Getting Permission From Your Board of Education
Manage Your Expectations...
Because taking part in this contest will require you to use working hours to fulfil your responsibilities, you need to get permission from your Board of Education in order to participate. Depending on your situation, your Board of Education may or may not grant you permission. As of 2008 the coordinators of the AJEC competition will be sending out information packets to both BoEs and JTEs. We hope this will simplify the whole process of getting permission.
In Japan, business is conducted based on trust relationships, so in order for your Board of Education to grant you permission, you first need to develop a strong trust relationship. It takes a lot of time and effort to develop this relationship, so if you don't get granted permission on your first year, please don't give up. Each year the competition is gaining in popularity, and each year more ALTs, JTEs and BoEs are becoming involved. If you are interested in participating in the competition, please complete the Indication of Interest form.
In the event that you are denied permission during your first year, here are a few things you can do to improve your chances of gaining permission during your second year.
- Learn Japanese.
- Learn as much as you can about how the Japanese office functions.
- Get to know your students (learn about their families, and try to establish a good trust relationship with your students' parents).
Work Your Way Up Through The Hierarchy
The first step ALTs should take to participate in the competition is to complete the Indication of Interest form, and return it to ajec.info@gmail.com before November 28th, 2008.
The AJEC coordinators will mail your JTE with an information packet (in Japanese) so your JTE will understand what the competition is all about. This packet will arrive on December 5th, 2008. You should then schedule a meeting with your JTE to discuss whether they are interested in participating the the contest or not. If your JTE is enthusiastic about the idea, it is a good idea to suggest that you approach your Vice Principal and Principal about the contest. Having these two on your side will go a long ways towards gaining permission to take part in the Akita JET English Contest from your Board of Education.
On December 12th, 2008, your BoE will receive an information packet, detailing what the competition is all about. They will be informed that the participants will be invited to attend a camp for two days. This is where any problems are likely to occur. And this is where having a good working relationship with your BoE will become very useful.
When You are Successful
When you have gained permission from your Board of Education, please proceed to Step 2
