-- L. DUGGAN, TORONTO
A: There are government-sponsored programs as well as other companies that specialize in teaching English abroad.
One of the most established is the Japan Exchange Teaching program. Now in its 22nd year, JET is a large government-sponsored international exchange agency.
Organizers call it an "exchange" because teachers are placed in Japanese communities to foster cultural learning -- between teacher and partipants -- through personal contact with people from other countries.
Contracted employment in the JET program is through a host institution not a language school. The program, which is sponsored by three Japanese ministries, places participants with local government organizations and institutions around Japan. People who are interested in learning more can download information on JET at jetprogramme.org.
JET Programme alumni share their experiences at JET Streams, the organization's newsletter which is published annually and also available at the website.
Teach Abroad (teachabroad.com) is an online resource affiliated with GoAbroad.com, a leading international education and experiential travel resource. According to the website, there are 31 Teach Abroad programs in Japan.
The organization's Frequently Asked Questions section titled "Is Teaching Abroad For You?" may be a good place to start.
Questions include: "Am I qualified to teach abroad?"
The folks at Teach Abroad reply: "If you have a passion to teach and are open to new cultures, teaching abroad may be for you. There are teaching positions in many disciplines and languages around the world and if you are flexible you will surely find one that suits your interests and qualifications. The majority of teaching positions available are for native English speakers willing to teach English as a foreign language." The qualifications required by employers vary widely. If you are seeking the ideal job, be sure to regularly check out Teach Abroad's online job board.
ILONA@MYCOMPASS.CA
Rum with a punchHonda Bicycle Simulator developed for the purpose of traffic safety education
