A Response

Posted on February 14th, 2007 in Customary Drivel, Unsolicited Commentary by Deas

A fellow Ehime dwelling JET, a CIR named Aaron who is a really cool dude, recently popped a note out on our email list linking us to an article featured in the Daily Yomiuri. It was written by a professor named James W. Porcaro, who teaches ESL at Toyama University. It was written as an opinion piece - decidedly anti-ALT. It was based upon an earlier interview with a different professor and former JET ALT - Michael Auslin, who teaches Japanese history and assorted seminars at a small college called Yale University. I was rather taken aback by Mr. Porcaro’s piece, and felt compelled to respond in a closed manner to those who read our email list. I also feel comfortable posting this on my own website. I may decide to refinish this rudimentary email and submit it as a response to the Daily Yomiuri, but I want to investigate how my host institution, schools, and supervisor would feel about that before I give it any serious thought. Anyway, in its current form, it is nothing more than a collection of thoughts written in about 5 minutes after having read both articles.

Background reading:
Mr. Porcaro’s article -
Speak Up / Time to end the use of ALTs
(February 9th, 2007: Daily Yomiuri)
Mr. Tom Baker’s interview with Mr. Auslin -
JET impresses a generation:
Yale professor lauds program for broad impact
(January 25th, 2007: Daily Yomiuri)