The Japan Program (J-3)

A Ministry of Teaching and Congregational Leadership

The Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church (JELC) operates schools and other programs that provide English language instruction as part of the church's ministry. The JELC invites the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to recruit North American English speakers to teach English and to be actively involved in the life of the local congregation. J-3 is the program’s moniker in Japan because the length of service is nearly three years (see timeframe below).

A candidate applies to teach in the J-3 program, but the final determination of placement is made by the JELC after the teacher-missionary has been in Japan for a few months. Sample assignment descriptions provide an idea of the types of placements that may be available, although others may be offered as well.

The J-3 program has a long history dating back to the mid-1950’s. Many people have found it to be a great opportunity and an unforgettable, life-changing experience. Is Japan in your future? To help you discern your direction, three recent J-3 teacher-missionaries talk about the challenges and opportunities (see right column) of serving in Japan and the qualities that may be needed.

Timeframe
The length of the contract is 33 months – July 2008 to March 2011.

• July 13-Aug. 3, 2008 (tentative), US orientation (mandatory for all)
• September 2008 – March 2009, Japanese language study and cultural orientation
• April 2009 – March 2011, Teaching/Ministry period of 24 months

General qualifications for ELCA mission personnel

JAPAN SAMPLE ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS The church in Japan makes placements for ELCA teacher-missionaries based on a variety of factors. The assignment is determined toward the end of the language study period (September-March). Below you may link to four sample assignment descriptions in Japan. These are not intended to provide details on what your assignment would be but to serve as examples of what has been done recently by ELCA teachers-missionaries. The Japan program (referred to as the J-3 program in Japan) is 33 months in length and includes approximately 9 months of orientation and language study, and a work assignment of 24 months. The school year runs from April to March. Sample assignment descriptions: Luther Gakuin and Kengun Lutheran Church, Kumamoto Kyushu Gakuin Junior/Senior High School, Kumamoto Hongo Student Center J-3 Responsibilities, Tokyo Bunkyo Katerina Dormitory and Koishikawa Lutheran Church, Tokyo 1. SAMPLE ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION Assigned to Luther Gakuin, Junior and Senior high school, Kumamoto Assigned to Kengun Lutheran Church; and English Service at Kumamoto Lutheran Church, Kumamoto At Luther Gakuin Teach 19 hour per week of English Conversation Primary focus for first year high school students is Oral Communication, two times per week. Each class is split into two or three groups of 12 to 18 students each. Junior high classes are split into two groups of15 each and meet once each week. Luther Gakuin requires J-3's to choose a textbook for their class. Grades must be given to each student. The easiest way to do this is to give a written test during the general testing times that are held five times each year. Oral Comm teachers create, record, prepare, administer, and correct these tests. Junior high and high school English Speaking Societies (ESS club) Junior high ESS meets two times per week and is based more on oral communication. High School ESS meets once per week and is more of a project-based group. It is run by the students and the students’ wishes. It is currently doing a large "pen/key pal project" with a number of groups in the U.S., Australia, and Britain. Speech Contest preparation students usually come to native speakers for help can take up as much time as you allow it main season begins in October but can stretch all year if there is student interest Preparation for students' overseas trips includes various hours of preparation class time for each group (Junior high second year--New Zealand, junior high third year--Australia, and first year high school English course--Seattle) independent lessons for students preparing to go on school sponsored one-year exchanges to Christian schools in Australia and U.S.--this includes English Bible study/story discussion. **Daily schedule is 8am - 5pm, but club activities stretch until 6pm and teachers regularly stay until 7pm. **Large teacher meetings are not required for J-3's, but various other meetings are strongly encouraged. At Kengun Lutheran Church, Kumamoto English Bible study includes 1 to 8 Japanese/Korean speakers with various levels of English and interest in the Bible. Meets every Sunday morning before the service. musical gifts may be offered for the Sunday morning worship service. beginning a junior high and high school youth group. Still in beginning stages... At English Service (chose to add this to church assignment) Music "director" for weekly services put together a folder of Japanese and English praise and worship and various types of music for use during English services and retreats. This folder is ever changing. rehearsals at 5pm weekly for "band"--varying from 1 to 6 people depending on the week. Christmas Eve service (attendance of approx 120) from beginning to end. Choir optional. top of box > 2. SAMPLE ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION Assigned to Kyushu Gakuin Junior/Senior High School, Kumamoto At church assignment, Kumamoto These are the things a teacher can be expected to do at Kyushu Gakuin. Other responsibilities may also be assigned. At Kyushu Gakuin school Teach high school English classes for 11 hours per week, junior high classes for 6 hours, and kindergarten for 30 minutes Teach extra classes to a high school English course for 2 hours a week. Help coach English Speech contests. Teach the Missoula Children’s Theater. Curriculum Development. This is always an ongoing process Write devotions one or twice a month, which are played on the intercom　for the students. At Church Assignment Attend church every Sunday morning. J-3s are involved in their assigned churches in different ways and have different responsibilities. For example, some lead Bible studies, lead a special English service, and become involved with youth groups and their activities. top of box > 3. SAMPLE ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION Assigned to the Hongo Student Center J-3 Responsibilities, Tokyo Assigned to the Hongo Lutheran Church, Tokyo WEEKLY SCHEDULE Tuesday The student center is open from 2 p.m. The J-3 must be at the center to make lesson plans, assist the director in interviewing and placing students and other responsibilities that may arise. 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – Teach Intermediate and Advanced English conversation classes and Bible studies. Be on time to welcome students and orient them to class. Be sure students clean up after class and show them where things go in the kitchen. Make announcements of upcoming events at the student center and Hongo Lutheran Church. Wednesday and Thursday Same as above with the addition of teaching the Morning Pre-Intermediate and Morning Advanced classes. Be at the center no later than 9:30 a.m. to prepare classroom, make tea and greet students. Classes end at 12 noon approximately. Lunch from noon to 2 p.m. On Thursday at 5:30 p.m. the J-3 teaches one Student Intermediate class. Whenever possible the J-3 should use the free time from 7:10 p.m. to go out and socialize with students. Socialize with students on other occasions as well. Staff meetings with the director, other staff and pastor of Hongo Lutheran Church are held on Wednesdays. Friday Be at the center by 6 p.m. for Christianity Today class. The J-3 should devise this lesson in consultation with the director. Prepare half of the Coffee Hour topics and lead these activities. Be present for Coffee Hour. Saturday FREE Sunday Be at Hongo Lutheran Church for weekly worship at 10:30 a.m. Participate in other church activities following worship, including "restaurants", steering committee meetings, other meetings and church social activities as they occur. Leads or participates in weekly evening English worship. Monday FREE SEASONAL ACTIVITIES Pamphlets - Assist in handing out pamphlets Monday through Friday at local universities during April and September in preparation for the beginning of the spring and fall terms. Also, assist on Sunday in putting pamphlets in neighborhood mailboxes with members of Hongo Lutheran Church. Christmas - Assist with the annual student center Christmas worship services and parties. Attend the annual Hongo Lutheran Church service and assist on request. Sign and send out Christmas cards announcing center and church activities to the J-3s students. Lent - Attend the joint Good Friday church service. Spring - Participate in parties or other activities (e.g. Easter egg coloring) and welcoming students back to the student center. Bible Camps - Currently there is a one-day Bible camp for the Morning Classes and a Fall English Bible Camp for all who want to attend. The J-3 should assist in designing the camps, preparation of music resources, putting together the camp book, leading a discussion group and in other ways as needed (e.g. campfire devotions, playing music, etc.). This is a good opportunity for the J-3 to witness his/her personal faith to camp participants, but in all of the above responsibilities the J-3 is to be a witness of faith in Jesus. Graduation – The J-3 participates in the annual graduation worship service and party at the end of spring term. The J-3 signs a graduation gift (usually the English/Japanese version of the New Testament) for students from their classes. Seasonal Breaks - There are large blocks of free time in the student center schedule during the spring and summer. It is understood that all J-3 missionaries have one month of vacation per year. If the J-3 is traveling abroad, the student center director, pastor of Hongo Lutheran Church and JELC need to be consulted before plans are made. Although there is flexibility during this time, but a J-3 is always on the look out for material, writing down Coffee Hour topics, etc. During these seasonal breaks, the J-3 may be requested to be at the student center for additional duties. Hongo Newsletter - The J-3 may be requested to write articles or make contributions to the two issues of the student center newsletter published each year. Substitute - When called upon the J-3 may be asked to take over classes for the director when he is in meetings, committees, etc. top of box > 4. SAMPLE ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION Assigned to Bunkyo Katerina Dormitory, Tokyo Koishikawa Lutheran Church, Tokyo At Bunkyo Katerina Teach English Conversation and build relationships with women who reside at Bunkyo Katerina Dormitory. Organize monthly activities for enjoyment and to encourage relationships between the dorm residents. Participate in Koishikawa Lutheran church activities. Try to build connections between dorm residents and church members. "Self-starter". The missionary working in this position has freedom to make decisions about English curriculum, scheduling, placement of students, type of classes to offer and fun activities. For this reason the missionary must be willing to take risks and initiate plans on his or her own. This is truly a relational ministry with opportunity to develop plans that respond to those relationships. Bunkyo Katerina is located in central Tokyo and houses 160 women about 15-24 years of age. These women are attending High Schools and Universities in the Tokyo area. The dorm consists of individual rooms, cafeteria, laundry, bath and kitchen. The women who live here are generally from places outside of Tokyo and are living in the city away from their families for the first time. The dormitory is located in the same building as Koishikawa Lutheran Church. top of box >