CWU communications graduate turns his love for Japan into a career opportunity

AJ Ingberman has always been fascinated by Japanese culture and language-so much so that he will be moving to Japan this summer.

The recent CWU graduate was accepted into the Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) program this spring and will spend at least the next year living in Shizouka Prefecture (home to the iconic Mount Fuji). Depending on how things go, Ingberman could end up staying overseas for as long as five years, learning the language and teaching English to Japanese students of all ages.

Whatever ends up happening, he's ready for the challenge.

"It was exciting to be chosen for JET because I have wanted to do it ever since my freshman year," said Ingberman, who earned a BA in Communication with a minor in Japanese. "I wasn't eligible until I finished my degree, but it has been on my mind since I got to CWU."

JET is an international English teaching program that invites university graduates to participate in exchange positions across Japan. The program, founded in 1987, accepts participants from 57 nations, including the U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Ireland.

Japan has a strong Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) presence, with many people there seeking to learn English from native speakers. The Japanese government's stated goal for the JET program is to "increase mutual understanding between the people of Japan and the people of other nations, to promote internationalization in Japan's local communities by helping to improve foreign language education, and to develop international exchange at the community level."

Only 25% of applicants are selected, and Ingberman is the lone JET representative from CWU this cycle. He said it was a relief to complete the painstaking, six-month application process, but it has proven worthwhile.

"I started the process last September, had my interview in February, and found out I was selected in April," said Ingberman, who will be departing July 29. "Then, in mid-May, I found out where I would be going. It took a while to figure everything out, but it's been a lot of fun."

Since receiving the official word of his selection three months ago, Ingberman has been chatting with some of the other Washington-based students on Discord and completing the exhaustive visa application process. He also had to undergo an FBI background check and a series of medical tests.

Now that he has sorted out all of the details, he's eager to get started on his new adventure.

"I feel like CWU has prepared me well, and I'm ready to start my career," Ingberman said. "I still need to keep building my foundation, and I know the language aspect is going to be difficult for a little while. But I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Love for the language

Ingberman's passion for the Japanese language started when he was a junior at Bellingham High School after his family moved up from Berkeley, California.

He needed to study a language to graduate, but he wasn't interested in learning French, Spanish, or German. So, he decided to see what Japanese had to offer. As it turned out, he loved everything about it.

"I just wanted to do something different," said Ingberman, who is part Chinese and part Caucasian. "I always liked watching anime when I was a kid, so I figured it would be worth a try. I really enjoyed my high school classes, and then got to travel to Japan after graduation for a summer exchange program. That trip is what really got me excited about the language."

In the summer of 2018, he stayed with a family in Japan and learned first-hand what it would be like to live there. Ever since then, he has wanted to return for an even longer period of time.

"That was my first exposure to Japanese culture, and I loved everything about it," Ingberman said, adding that he looks forward to reconnecting with some of the people he met during his first visit five years ago.

"I continued learning about the language and the culture at Central, and I ended up spending most of my time the past few years focusing on international communications. That's what interests me most, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to follow that passion at CWU."

From the moment he arrived on campus in the fall of 2018, Ingerman became active in the Asia University America Program (AUAP), helping international students-especially those from Japan-integrate into the CWU community. He also served as an international peer advisor, volunteered in classrooms, and worked in the AUAP office.

"I pretty much did everything," he said.

That insider knowledge led Ingberman to pursue a senior capstone project on the effectiveness of AUAP as a study abroad program, comparing it to University English as a Second Language (UESL) and other international programs on campus.

Overall, his experiences at Central proved to be the catalyst for what he hopes will be a rewarding career in international communications.

"There are so many international program opportunities available through CWU, and I would recommend it to anyone," Ingberman said. "I really enjoyed meeting people from around the world over the past five years and becoming part of different communities on campus. I'm glad I got to be so involved during my time here because it has helped me realize what I really want to do with my career."