CONWAY, Ark. (April 9, 2020)
– Two members of the Hendrix College community have been accepted as Assistant
Language Teachers (ALTs) in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program:
-
Connor
Griffin ’19, a biochemistry/molecular biology major from Little Rock, Arkansas;
and
- Tristan
Norman ’20, a social entrepreneurship and innovation major with a focus on climate
change resilience and Asian studies, from Conway, Arkansas.
The highly selective JET
Program seeks to promote intercultural exchange and understanding by providing
participants the opportunity to live and work in a Japanese community and
represent the United States as cultural ambassadors. Each year, between 4,000
and 5,000 applicants compete for approximately 1,000 positions in communities
throughout Japan.
“My future goal is to be an
academic physician, and I think JET can help build skills I need with regard to
teaching, listening, and cross-cultural communication when practicing as a
physician,” Griffin said. “Also, I really enjoy learning Japanese and more
about Japanese culture, and I think it will be a fun and culturally
enlightening experience.”
Griffin studied abroad in
Japan during the Fall 2018 semester, and during his time on the Hendrix campus he
was actively involved with Japanese Language and Culture Club activities,
immersion weekends, and language learning with Aya Murata, the Japan Outreach
Initiative coordinator who was based at Hendrix from 2016 to 2018.
Norman developed an interest
in Japan as a result of participating in the Spring 2018 Tomodachi Kakehashi
Inouye Scholars exchange program between Hendrix College and Prefectural
University of Hiroshima and Yamaguchi University. Inspired by the personal
story of a bombing victim during the group’s visit to Hiroshima, Norman helped organize
“Peace Week” events on the Hendrix campus the following September to coincide
with the Arkansas Peace Week Initiative. The events centered on sharing the
testimonials and experiences of atom bomb survivors and the Spring 2018
scholars’ experience in Japan, and served as the group’s reflection project for
the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the exchange program. Norman
has since been actively involved in Peace Week events in the state as well as
Japanese cultural activities and courses at Hendrix.
“JET will allow me to
acquire experience in Japan and learn about Japanese society, their challenges,
and their way of life,” Norman said. “In addition to teaching in Japan, I hope
to pursue a master’s degree there to study climate change adaptation and Asian development
studies, using Japan as a place to do research, make connections, and travel to
other parts of East and Southeast Asia. And I hope that my family can come to
see the Tokyo 2021 Olympics with me.”
Gwen Stockwell, assistant director
of international programs and adjunct instructor of Japanese at Hendrix, said
that the acceptance of multiple Hendrix students into JET over the past five years
reflects sustained and enthusiastic interest in Japan on the Hendrix campus.
“I am absolutely thrilled
that these two students, with so much passion for working with youth, learning
about Japanese culture, and participating in cross-cultural exchange, are
starting their JET journey this upcoming September,” said Stockwell, who is a
former JET participant herself (Miyazaki, Japan, 1998-2001). “They will bring
so much joy to their communities and will make incredible ambassadors for
strengthening relations between Japan and the U.S.”
JET participants begin with
one-year contracts, which may be extended for up to five years. The program is
sponsored by the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations
(CLAIR), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and the Ministry of Internal
Affairs and Communications (MIC).
About
the JET Program
The
JET Program is a
competitive employment opportunity that allows young professionals to live and
work in cities, towns, and villages throughout Japan. Most participants serve
as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) and work in public and private schools
throughout Japan; some work as Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs)
as interpreters/translators. Since the JET Program was founded in 1987, more
than 61,000 global participants (including nearly 32,000 Americans) have worked
in schools, boards of education, and government offices throughout Japan.
About
Hendrix College
A private liberal arts
college in Conway, Arkansas, Hendrix College consistently earns recognition as
one of the country’s leading liberal arts institutions, and is featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That
Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges. Its academic quality and
rigor, innovation, and value have established Hendrix as a fixture in numerous
college guides, lists, and rankings. Founded in 1876, Hendrix has been
affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. To learn more, visit www.hendrix.edu.