Graduates jet off to Japan to take part in language, exchange programme
FORTY-FIVE South African graduates have left for Japan to participate in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET), aimed at enhancing foreign language education and promoting exchange between young people in Japan and other countries.
The JET initiative commenced in 1987 in co-operation with the governments of participating countries. Last year the programme had 5 163 participants from 44 countries. Since South Africa joined the programme in 1997, 610 graduates have participated in it, with this year’s group bringing the number to 655.
The spokesperson for the Japan embassy, Kota Toba, said participants would learn a lot about Japan in a variety of ways, and were expected to become “bridges” between their respective countries and Japan through sharing their experiences after the programme ended.
“These people-to-people exchanges are what Japan has been very keen to promote, and we would like to continue to provide such opportunities to the people of South Africa,” said Toba.
Storm Manson, 23, one of this year’s participants, said he was excited about the programme, and had been interested in the Japanese language and the country’s history since he was a child. He now had the opportunity to improve his Japanese, knowledge of the country’s history, and to take in the beauty of the country.
“Japanese culture has been a part of my life from a young age. My father is a third dan black belt in karate, and he passed many of the life lessons he learnt from his Japanese master on to me,” he said.
“I believe that through collaboration and discussions on education, we can create more global citizens to work together for a better tomorrow. The JET programme is closely aligned with this ethos.
“The JET programme will provide me with the opportunity to make a difference, as well as share my South African identity with Japanese people and hopefully encourage them to visit and positively engage with South Africa in the future.”
Manson said it was an honour to be a part of such an initiative, and on a lighter note was “looking forward to trying out all the delicious desserts that Japan is famous for”.
Application forms for local graduates interested in applying for next year’s programme will be available on the Japanese embassy’s website next month at http://www. za.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/ jet_programme.html
The deadline for applications is November9, and applicants will be shortlisted in April and May next year, with the next group’s departure for Japan scheduled for July next year. See Page 11