JET: Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program

If you’re a senior and you’re considering applying for JET, take note: Their website—http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/JET/—says that the 2011 application will be available on October 25th, 2010, but Japanese major Rebecca Rowe (GW ’10) says it’s available online now. Be sure to go to their website for all relevant information. The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) is the largest program for English instructors in Japan, sponsored by the Japanese government. Each year 800-1000 American young professionals are selected to teach English in Japanese public schools. A small percentage of our participants also work in local government offices on international relations projects. This past summer, the local Japanese embassy sent approximately 75 new participants from the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area, to join a total of nearly 5,000 participants throughout Japan. Be sure to check out their site if you are interested.

Thinking of studying in Japan?

The Japanese language department is sponsoring its own information session about studying abroad in Japan. Unlike other information sessions offered by GWU’s Office of Study Abroad, this session will feature GWU students who have studied in Japan. This meeting will allow students, who are thinking of studying in Japan or have already decided to go, to hear guest speakers talk about their study abroad experiences in places such as Kyoto, Tokyo, and Nagoya.

This is a great opportunity to get the most updated and accurate information about your study abroad options. Should you focus on language or on the culture? Should you stay in a dorm or do a home stay? Is there a lot of homework? Is there financial aid? Will you make Japanese friends? If you want to learn more about studying in Japan or if you just want to meet students from the Japanese language department, come and join us on Tuesday, October 26, 2010, at Rome 470, from 7:00 to 8:00pm.

Brief Notes from Alumni

Ryan Buyco, GW ’10, was a Japanese major who was accepted into the Master Program in Asian Studies at the University of Hawaii. He was also awarded the Starr Fellowship for Academic Year 2010-2011. Here’s a brief note from the man his peers came to know as the boxing monk. (Long story...)

I’m officially here in Hawaii and this week is my first week of school.

It's actually pretty awesome so far, the Asian studies grad students have their own grad room and I find all the professors really helpful. Also, right now, I'm in the Southeast concentration but trying to switch over to the Japan studies concentration. I sat in their seminar today with Professor Huey, and it ended up being really interesting. In fact, Professor Huey was talking about new historicism today. In any case, I've talked with him a couple of times this week and he seems like a really laid back professor. (Note: Robert Huey is Hanami sensei’s senpai at Stanford)

Anyways, I talked with a few professors and they told me a big reason why I received my fellowship at all was because of my duel interest in Japan and Southeast Asia. So after talking with several professors of what kind of research I could possibly do but still retain my background in Japanese literature, I figured that a possible option was to analyze Southeast Asia in Japanese literature. For example, Takeyama Michio's Harp of Burma or Murakami's short story "Thailand" in After the Quake. Actually, the other day I talked with a professor of Japanese modern literature and she gave me these titles among several others from the top of her head.

This might end up being interesting so I'll let you know if this becomes anything!

Robert W. Kenny Award for Innovative Teaching

Professor Leo Hanami is the winner of the 2010 Robert W. Kenny Award for Innovative Teaching. The Kenny award is offered to an outstanding teacher in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, who has inspired students by teaching in creative, innovative ways as demonstrated in his course Love and Politics: The Tale of Genji.

Prof. Hanami accepted the award with humility. “I do not consider myself to be a 'special' teacher, only one who is dedicated to his students, the field and the integrity of our Japanese Program,” said Prof. Hanami. But those who have been in his class know exactly how special he is: former students describe him as an “amazing educator,” his lectures as “dynamic and engaging.” He is also well-known for his “fun” and “approachable” personality. We sincerely thank Prof. Hanami for doing what he does and being his amazing self!

Ryan

Kudos to Ryan Buyco, graduating senior and Japanese major, who has been accepted into the Asian Studies program at the University of Hawai'i starting Fall 2010. Ryan was also recently accepted into the Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) programme and had been weighing his options, until he just got an email informing him that the Asian Studies Program at Hawai'i has awarded him a $15,000 Starr Fellowship for Academic Year 2010-2011:

The Asian Studies Starr Fellowship Committee was impressed by your academic preparation, and your commitment to research that crosses national boundaries in Asia. We hope to see you in the Fall.

Congratulations again!