TJET Committee

## What is TJET?

**In 2014-2015** the Japanese government and CLAIR, in order to boost English proficiency in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, implemented a **rapid expansion** of the JET program in Tokyo with the mass settlement of **over 350 JET participants** (up from a mere 10 JETs in 2013).

To combat growing pains and **to create a network of support for Tokyo JETs** who face fundamentally different challenges than their friends in other prefectures, 2014 Tokyo JETs partnered with the Tokyo Board of Education to create the **Tokyo JET (TJET) Committee in spring of 2015**. Since then the committee has expanded to include the private school JETs.

The TJET Committee is comprised completely of **volunteers** and aims to enrich the lives of all fellow Tokyo JETs by helping them stay **informed** and **connected** to both the JET and greater Tokyo communities.

Among other things, the committee supports **orientation** and **settlement** efforts for new JETS, organizes **professional development** opportunities, plans **social events**, and manages the **website**.

**You can contact the TJET committee via email at the addresses listed below.**

## Committees You Can Join

The overall committee has three sub-committees; the Professional Development Committee, Social Committee, and Information Committee. **Any Tokyo JET is welcome and encouraged to join!!** If you are interested in volunteering for any committees, get in touch with the respective committee chair!

### **Social**

* The greater mission of the Social Committee is to ensure all Tokyo JETs are able to enjoy their time in Japan.
* The Social Committee plans and hosts events for JETs in the Tokyo Metropolitan area including:
	+ planning welcome and goodbye events for JETs
	+ exposing JETs to different areas of Tokyo
	+ celebrating Western holidays as well as Japanese holidays
	+ hosting JET only events as well as mixed events with JETs and locals

### **Professional Development**

* The greater mission of the Professional Development Committee is to provide opportunities for Tokyo JETs to acquire skills that will help them both in their current roles and throughout their careers.
* The Professional Development Committee (PDC) organizes professional development opportunities for JETs in the Tokyo metro area by:
	+ organizing the Tokyo JET Orientation panel for public school JETs
	+ working with the COs to organize annual professional development conferences
	+ developing Japanese language study opportunities, tools, and resources for all students of all levels

### **Information**

* The greater mission of the Information Committee is to ensure all Tokyo JETs have access to the information that they need in order to be successful at work and in their personal lives.
* The Information Committee delivers information to Tokyo JETs by:
	+ receiving and transmitting information from both Private and Public School PAs
	+ adding to, updating, and moderating the Tokyo JET Wikia
	+ creating, procuring, and editing creative content
	+ posting to social media recent updates to the various information outlets

## Current Executive Committee Heads

The TJET Executive Committee is a group of JETs **elected by their peers** to **address issues of concern** and **organize JET events and activities**. TJET Committee Elections for these positions are held **bi-annually**. Commitments include monthly meetings at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office and other committee-specific duties. The Executive Committee is here to help, so **feel free to approach them with any concerns**!