UH Hilo alumni embark on overseas teaching assignments

Posted on by

Five UH Hilo alumni have been selected to be assistant language teachers for the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program sponsored by the government of Japan. The teachers will be placed at locations in Japan.

By Susan Enright. 

Group photo of five alumni.
Prior to their departure to Japan, the group of UH Hilo alumni participating in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) pose for photo during orientation in Honolulu. From left Jenna Pontes-Borje, Kyle Cannoles, Anayah Doi, Alex Kaetsu, and Thea Loo. Courtesy photo.

Five alumni of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo have been selected to participate in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) sponsored by the government of Japan. Each participant has been selected as an assistant language teacher and will be placed at locations in Japan including Hokkaido, Shizuoka, Fukuoka, and Okinawa.

This is the first time that out of the 28 Hawai‘i participants in JET, five are UH Hilo alumni.

“Having five [from UH Hilo] out of 28 participants selected from Hawai‘i shows that UH Hilo students can easily be accepted and I hope that the trend continues,” says Lisa Sakamoto, program coordinator at the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu.

The five UH Hilo alumni are:

  • Alexander Kaetsu (Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics).
  • Anayah Doi (BA in Linguistics, Minor in Japanese Studies, and Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages or TESOL). Doi studied abroad at Hokkaido University as an undergraduate.
  • Jenna Pontes-Borje (BA in Linguistics, Minor in English, Certificate in TESOL). Pontes-Borje studied abroad at Tokyo Gakugei University as an undergraduate.
  • Thea Loo (BA in Linguistics, BA in Japanese Studies, Minor in English, Certificate in TESOL).
  • Kyle Cannoles (BA in Computer Science, Minor in Japanese Studies, Certificate in Database Management).

“As interest in Japan increases and the JET program becomes more well-known, it seems that the students at UH Hilo are more aware and better prepared.” says Sakamoto. “Hearing about the program and the application process through friends and relatives who have gone on the program greatly helps potential applicants.”

Representatives from the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu will visit UH Hilo on Friday, Oct. 4, where an information session is scheduled from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Student Services Center, Room W-201. For information, contact Carolina Lam.

 

Story by Susan Enright, a public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.

Share this story