The Traveler

Issue date: 2/23/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Maiko Michishita David Boling speaks to students about the unique opportunities Japanese skills can give students.

Japanese language skills and work experience in Japan helped him excel in his career, and students who study Japanese have many opportunities to improve their Japanese at the UA, said David Boling, chief of staff for Rep. Vic Snyder, in a speech Thursday.

Besides his study of Japanese, Boling talked about his teaching experience in Japan and how he got his job as an attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division where he worked from 1995 to 2005. He gave tips for students who are eager to pursue Japanese study for their future careers.

"I really didn't have anything else to offer the Justice Department other than my Japanese background," he said. "That was my edge."

Boling received his bachelor's degree in 1987 and judicial degree in 1991 from the UA. He also received his law degree from Columbia University in 1994.

"I'd never taken any Japanese class when I was at the UA, and I wasn't very interested in foreign language," Boling said. He didn't become interested in Japanese until he participated in the Japanese Exchange and Teaching program (the JET program) while he was in law school.

The JET program is a work program in Japan to invite "young overseas graduates to assist in international exchange and foreign language education in local governments, boards of education and elementary, junior and senior high schools throughout Japan," according to its Web site.

At least five UA students applied for the JET program this year, and about two students made it to an interview phase, said Tatsuya Fukushima, associate professor in the Japanese department of foreign languages.

The JET program is also important for students to make contacts with Japanese employers, Fukushima said. Some students just enjoy being in Japan through the JET program, and start looking for jobs after they come back to the United States.

Fukushima gave one graduate student's example; he made many contacts while he was doing the JET program. And one of them was a top executive of Seiyu, a Japanese supermarket operator and also Walmart's affiliated company. As soon as he finished the JET program, he got a job in Japan. Solid academic grades and evidence of active participation in extra activities seem to be the keys to successful admission for the JET program, Fukushima said.

Continued...

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