Teaching English in Japan Awaits Rice Graduate

Tipsheet

TEACHING ENGLISH IN JAPAN AWAITS RICE GRADUATE

When friends ask Eric Sutton what he’s doing after graduation,
one question leads to another, such as, “Where will you be living?”,
and, “Do you speak Japanese?” The Hanszen College senior, who after
graduation will be jetting off to Tokyo, has to answer “I don’t
know” to the former and “just a couple of greetings” to the latter.

Sutton, a linguistics and cognitive science major, will leave
Houston for Japan on July 20 as a new recruit in the Japanese
Exchange and Teaching Program (JET). He will be an assistant teacher
of English to that country’s youth. He has signed up for at least
one year but has the ability to remain for two to three years.

“I always pictured myself overseas after graduation,” said
Sutton, who will receive his undergraduate degree from Rice during
commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 11, which start at 8:30
a.m. in the Academic Quadrangle.

“I never saw myself graduating from college and getting an
office job in this country. I kind of feel the need to see the world
before settling down,” Sutton said.

Sutton first heard about the JET program last September when an
ad on the back of the Rice Thresher enticed him to attend an
information meeting. There he watched videos about JET and met
program representatives from the Japanese embassy.

To schedule an interview with Sutton about his post-graduation
assignment, contact Michael Cinelli, director of the Rice University
News Office, at (713) 831-4794.

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