USJETAA upcoming events

USJETAA Japanese Reading Group: April 2026 (April 10, 2026)

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The goal of the USJETAA Japanese Reading Group is to help advanced beginner and intermediate level students improve their reading skills. Each month, we explore a short reading and discuss its literary and cultural significance. Participants should attempt to do the reading on their own and come to the meeting with any questions. We will spend the meeting each month reading the assignment sentence by sentence to understand how the Japanese is working.

Registration is free, but we always appreciate donations to support these types of programs. Zoom link will be sent upon completing registration.

Post questions, discuss the reading, etc. in our
USJETAA Japanese Reading Group Facebook Group.

In April we'll read the short essay titled 「自分が忘れていても、桜はやはり咲くのだ」 ("The Sakura Still Blossom, Even If I Forget Them") by Kagoshima writer Nashiki Kaho. Click here for the reading.

See times listed below or find your time zone:

US: Friday, April 10 at 8:00 PM ET
Japan: Saturday, April 11 at 9:00 AM JT

Thank you to our Reading Group Sponsors

Horizons Part 1: Making Japan Home After JET (April 10, 2026)

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Explore resources available to JETs navigating life and work in Japan. Hear from alumni as they share personal experiences and tips learned along the way for settling into post-JET life in Japan. This session is offered in a hybrid format, with options to join in person or online. This registration is for ONLINE ATTENDANCE.

Featured Speakers:

Jacqui Pitts (Hiroshima, 2013-2015), Global Branding Specialist, YKK
Treat Schubert (Yamagata, 2022-2024), Public Policy Analyst, GR Japan
Teresa Fong (Tokyo, 2015-2020), Design Lead, Zaiko
Chris Chiba-Tow (Kagoshima, 2014-2018), Moderator

Check out our other two events in this series:

Part 2: Job Hunting in Japan
April 17 @ 8PM ET (US) | April 18 @9am JT (JP)
- Learn about the networking landscape, job hunting approach, and interviewing process in Japan and what skills are attractive to employers.
Part 3: Pursuing a Master’s in Japan
April 24 @ 8PM ET (US) | April 25 @9am (JP)
- JETs from Temple University Japan (TUJ), Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies (IUC), and GLOBIS discuss how earning a degree in-country can advance your career in Japan

Horizons Part 2: Job Hunting in Japan (April 17, 2026)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

This session is for current JETs and alumni who are exploring post-JET work in Japan. Learn what the job hunt and interview process looks like in Japan, what industries are looking for a global workforce, the skills you'll need and more. Speakers include JET alumni and JET-familiar individuals from recruiting firms Quick USA, Pasona and Nisshin Global who have extensive experience recruiting for and working to place expats and JETs with companies throughout Japan and Japanese companies in the US.

Featured Speakers:

Brett Huestis (Hyogo, 2017-2023), Nisshin Global Corporation
Kristy Ishii (Gunma, 2016-2018), Pasona NA
Takeshi Yamagishi (former student of a JET ALT), Quick USA
Jennifer Butler (Shizuoka, 2001-2004), Moderator, Minerva University

Check out our third and final event in this series:

Part 3: Pursuing a Master’s in Japan
April 24 @ 8PM ET (US) | April 25 @9am JT (JP)

JETs from Temple University Japan (TUJ), Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies (IUC), and GLOBIS University discuss how earning a degree in-country can advance your career in Japan.

Pathways to Becoming a Japanese Language Educator (April 21, 2026)

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT

This event brings together a panel of educators, including JET alumni, teaching at the high school and university levels, as well as experts from Middlebury Language Schools and the American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ).

Join us to explore pathways into Japanese language education, from credentialing and certification to navigating careers in K-12 and higher education. Our panelists will share their experiences, offer practical advice, and discuss resources to help you get started.

The format will include informative presentations, a panel discussion and space to ask questions and virtually network with our presenters and fellow participants.

Our speakers:

Dr. Laurel Taylor, Assistant Professor of Japanese, University of Denver
Cameron Chien, Japanese Teacher, North Salinas High School
Jeremy Kitchen, Japanese Teacher, Lynbrook High School Japanese
Kate Davis, Vice President, AATJ (moderator)
Dr. Motoko Tabuse, Director of the School of Japanese at Middlebury Language Schools & Professor at Eastern Michigan University
Dr. Thor Sawin, Associate Dean, Middlebury Language Schools

Sign up now to receive the Zoom link upon completing your registration.

USJETAA Japanese Language Coaching: April 2026 (April 24, 2026)

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT

The goal of our Japanese Language Coaching sessions is to help learners improve their skills with practical tips and strategies. Whether you're looking to enhance your reading, speaking, or comprehension, these sessions are designed for advanced beginners and intermediate learners.

Each session, we'll focus on a different topic, providing expert guidance and answering any questions you have. Our coaches, with over 40 years of combined experience, understand the unique challenges of mastering Japanese as a non-native speaker and can provide the support you need to continue making progress. 一緒にがんばろう！

The Zoom link will be sent upon completing your registration.

Thank you to our sponsor:

Horizons Part 3: Pursuing a Master's in Japan (April 24, 2026)

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Explore how pursuing a Master’s degree in Japan can help build your career path in-country. JET alum representatives from our university partners Temple University, Japan Campus and GLOBIS University, along with a JET alumni graduate from Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies (IUC) will share how they leveraged their in-country higher education degrees for professional success in Japan.

Featured Speakers:

Erica Adams (Kochi, 2001-2004), Temple University, Japan Campus
Jennifer Butler (Shizuoka, 2001-2004), Minerva University
Stuart Parsons (Hiroshima, 2013-2018), GLOBIS University
Ben Bizot (Kumamoto, 2021-2024), moderator, Temple University, Japan Campus

Career Coaching Collective: Define Your Career Direction (May 02, 2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Define Your Career Direction

Careers aren’t linear. In today’s evolving job market, direction requires intention. Define Your Career Direction is a three-part series that helps you turn a nonlinear path into a strategic next move - grounded in clarity, market awareness, and decisive action.

Over the course of three focused sessions, we will cover:

Claim Your Next Move: Get clear, don’t chase. Define & declare your next move.
Understand the Game: Learn how networking and hiring works, and how to connect in 2026 with the right people.
Build Your Leverage: Define your direction, identify 3 strategic relationships, commit to 1 bold action step.

This series is a great opportunity to receive personalized guidance and practical support as you think through your next career step. Through focused sessions and tailored feedback from a JET alum who has been in your shoes, you’ll be able to move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

Workshop Schedule:

Session 1: Saturday, April 4 at 1:00 PM ET

Touchpoint: Monday, April 13 at 8:00 PM ET

Session 2: Saturday, May 2 at 1:00 PM ET

Touchpoint: Thursday, May 14 at 8:00 PM ET

Session 3: Saturday, June 6 at 1:00 PM ET

Touchpoint: Monday, June 15 at 8:00 PM ET

Zoom link will be provided in the confirmation email.

Career Coaching Collective: Define Your Career Direction (June 06, 2026)

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Define Your Career Direction

Over the course of three focused sessions, we will cover:

Claim Your Next Move: Get clear, don’t chase. Define & declare your next move.
Understand the Game: Learn how networking and hiring works, and how to connect in 2026 with the right people.
Build Your Leverage: Define your direction, identify 3 strategic relationships, commit to 1 bold action step.

Workshop Schedule:

Session 1: Saturday, April 4 at 1:00 PM ET

Touchpoint: Monday, April 13 at 8:00 PM ET

Session 2: Saturday, May 2 at 1:00 PM ET

Touchpoint: Thursday, May 14 at 8:00 PM ET

Session 3: Saturday, June 6 at 1:00 PM ET

Touchpoint: Monday, June 15 at 8:00 PM ET

Zoom link will be provided in the confirmation email.