JET Program on the Chopping Block (thank Buddha!!)

[Taro Toporific]

JET ROI: JET Program on the Chopping Block
jetwit.com - by James Gannon - July 3, 2010
...in May 2010, the JET Program and CLAIR came up for review, and during the course of an hourlong hearing, the 11-member panel criticized the JET scheme, ruling unanimously that a comprehensive examination should be undertaken to see if it should be pared back or eliminated altogether.When the jigyo shiwake panels were launched in November 2009, the intent was to weed out bloated spending ....more...

[canman]

Taro,I wouldn't count the JET program dead yet. It seems to have a lot of friends in high places that will vouch for its usefulness. What I find interesting is that the only group advocating the continuation of the Jet Program are either former, or current JETs. There doesn't seem to be a groundswell of teachers or parents or students clamoring to keep this system. I for one would like to see it gone, as I think there must be a better way to teach students. I know many good ideas have been presented here before, like sending native English teachers abroad to hone their skills. Or utilizing the native English teachers that live in the community.

[Mike Oxlong]

Here's a wacky thought...

Make the program one that only accepts and places professional teachers. Those who majored in and graduated with education degrees. Then, those who are accepted go to some facility (one for US/Canada, one for the UK, one for Australia/NZ) in their own country to undergo several months of training in Japanese language, Japanese ed aims, and team-teaching. Schools in Japan wanting one of these sorts would have to send one of their English teachers to some sort of twin facility in Japan over the summer vacation to also be trained in team-teaching, Western ed aims, and English communication.

[AssKissinger]

I think it would be sad if JET dies. A lot of people have had amazing experiences because of this program.

[Yokohammer]

Originally Posted by Mike Oxlong

Here's a wacky thought...

Make the program one that only accepts and places professional teachers. Those who majored in and graduated with education degrees. Then, those who are accepted go to some facility (one for US/Canada, one for the UK, one for Australia/NZ) in their own country to undergo several months of training in Japanese language, Japanese ed aims, and team-teaching. Schools in Japan wanting one of these sorts would have to send one of their English teachers to some sort of twin facility in Japan over the summer vacation to also be trained in team-teaching, Western ed aims, and English communication.

No no ... that makes too much sense.
Besides, there's an opening there for filthy foreign ideas to infiltrate and corrupt the local system.

[Taro Toporific]

Originally Posted by Mike Oxlong

Here's a wacky thought...
Make the program one that only accepts and places professional teachers. Those who majored in and graduated with education degrees....

Oh nooooooo! Imagine the Japanese engRish teachers having to compete on level ground.

[Yokohammer]

Originally Posted by Taro Toporific

Imagine the Japanese engRish teachers having to compete on level ground.

No shit. And it'd be pretty hard for a Japanese engrish teacher to tell an M.Ed to shut the fuck up and do as they're told.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Sorry, I have to agree with this one.
JET is an enormous waste of money that produces benefits that are dubious at best.
Have the JET programs produced one Enrgish speaker of any worth over 20-odd years? I severely doubt it.
Stop funding the idea of English-speaking yobbos Japan experience, I say.

[Ganma]

Having professional teachers come would never work. I knew some professional teachers who did exactly that but gave up and left quick smart. Reasons: lack of responsiveness of students , the 'I can't speak English' mentality; and a complete lack of control or freedom over what they were able to do in the classroom. Japan only wants talking textbooks so let them have their talking textbooks.
The JET primarily exists these days to give inaka schools the opportunity for 'cultural exchange' and has long disappeared from suburban areas like Tokyo. That in itself is not a bad thing. But if there is no longer the money for it then so be it...

[GomiGirl]

Professional teachers wouldn't come as they wouldn't put up with the poor salary options. Offering peanuts is fine for the kids who are Native Engrish speakers with a pulse on a gap year adventure, but it is not an interesting prospect for real teachers. They would go straight to International schools.