The London Pre-Departure Orientation for the 2013 UK JET Programme participants took place on 11 and 12 July at Queen Mary, University of London. This year, some 144 candidates were selected to take up roles across Japan as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) or Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs).

This official Japanese Government scheme, which sends graduates to Japan for a minimum of 12 months, is now in its 27th year and its importance is increasingly recognised in Japan of late.

The orientation followed its usual format of welcome addresses from the Embassy of Japan, Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh, Japan Local Government Centre (JLGC) together with the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR), which manages the JET Programme in conjunction with the three Japanese Ministries. Presentations were also given by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the contracted travel agency, JET Alumni Association, and the British Council, providing invaluable information for the departing JETs.

Counsellor Eiji Watanabe welcomes the departing JETs.

A particular highlight was the presentation given by Michael Maher-King, founder and chairman of the charity Smile Kids Japan. Michael is a former JET programme participant and was posted as an ALT in Fukui City from 2006 to 2011. He recalled in his presentation that a fellow ALT had discovered that one of their students was housed at a local orphanage. The ALTs had not known that there were any orphanages near by, let alone that any of the children attended the school. Soon after this, Michael started a volunteer program to visit children in orphanages in Fukui Prefecture. He realised that the program could be replicated for orphanages across Japan and so he founded Smile Kids Japan with the mission to have every orphanage in Japan visited regularly by a volunteer team in an effort to provide children with mentoring, cultural exchange and a newfound sense of trust.

Michael speaking at TEDx Tokyo 2011

The volunteer programme was taken up by JETs in some 25 prefectures across the country. Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, the charity also did much work with orphaned children in Tohoku and also raised over £600,000 to help children in need. The charity has featured on the ITV Tonight show and Michael was also asked to speak at TEDx Tokyo 2011.

Michael's advice to the departing JETs was simply "to do what you can in Japan and say 'yes' to opportunities that come your way. Involve yourself in the community and keep the momentum going for the future."

At the orientation the departing JETs also participated in various workshops, and group language sessions according to ability, with the culmination of the two days being a reception at the Embassy of Japan. We wish all the departing JETs the very best for their new journey and sincerely hope that their efforts to further English education in Japan and promote international understanding will be successful. 皆さん、頑張ってください!


If you believe you have what it takes to become a JET Programme participant, then please visit our website here: www.jet-uk.org  for further details about JET and its application procedure.

JICC