Though JCMU stands for the Japan Center for Michigan Universities, that doesn’t mean that JCMU only exists to help out university students. For members of the Shiga community, JCMU offers classes for them to study English. These classes range from toddlers to adults, with varying levels based on the proficiency of the students. In these classes, students at JCMU have the opportunity to volunteer and help out in these environments. You do not have to be an aspiring educator to volunteer. For students who plan on applying to the JET program following their graduation, this can be an incredibly beneficial, hands on experience prior to embarking on the program. 
 

While I was at JCMU, I volunteered in one of the intermediate level adult classes. When homework was assigned for the other students in the class, I did it as well. In the class periods, I acted as a conversation partner for the other students in the class, as well as working with students to help find ways to improve their English skills. There were books available in the classroom that students could borrow to learn outside of the textbook, though most students in that class found other ways to learn, ranging from watching television shows to playing video games, and a myriad of other ways in between. 

Growing up, my mother, who was a special education teacher, would tell me stories about the daily happenings in her classroom, and while I would be engaged with the stories that she said, I wanted to be able to put myself in her shoes. Volunteering in the classroom in this way gave me the opportunity to do just that, as well as giving me a chance to determine whether or not the JET program would be a good fit for me.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Volunteering in these classes wasn’t just a chance to get some hands-on experience in the classroom, but rather was a chance to get more involved in the Shiga community. Most of the students in the class I was in were not from Hikone, but rather commuted from cities like Omihachiman and Maibara. By being in this class, I was able to make connections with many members of the local community, all of whom I can call friends. 

Even if JET is not something that you are considering, volunteering in JCMU’s English classes is such an incredible experience that you simply cannot find anywhere else.