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HELLO FROM CIR
From
the greenery of Wellington to the countryside of Shizuoka
Hello, my name is Mark Simpson. Originally from
Wellington, New Zealand, I traveled to Japan on a school trip when I
was just 14 years old, and have since been very fascinated by Japan's
people and culture.
After graduating university in New Zealand with a Bachelor of Science,
I got a position on the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme as
an ALT, and team-taught English at Mishima Chouryou High School, in Mishima,
Shizuoka, for one year.
From summer 2011 however, I transferred to the role of prefectural CIR
within the JET Programme and began work at the
Multicultural Affairs Division of the Shizuoka Prefectural Government.
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A Day
in the Life
In the same office that I work in are two other CIRs,
both from Brazil. With more than half of the foreign population of
Shizuoka Prefecture speaking Portuguese as their mother tongue, I often
times find myself out of place as an English speaker. However, I am
finding ways to contribute, as well as using this opportunity to learn
about Brazilian culture.
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Mark (left) with the two Brazilian CIRs in the office
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In addition to
being a Prefectural Advisor to ALTs in Shizuoka Prefecture, I spend
most of my days checking or translating various pamphlets
and presentations that are made and used throughout the prefectural
offices. Additionally, I help record a English information TV show, and also write and record a weekly radio show,
Information for Foreigners, which is broadcast across the prefecture in English.
Other days may be spent visiting schools in the Prefecture, giving presentations to the students
in Japanese about New Zealand, with an aim to raise their awareness of the international world we live in.
The Multicultural Affairs Division also runs a website (here)
and a Facebook page (here) to keep people living or interested
in Shizuoka up-to-date with recent information about upcoming events, lifestyle tips and more. Feel free to press "like" on the Facebook page
if you would like to be kept updated too!
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What is the
JET Programme?
After beginning with humble roots in 1987, the JET
Programme has expanded to become the world's largest exchange program,
with a little over 4,500 participants in 2008. The JET Programme is run
by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications; the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs; and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology (MEXT) and is administered by the Council of
Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) and is comprised
of Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs), Coordinators for International
Relations (CIRs), and Sports Education Advisors (SEAs). While
approximately 90% of the participants are ALTs, CIRs are placed around
the country in prefectural and municipal government organizations as
well as boards of education. Shizuoka Prefecture directly employs one
English-speaking CIR, two Portuguese speakers, and one Korean CIR, in
addition to having another Brazilian CIR in Iwata.
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