I don't know the details. But, it's not my cup of tea... well, beer. Besides, I think work and drinking parties don't mix. |
