The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program was established by the Japanese government in 1987 with the objective of improving foreign language education and for promoting internationalization at a local level throughout Japan. JET participants work in Japanese public schools and government offices for a maximum of three years as Assistant English Teachers and Coordinators of International Relations.

JETAA

JETAA stands for the Japan Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association. The Montreal JETAA chapter was formed in November of 1990 and is comprised of JET program participants that have returned to Montreal and its surrounding region.

The JET Alumni Association of Montreal...

• is part of an international network of professionals with various Japanese-related qualifications and experiences
• is a team of enthusiastic people willing to work with schools and organizations to talk about Japan and its culture
• develops social activities that bring together members of our local community and members of the Japanese community
• promotes the JET Program and international/cultural exchanges
• provides assistance to JET participants returning to Canada to cope with reverse culture shock

Meet the 2006 Executive


Sylvie Cornibert
President
sylvie_cornibert@hotmail.com

Hello to all! I was a JET from 2000 to 2002 in the beautiful city of Sendai, Miyagi-ken. After teaching French and English in a Senior High School, I came back to work in clinical research. Nothing to do withteaching or English!! After a few years, I finally joined the JETAA Executive. Montreal, having just been selected to host the next National Conference, the timing couldn't have been better! So now I can put my glorious JET Programme acquired organizational skills to good use. And all while having a ball at JETAA meetings and outings. I can't wait for us to repeat the onsen trip we did last fall. Aaaahhhh... Onsen... Maybe in January or February??? Yukimiburo anyone???

Jodi Pichovich
Vice President and Secretary
jodijetaa@yahoo.ca

Bio coming soon...

Christian Assaf
Social & Cultural Events Coordinator
xnagol@hotmail.com

Hi! Still socially maladjusted, after all these months. Sigh. Anyway, I returned in 2003 from a wonderful year teaching in beautiful Hiroshima City. I can honestly say that it was the best year of my life, and I owe it all to the JET Programme. It gave me so much and asks for so little! My role has been upgraded this year – no longer am I Joanne’s secretary, as I’ve inherited a different boss (hi David!). I’m the "email monkey". I hope you’ll join us in our events as often as you can! P.S. In my spare time, I’m, um, a family doctor.

David Applebaum
Social & Cultural Events Coordinator
davidapplebaum@yahoo.com

Hello. I was in Japan (ehime-ken) from 1999-2002. loved it and i miss it terribly every day. sigh. The jetaa group is a great opportunity to meet likeminded people who have japan-obsessions.

Philippe Roy
Newsletter Editor and Webmaster
phil.thethrill@gmail.com

I was a JET participant for 2003-2005 in Nagasaki Ken. I started out as an ALT on the remote island of Tsushima living in a small fishing village. I really loved the experience and made a lot of good friends, also learned the joys of ika (squid) and hougen (local dialects)! I loved working with kids but after a while I chose to move on to another challenge, namely working for the prefecture so I switched to CIR in my second year. So if you have any questions about Japan or the JET program or JETAA don't hesitate to ask!