Talked on the phone with Mark about my JET app. I dunno, wasn't very helpful, picked out a few typos and awkward sentences but didn't find the closure I needed. Fuck.

Pop!

Here's a ingenius idea! What if I put my app in this blog and and maybe someone will comment on it!? (putting this idea on screen was probably only 10 seconds off the idea coming into existence in the first place; 10 seconds off real time ought to be an acceptible blog tape delay)

Here's the thing. JET stands for Japan Exchange and Teaching, a program for people to go teach English (or whatever comes out of your mouth most often) in Japan. ALT stnads for Assistant Language Teacher, the position within JET that I'm applying for. The application is due 12/5, that's this Friday. The application itself has to arrive at the Japanese Embassy in DC on Friday so I would have to FedEx it out overnight by tomorrow, ideally. I need someone other than myself to read it and comment on it. So here it is, my best imitation of Brian Henderson of 1215 Maple Lane. Yeah, Wow. (for future reference: this is a reference of that Budlight commercial; note to self: you watch too much TV)

Here are the directions for the essay:
· 2 pages 2x spaced, type name and page number (1 of 2) on bottom
· why JET: why Japan, why ALT
· describe past/present experience, professional skills, relevant interests and personal qualities.
· What you hope to gain personally and professionally
· What effect you hope to have on the international and Japanese community

And here's the essay itself to be critiqued, hopefully by you:

I was born in Taiwan and raised in a three-generation nuclear family. My grandmother lived in post Japan-occupation Taiwan and enforced her anti-Japanese sentiment by forbidding us from eating sushi and refusing to ride in my father’s first Honda. Perhaps my curiosity towards Japan initially took hold as the forbidden fruit in the eyes of my grandmother’s xenophobia. Ironically, it may have played a part driving me to become a gaijin in Japan.

I am fascinated by the fact that so little is known about Japan in the West. The entire world knows about samurai and Hondas, but somehow the Japanese people still remain inscrutable to the eyes of Europeans and Americans. It is remarkable how much of the old habits of Orientalism are still with us as we think of Japan by how they are different from the West. I wish to come to Japan not to understand these stereotyped Japanese institutions, but to find and meet and live in the Japan that is populated with ordinary people with ordinary desires.

Drawing from my limited and indirect knowledge of Japanese culture (gleaned from Japanese pop culture and journalists/historians such as Patrick Smith), I understand the Japanese as a culture with polarizing values: institution vs. individual, tradition vs. progress, Oriental vs. the West. It seems to me that today the Japanese struggles to find ways to assert itself as nihonjin in an increasingly global, liberal, and perhaps Americanized world. This kind of cultural identity crisis is something with which I identify strongly, having grown up in Taiwan but come of age in America. I believe that in order to understand and be conscious of my cultural identity (or the lack thereof) and to become a better world citizen, “the Japanese” and I have many things to learn from each other.

Capsule philosophies aside, my background and experiences have prepared me well as a JET ALT. I have been on both sides of ESL programs: as a student when I first arrived in U.S., and later as a tutor to other similarly situated bilingual students. I have also designed and taught (as part of a 10-person team) an undergraduate laboratory course in a classroom setting of 10-12 students. I understand first-hand the challenges of teaching and learning the English language and I am familiar and comfortable with managing the classroom environment—both of which should prove valuable assets for any assistant language teacher. In addition, having worked as a legal assistant after college, I am confident that the communication skills I have honed from working with attorneys will translate positively to my work assisting Japanese English teachers as an ALT.

The JET experience will also benefit me professionally. Considering my plan to attend a graduate program in philosophy upon the completion of JET program, my academic career would undoubtedly profit from the teaching and public speaking experiences that the ALT position offers. Additionally, I hope to use my time in Japan to explore the culture of Zen Buddhism, since (I’ve been told that) philosophy PhD candidates with background in Eastern religion/philosophy are hot commodities in the competitive academic market right now.

Drawing from my background and experiences, I know I could bring a unique blend of skill and perspective to the JET program. I am excited for the opportunity to discover how I can best apply my background and skills. I thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
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If you've gotten this far, then my prayer has been answered. Email me (I am not completely proficient with posting email/hyperlinks on my blog yet) at thejeffcho@yahoo.com