Job Discussion Forums

Igopee · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 7

Does anyone know how the JET program got started?

Tonester · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 3:08 am Post subject:

It was started as 2 initiatives. One was called the BETS (British English Teacher Scheme) in the UK and the other was the MEF (Monbusho English Fellows) in the US back in the 80's. The ministry of foeign affairs and the MEXT then merged both programs then expanded the number of eligible ALT applicants for countries such as Australia and New Zealand and was then called the JET Program. I believe one of the first JETs is now the ALT advisor at MEXT by the name of Huw Oliphant. So was another university lecturer called Robert Juppe. Robert was the first ALT Advisor and was then succeeded by Huw.

Dr.J · Joined: 09 May 2003 Posts: 304 Location: usually Japan

Incidentally, Robert Juppe is listed in the credits for the Sunshine series of junior high textbooks, which contain many examples of dubious English. But then, maybe he was hampered by bureaucracy. And I saw a lecture by Huw Oliphant, it was below par. So there.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JET_Programme
http://www.englishlanguagecentre.com/set1.htm
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/jet/outline.html

Mike L. · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 519

Igopee · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 7

Thanks for the info.
Somebody told me it was started by an american, But I haven't heard or read anything that would corroborate that.