Carleton Students Head to Japan with JET Programme
Three Carleton University students are beginning an exciting new chapter in Japan as participants in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme, a prestigious international initiative that gives young people the opportunity to live and work in Japan while supporting English language education and cultural exchange.
The departing participants were celebrated at a reception on Wednesday, July 29, at the Japanese Ambassador’s Residence in Ottawa. The event brought together JET participants, alumni, educators, and community members to recognize the achievements of this year’s cohort before their departure for Japan.
This year’s Carleton participants are Jacob Swayty, who completed a CTESL; Alexandria Etele, who majored in Art History with a double minor in History and Theory of Architecture and Japanese; and Jacob Gonato, who completed an undergraduate degree in Childhood and Youth Studies with a double minor in Japanese and Music. All three left for Japan on Sunday.
Their success shows where language learning, cultural curiosity, and international engagement can lead. Whether through Japanese language courses, study abroad, teaching preparation courses, or a long-standing interest in Japan, each student has taken a different path toward this opportunity. Together, their stories highlight how experiences at Carleton can open doors to meaningful work, travel, and connection around the world.
Also present at the reception were Julie Christensen, a Carleton graduate who participated in the JET Programme in 2024, Donald Myles, Associate Professor in ALDS and Interim Director of the School of Linguistics and Language Studies, and retired Carleton Associate Professors of Japanese Yoko Azuma-Prikryl and Elizabeth Sowka.
SLaLS congratulates Jacob, Alexandria, and Jacob on this wonderful achievement and wishes them every success as they begin their JET placements in Japan.
Students who are interested in Japan and learning Japanese can learn more about Japanese language courses at Carleton. Students curious about teaching English in Canada or abroad can also explore Carleton’s Certificate in the Teaching of English as a Second Language.