Four U of A Graduates Selected for Language Teaching Program in Japan

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U of A student Rachel Gierke studied abroad in 2019 in the Shimane prefecture in Japan.

Four recent U of A graduates were selected for the prestigious JET Program to teach English abroad in Japan. After much delay due to the pandemic, the JET Program will send its first cohort since fall 2019, including graduates Samuel Carroll, Rachael Gierke, Amy Kappen and Emily Miser.

The JET Program, or Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, is not only a career-enhancing opportunity for recent graduates and young professionals but is also an opportunity to serve as an American cultural ambassador ­­living in cities, towns and villages throughout Japan. According to the program's website, there are nearly 5,000 applications each year, while only 1,000 are selected.

"We are grateful that so many U of A alumni and students have been selected for the JET Program because it speaks volumes the program's confidence in our Japanese language instruction," said Tatsuya Fukushima, associate professor of Japanese and linguistics and coordinator of the Japanese program.

"We want more students to begin Japanese language courses early, preferably in their freshman year, so that they will be able to achieve higher proficiency levels in Japanese by graduation," Fukushima said.

Rachael Gierke, who participated in the U of A's Intensive Japanese Language study abroad program in 2019, will return to the Shimane prefecture for her English-teaching placement. During the month-long undergraduate program, she got to know the area which, she says, is full of nice people, traditional-Japanese culture and beautiful scenery.

For Gierke, the program piqued her interest in the country, and she was determined to return. "My Japanese professors recommended that I apply to be an assistant language teacher for the JET Program after I graduated, so I did. When I learned that I was placed in Shimane again, I was excited to continue my journey living in Japan, learning more about the country and teaching students about my own culture and language."

Students or young professionals who are interested in teaching English abroad in Japan are invited to attend a virtual information session hosted by Tye Ebel with the JET Program from 3:30-4:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 7. Click here to register for the Zoom info session. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

#HogsAbroad Start your #HogsAbroad journey today by checking out programs on the Study Abroad website.

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