Get to Know Our Officers - Featuring Our Activities Coordinator, Samantha Sodetz!

We would like to welcome Samantha Sodetz to the 2023-2024 JETAA Chicago Board as our Activities Coordinator! Take a look below at Sam's officer profile to learn about her motivations, values and goals.

Our Activities Coordinator, Samantha Sodetz (she/her), was a CIR in Kagoshima from 2018-2019.

Tell us more about your JET experience.

Samantha worked as a Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) in southern Kagoshima, where she coordinated high school exchange programs, taught English, planned cultural events, and translated/interpreted Japanese to English as needed. When Samantha wasn’t in the office, she enjoyed the onsen of Kyushu, mountain climbing, forest hiking, and swimming in the Pacific Ocean.

When did you join/how long have you been on the JETAA Board? What positions have you held?

Activities Coordinator, 2023 —

What inspired you to step up as a leader and join the JETAA Chicago Board?

Want to continue contributing to US/Japan grassroots understanding and bring members of this community together.

Describe your officer duties and what you are looking forward to in regard to your responsibilities.

New to the role, excited to start!

What could be a healthy and/or needed culture add to JETAA Chicago?

I think the survival series is one of the most successful programs I’ve seen from this group, so more enrichment of this program (and similar programs) would be great.

What is one goal you would like to accomplish as an officer of JETAA Chicago, or something that you are looking forward to being a part of?

Just starting!

For you, what sparks joy?

- Green forests

- The ocean

- Caffeine

- Florals

- Art

What is your favorite Japanese "thing" near where you live now (and/or in the Midwest)?

I enjoy Japanese city pop on vinyl, which is occasionally hosted live in local venues by a local DJ.

Connect with Sam via LinkedIn; Instagram; or email!

Gottschalk Teacher of English 2024 in Nishinomiya Japan

Kobe College Corporation-Japan Education Exchange (KCC-JEE) is now accepting applications for the following position from motivated English language teachers wishing to enrich their professional career at a high-ranking academic institution in Japan.

Job Title, School and Location

• Full-time Teacher of English as an Other Language with extra-curricular duties to high-achieving Japanese girls in grades 7 through 12

• Kobe College Junior and Senior High School, a comprehensive private school

http://www.kobejogakuin-h.ed.jp/english/message.html

• Nishinomiya, Japan

Contract, Salary and Benefits

• Two-year contract, beginning April 1, 2024, with the possibility of extensions for up to a total of a five-year stay

• A salary of 4,691,200 yen per year plus subsidized furnished housing provided by the school, and Japanese language study

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (with a major in English or Education preferred)

• Speaker of standard English with strong grammar and writing skills

Preferred

• TESOL certification

• Teaching Credential (any state)

Position Expectations

• Be flexible to either team teach or solo teach

• Be able to write lesson plans

• Be able to create/modify a curriculum according to the students’ linguistic needs and interests by incorporating activities such as conversations, speeches, cultural discussions, debates, group projects, and presentations

• Fully participate with colleagues in extracurricular professional duties before and after designated class time

To Apply

• Visit Gottschalk Teachers at the KCC-JEE website

(link https://www.kccjee.org/gottschalk-teachers-recruitment ) to obtain and submit application materials, and for information about an online information session

• Deadline for applications is July 12, 2023

• For questions, please check our FAQ site: https://www.kccjee.org/gottschalk-teachers-faq

'23 Survival Series: Diversity of Experiences Panel

Join us on Friday, June 16 from 7-8:30 PM, CST, for the second event of JETAA Chicago's '23 Survival Series, Diversity of Experience Panel, for outgoing '23 JETs ! This event will be focused on giving outgoing JETs the chance to discuss how to navigate areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) while in Japan, as well as how said areas will impact one's experience, such as being a minority, double-minority, and even novel minority. The panel will be led by JET Alumni who have navigated areas of DEI and are also open to answering questions.

Sign up here!

This event is open to JET alumni and outgoing JETs.

Questions? Contact our Outreach Coordinator, Constance.