by Nicole North

Tell us about your time at Simon Fraser University. What was the overall trajectory of your education journey?

I started attending SFU in the fall of 2017 for Arts and Social Sciences straight out of high school. However, I didn’t declare my Linguistics major until about 2 years later. I always had an interest in teaching ESL, so I decided to add on the Certificate in Teaching ESL Linguistics.

I later decided to minor in Learning and Developmental Disabilities (an Education minor), since I had enjoyed taking some Education courses and needed to finish up my remaining credits. I finished my graduation requirements during Fall 2022 and graduated the following June. 

To be honest, when I entered SFU, I didn’t really have a concrete plan on what I wanted to do but I knew that it was going to be something language-related. As the years went on, I really started to enjoy the different aspects of Linguistics courses and took some Education courses on a whim. That’s when I started figuring out that I would like to work as an ESL instructor, which was what my plans were following my graduation. 

You were successful in applying to the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET program). I understand that you obtained a position at a school in Tachikawa, a city located in the western portion of the Tokyo Metropolis. How does your time with JET fit into your ongoing career path? 

With JET, I’ve worked as an Assistant Language Teacher in a public high school, assisting the main English teacher in teaching English as a foreign language. When I found out that I was accepted to this program, I was ecstatic to know that I would be getting a job very closely related to my post-grad goal.

Although I am not the main teacher in the classroom and EFL has its differences from ESL, I was able to use a lot of the knowledge that I had acquired throughout my SFU journey to help me in performing my duties. 

Please describe the pedagogy and teaching philosophy of the school in Tachikawa.

Since high school students in Japan are required to take entrance exams in order to enter university, English is generally taught with an emphasis on the academic side of things. This could mean reading complex pieces of text or memorizing advanced vocabulary words. However, some courses, such as the Basic English Conversation class, allow for students to practice casual conversation with others and learn about other aspects of English (such as slang or usage of filler words). 

What advice do you have for Linguistics students considering applying to the JET program? 

I think my biggest piece of advice is to do your research and see if this is truly something you would not only like to do, but be able to do. Moving across the world and living in a country with a completely different culture and language is a big commitment. Being on JET can be very rewarding but also very challenging at times.

Also, if you are dedicated to applying, learn some Japanese! While you don’t need Japanese proficiency to be a JET Program participant, it will greatly improve your experience in Japan and allow you to connect with so many more people. 

Japan has a reputation for delighting the senses. What was your experience of the local culture and the vibe of your surroundings? 

In Tokyo you can experience a wide variety of settings. Tachikawa is located in the western part of Tokyo, which is a nice escape from the chaos that is central Tokyo. I feel like Tokyo is seen as a concrete jungle but that’s not the case for all parts of it. I will miss my peaceful walk to work under the shade of the trees with cicadas buzzing and bicycles whizzing by.

On the other hand, central areas like Shibuya and Shinjuku are where you may feel packed in like a sardine but allow you access to great entertainment, shopping, and food. Seeing all the big billboards, weaving through crowds of people, and stumbling across some J-pop idols busking was definitely a unique experience!

Meet a JET representative in-person

Representatives of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme will be at the SFU Career Festival (HireSFU)

Date and Time: Wednesday, October 23rd, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Location: AQ North Concourse