Tag: JET Program

JET Application Aid: Statement of Purpose (i)

islandanomalyLeave a comment

Hi all! This is a post I’ve been planning for some time, and now seems like a good time to share because I know that this year’s deadline is approaching for 2017 JET Program applicants — it’s November 18, 2016. Don’t let it sneak up on ya! Hehe. For a while I’ve been promising to give some insight into what became my first-time JET application success three years ago (2013). I’ve decided to start with the Statement of Purpose.

This is one of the most important elements of the written/digital application — as I’m sure you’re aware. It’s critical to your success because through your writing, you can draw a picture of who you are as an applicant with the potential to highlight your strengths and perhaps explain your weaknesses. I don’t know why, but it seems every round there are some who don’t give the statement the attention that it needs, but I strongly recommend taking your time to read and re-read it as much as you can before actually submitting. I definitely did.

Another key element to success: answer all of the questions put forth in the prompt and follow every given instruction exactly. You may ask why that is. Well, the personal statement doesn’t just show that you can write, but also that you are capable of coherent thought and can connect ideas. Most importantly of all, it shows that you can follow simple formatting instructions.

So for my application in 2013, and I’m sure it hasn’t changed too much since then, the instructions read as follows:

Statement of Purpose (1 original and 2 copies): 
This is an essay, in English, of not more than two 8 1/2″ x 11″ (or A4) pages, typewritten in black 12 point font and double-spaced with one-inch margins. Anything beyond the required two pages will be discarded unread. Please type your name and page number (1 of 2, 2 of 2) on each page.

You should incorporate all of the following points in your essay:

  • Relevant experience: Describe applicable experiences, professional skills, relevant interests, and personal qualities, and how you feel these will be useful to you as an ALT or CIR.

  • Motivation for Participation: State why you wish to go to Japan and participate in the JET Program and why you are interested in the position for which you are applying. Also address what you hope to gain, both personally and professionally, and what effect you hope to have on the Japanese community and internationally as a result of your participation in the JET Program.

That seems easy enough, right? Get into word, and before you even start writing set the basic format to be what is requesting in the prompt. That means your margins, your font, your paper size, and set your headers exactly as requested.

Then start writing. The key to great writing is to not only say what you want to say, but to do so in a logical way so that your writing evolves over the course of your very limited two page guideline. A lot of us have a fair amount to say about Japan and our relation to it, so before you know it, you’ll be over two pages and will have to cut down! When it comes time to do so, do it thoughtfully.

In my next post, I hope to share with you a few excerpts from my own statement. Please feel free to ask questions in the comments below. Best of luck in the meantime!

Inekari (いねかり): the Rice Harvest

islandanomalyLeave a comment

DSC_0150One of the benefits of receiving an inaka placement on the JET program is you might be able to experience traditional Japanese events that you may not be able to in urban placements. I’ve experienced this for myself on multiple occasions at the smaller elementary school I visit roughly once per week.

This particular school, though small, has been kind enough to invite me most often to annual or special school events, one of which is the yearly rice harvest, or inekari (稲刈り). The rice harvest usually occurs in late September to early October. This is an event where we all set out into the small field located close to our school, wearing long sleeves and pants despite the hot weather. This precaution is necessary to protect from the itch of the bugs and or grasses that could possibly effect our experience. A sunhat or large-brimmed hat of some kind is also required, to protect harvesters from resilient late summer, early fall rays. Luckily, both last year and this one, a teacher has been kind enough to lend me their sickle, although most-all students have their own and bring that along. Long rubber boots are also preferred wear, as it can be pretty muddy in the fields.

DSC_0147
The drying stand and cropped roots.

The task is quite enjoyable really, one of those chores that can actually be quite relaxing if you let it. Several people actually harvest the lengthy rice crops with their sickle and lay them in a huge pile. Then others gather the lengthy strands into bunches, tying them together with fresh long straw. After these steps are complete, a couple of people (for us, the field owners, who are pros by this point) set up drying stands that look somewhat like teepee framework, and we all hang the rice on these.

My first year I wasn’t prepared for the occasion, but still insisted on participating in my street clothes. It was fun, though a little itchy. But this year I was prepared! Delayed two weeks in a row because of rain, I had ample time to prepare most of my wear. The first year I mostly stuck to bunching, but this year I harvested and bunched equally quite a bit. While carrying out these duties, I also noticed several little frogs (and spiders) had made the rice field their home in the interim. Our harvesting activities definitely awoke a mass exodus in the frogs, which was quite cute though probably alarming for the creatures due to the fact that a few young boys became very interested in their escape…

All in all inekari is a positive experience! If you get the chance, I’d highly encourage taking part in it at your school(s). Even if someone invites you out to their own home fields it would be a valuable experience.

2014-10-07 15.25.19