Spotlight on: "Abroad in Japan" Chris Broad (ALT Yamagata Pref, 2012 - 2015)
2017/9/29
Applications for the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme 2018 are now open! The JET Programme is an official Japanese Government scheme aiming to improve foreign language teaching in schools and to promote international understanding. There are 2 positions available for UK graduates on the JET Programme: Assistant Langauge Teacher (ALT) and Coordinator for International Relations (CIR).
For this spotlight interview, we speak to former British JET and YouTuber Chris Broad about his experience on the JET Programme and beyond.
Can you tell us about your background and why you applied to the JET Programme?
When I left school with A levels in 2008, I was very self-conscious about my results; I remember looking down at my qualifications and thinking I’m stuffed! There was also a jobs shortage at the time which made things worse.
Then one day in early 2009, while I was flying to France to meet a friend, I found myself sitting next to a friendly middle-aged couple on the plane, who told me about their daughter living and working in Japan on JET. They told me of all the great things their daughter was seeing, doing and discovering and it struck a chord with me and my long held desire to live and travel abroad.
By the time I got off the plane, I knew I wanted to go on JET one day - even though the idea terrified me greatly! I was hopeless at languages - let alone learning Japanese - and the idea of living so far away was certainly a bit scary, but I knew living and working in Japan would probably make me a better person, as well as being a life changing experience. And low and behold, three years later I found myself in Japan!
Could you sum up your feelings before departing to Japan?
Leaving for Japan was one of the most liberating things I’ve ever done; I sold all my earthly possessions to raise any money I could, and made a rare effort to see all my friends and family. It really felt like I was leaving my old life behind and was about to embark on the adventurous “fun chapter” in my life! I remember any feelings of anxiety were smothered with the sheer excitement and anticipation of living in a different land, after 22 years of life in the UK!
How did the reality of life in Japan differ to your expectations?
Before moving to Japan I had these romanticised daydreams about life in Japan fuelled by movies and video games I’d played over the years; I expected to sing karaoke with the locals, cycle through luscious rice fields, get lost in endless cities and immerse myself in a new language, culture and way of life.
And then it all came true! More than I ever imagined, I felt like I was living in a film (as ridiculous as it sounds). Every day I learnt something new, I met someone interesting, I ate something I’d never tried. It was brilliant, overwhelming and far better than I’d anticipated.
What did you enjoy about working as an ALT and what skills did you gain?
Being an ALT gave me an excuse to use my passion for creative projects, to encourage students to learn a language that most of them thought they didn’t ever need! Every day was a challenge to find new ways of getting students to use the many years of English they’d learned in practical ways.
I got my students writing articles for a magazine we made, acting out scenes and skits, and even making short films, to try and show them that English learning isn’t just textbooks. It’s interactions that should drive the learning experience.
It sounds like an annoying cliché, but it genuinely did make me a better person; as someone with quite an individualistic mindset, I was spending all day every day trying to help others; whether it was a student preparing for a speech contest, or someone who was struggling to read a book or pronounce a word. I always put students first, and it made me a better person outside of work as well.
It also made me far more resourceful; I’d often be approached by a teacher without warning who’d me to help teach a class at a moment’s notice. They’d tell me what they would be learning and I had about half an hour to throw together a plan, for teaching 40 students how to learn the topic in a fun and engaging way. You’re faced with situations everyday that force you to be proactive and think creatively.
What was the best part about being on the JET Programme?
Whilst on JET I didn’t just see myself as an ALT, I saw myself as some kind of grassroots cultural ambassador for the outside world. My weekly schedule soon become packed with activities outside of work; every Monday I’d volunteer at an eikaiwa (English conversation class), with adults ranging from 18 to 60, who often invited us all for parties and showed the finest hospitality.
I got involved at the local international centre and helped to run international events; I took part in a Japanese speech contest; I befriended so many locals that I’d bump into a friend, a student or a colleague around town in my free time. I felt a real connection with the local community as result. I felt part of something bigger, than just being an English language assistant!
Life as ALT enables you to have a great work-life balance as well; I worked long hours at school, but I also had lots of free time to study, travel and discover Japan in a way that would be difficult to do unless you lived in the country.
What inspired you to start your YouTube channel?
The month I arrived in Japan, I quickly realised I was living a lifestyle that no email or letter could ever do justice. So I decided to make one video every month to show friends and family back home that I wasn’t dead, and try to show them the beautiful area I was living in. Then after a few months, the videos started getting discovered by folks interested in Japan, and things picked up from there!
Your channel has become very successful, with a huge number of subscribers across the world! What do you hope to achieve in the future?
Ever since I was a kid I’ve dreamed of being a filmmaker and I see YouTube as a stepping stone to making that happen. I’ve tried to transition from standard vlogs, to videos with higher production value and going forward I’m hoping to work on some documentaries and short films set in Japan. I can’t think of a better place to start out!
What advice would you give to people thinking about applying for the JET Programme?
Do it! You have nothing to lose; I often receive messages from people telling me they have a job lined up with more money and greater career prospects and they’re worried about losing out. But once you’re here in Japan, you’ll realise this is a job opportunity that no salary could conceivably buy. Whatever happens, you’ll come out of JET a stronger, more adaptable person and most importantly it’ll give you a sense of what really matters in life; that everyday can be an adventurous, action-packed journey of discovery.
Or to put it more simply, you can feel like you’re in an incredible movie.
For this spotlight interview, we speak to former British JET and YouTuber Chris Broad about his experience on the JET Programme and beyond.
Can you tell us about your background and why you applied to the JET Programme?
When I left school with A levels in 2008, I was very self-conscious about my results; I remember looking down at my qualifications and thinking I’m stuffed! There was also a jobs shortage at the time which made things worse.
Then one day in early 2009, while I was flying to France to meet a friend, I found myself sitting next to a friendly middle-aged couple on the plane, who told me about their daughter living and working in Japan on JET. They told me of all the great things their daughter was seeing, doing and discovering and it struck a chord with me and my long held desire to live and travel abroad.
By the time I got off the plane, I knew I wanted to go on JET one day - even though the idea terrified me greatly! I was hopeless at languages - let alone learning Japanese - and the idea of living so far away was certainly a bit scary, but I knew living and working in Japan would probably make me a better person, as well as being a life changing experience. And low and behold, three years later I found myself in Japan!
Could you sum up your feelings before departing to Japan?
Leaving for Japan was one of the most liberating things I’ve ever done; I sold all my earthly possessions to raise any money I could, and made a rare effort to see all my friends and family. It really felt like I was leaving my old life behind and was about to embark on the adventurous “fun chapter” in my life! I remember any feelings of anxiety were smothered with the sheer excitement and anticipation of living in a different land, after 22 years of life in the UK!
How did the reality of life in Japan differ to your expectations?
Before moving to Japan I had these romanticised daydreams about life in Japan fuelled by movies and video games I’d played over the years; I expected to sing karaoke with the locals, cycle through luscious rice fields, get lost in endless cities and immerse myself in a new language, culture and way of life.
And then it all came true! More than I ever imagined, I felt like I was living in a film (as ridiculous as it sounds). Every day I learnt something new, I met someone interesting, I ate something I’d never tried. It was brilliant, overwhelming and far better than I’d anticipated.
What did you enjoy about working as an ALT and what skills did you gain?
Being an ALT gave me an excuse to use my passion for creative projects, to encourage students to learn a language that most of them thought they didn’t ever need! Every day was a challenge to find new ways of getting students to use the many years of English they’d learned in practical ways.
I got my students writing articles for a magazine we made, acting out scenes and skits, and even making short films, to try and show them that English learning isn’t just textbooks. It’s interactions that should drive the learning experience.
It sounds like an annoying cliché, but it genuinely did make me a better person; as someone with quite an individualistic mindset, I was spending all day every day trying to help others; whether it was a student preparing for a speech contest, or someone who was struggling to read a book or pronounce a word. I always put students first, and it made me a better person outside of work as well.
It also made me far more resourceful; I’d often be approached by a teacher without warning who’d me to help teach a class at a moment’s notice. They’d tell me what they would be learning and I had about half an hour to throw together a plan, for teaching 40 students how to learn the topic in a fun and engaging way. You’re faced with situations everyday that force you to be proactive and think creatively.
What was the best part about being on the JET Programme?
Whilst on JET I didn’t just see myself as an ALT, I saw myself as some kind of grassroots cultural ambassador for the outside world. My weekly schedule soon become packed with activities outside of work; every Monday I’d volunteer at an eikaiwa (English conversation class), with adults ranging from 18 to 60, who often invited us all for parties and showed the finest hospitality.
I got involved at the local international centre and helped to run international events; I took part in a Japanese speech contest; I befriended so many locals that I’d bump into a friend, a student or a colleague around town in my free time. I felt a real connection with the local community as result. I felt part of something bigger, than just being an English language assistant!
Life as ALT enables you to have a great work-life balance as well; I worked long hours at school, but I also had lots of free time to study, travel and discover Japan in a way that would be difficult to do unless you lived in the country.
What inspired you to start your YouTube channel?
The month I arrived in Japan, I quickly realised I was living a lifestyle that no email or letter could ever do justice. So I decided to make one video every month to show friends and family back home that I wasn’t dead, and try to show them the beautiful area I was living in. Then after a few months, the videos started getting discovered by folks interested in Japan, and things picked up from there!
Your channel has become very successful, with a huge number of subscribers across the world! What do you hope to achieve in the future?
Ever since I was a kid I’ve dreamed of being a filmmaker and I see YouTube as a stepping stone to making that happen. I’ve tried to transition from standard vlogs, to videos with higher production value and going forward I’m hoping to work on some documentaries and short films set in Japan. I can’t think of a better place to start out!
What advice would you give to people thinking about applying for the JET Programme?
Do it! You have nothing to lose; I often receive messages from people telling me they have a job lined up with more money and greater career prospects and they’re worried about losing out. But once you’re here in Japan, you’ll realise this is a job opportunity that no salary could conceivably buy. Whatever happens, you’ll come out of JET a stronger, more adaptable person and most importantly it’ll give you a sense of what really matters in life; that everyday can be an adventurous, action-packed journey of discovery.
Or to put it more simply, you can feel like you’re in an incredible movie.
