JOB DESCRIPTIONS
There are basically 3 types of AET positions:
Prefectural Education Office (Kyoiku Jimsho)
This office deals with the guidance for Elementary and Junior High
School Teachers, and you will visit a number of schools on a one-shot or
semi-regular basis. These may be Junior and/or Senior Highs.
Usually, you will have about 100 days in schools each year. The rest
will be in the office.
The Gifu Prefectural Education and Research Center ALTs also assist
in seminars for English teachers and other English conversation workshops.
You are employed by the Prefecture.
Senior High School
This will be a base-school position and you will spend the majority
of your time here, though you may be required to visit other schools in
the area. You are employed by the Prefecture.
City, Town, Or Village Board of Education
This means you will be hired by the Board of Education in your city,
town, or village, so your paycheck will come directly from them.
You will spend most of your time based in a Junior High School and may
make visits to other schools in the area. You may spend a day or
two at an Elementary School, or sometimes go on a weekly basis. You
may also teach adult night classes, and this will be written into your
contract.
CIRs
CIRs work either for a city BOE, for the International Affairs Division
of the Prefectural government, or at the International Center in Gifu City.
Job descriptions vary greatly on your host institution but your duties
will most likely include one to all of the following: translating/interpreting
(usually having to do with sister city relations); writing a newsletter
for different segments of the foreign community; giving speeches; teaching
adult English conversation classes; and maybe even going to an elementary
school that is not scheduled for an AET visit.
On the Job Expectations
You will hear this over and over again, but it will depend on you and
your situation. Each JET has their own background and ways of working.
Each school and office has its own community and ways of doing things.
As each individual is different so there are a variety of unique spoken
and unspoken social norms in any workplace, town, or country.
Be observant, keep an open mind, and ask for help when you need it.
There are some situations that may be specific to the JET program and
they relate to the constant turnover of JETs - you can call it the "Predecessor
Phenomenon". Perhaps the two hardest situations to be in are the
gfirst-everh JET position, or the g3rd year JET replacementh position.
It is very rare that you will be the first JET a school or office has ever
seen. This year, however, there are some newly created JET positions,
and although in most cases a JET may have visited there previously, you
may find yourself experiencing the gfirst-ever JETh scenario to some
extent. In this situation, you will have to start from scratch, and
you may find that your colleagues have no idea what to make of you, but
you will also have the opportunity to carve out your own niche. If
you are in a small town, you may be the first foreigner some of the locals
have ever seen up close. Chances are that people will be fascinated
by you, so expect to be stared at and asked personal questions. On
the other hand, if your predecessor spent three years at the same place,
it is likely that your colleagues will take awhile to adjust to a new person
- yes, that would be you. In any workplace people grow attached to
fellow workers and it may take awhile for them to let go of the memories
of the past JET and connect and get to know you. Regardless, people
will be very interested in your background, and for a time, if not for
the entire length of your stay, you may be treated somewhat like a celebrity.