Seven Linfield College graduates will spend next year teaching English in Japan after being accepted to the prestigious Japanese Exchange Teaching (JET) program.
Those selected include 2015 graduates Sydney Owen of Sandy; Caitlyn Talbot of Lake Forest Park, Wash.; Joel Trousdale of Hillsboro; Jeremy Odden of Seattle, Wash.; Dawn Wyruchowski of Kirkland, Wash.; and Nicholas Coney of Volcano, Hawaii. Gabrielle Nygaard, a 2013 Linfield graduate from Forest Grove, was also accepted to JET this year. While abroad, students will gain valuable work experience and explore the local culture.
Owen, a history major with a minor in both environmental studies and Japanese, will be located in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture for at least a year. She is looking forward to living and working while immersed in a different culture, and hopes to improve her Japanese language proficiency and teaching skills while abroad.
Talbot, a psychology major and Japanese minor, hopes to grow personally during the year, and develop skills in independence, self-confidence and awareness. She is looking forward to learning from others and contributing to the community. Following her JET experience, she’s considering graduate school to pursue a master’s in psychology or social work.
Trousdale, a Spanish and international relations major, is looking forward to interacting with students, learning about the culture and practicing Japanese. He spent a year abroad in Spain as a Linfield student, and realized he wanted another opportunity to immerse himself in a different culture. After JET, Trousdale is planning to pursue a graduate degree in international relations.
Odden, an elementary education major and theatre arts minor, visited Japan briefly while in high school and hopes to gain a renewed appreciation for Japan through the JET experience. After JET, Odden plans to travel and work in theatre.
Wyruchowski, an English major and Japanese minor, will teach in Yasugi, Shimane Prefecture. She is looking forward to experiencing the world through a professional lens and hopes to improve her Japanese while working in a formal classroom. She will leave the beginning of August and plans to stay in Japan for at least a year. After JET, she is considering the Peace Corps or graduate school for teaching.
Coney is an anthropology major and Japanese minor, who also studied linguistics and Latin at Linfield.
Nygaard, who earned a degree in mass communication, received a Fulbright award and has been teaching English at a secondary public school in South Korea for the past two years.
The JET program is an initiative sponsored by the Japanese government to promote internationalization at the grassroots level by bringing young, college-educated individuals to work in communities throughout Japan. Since 1987, more than 60,000 participants from countries around the world have come to Japan on the JET Program. JET participants work full-time as assistant language teachers in the public school system or as coordinators for international relations in local government offices.
