Home
Application
2008 Program Calendar
Program Objectives & Program Plan
JFMF Headquarters
2008 Press Announcement
 
  about about about about about

About The Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program

"This trip has re-energized my teaching, broadened my world views and made me realize how important it is for all of us in every corner of the world to raise our children morally, to put every effort into their education, and to encourage their compassion, tolerance and desire for world peace."  - Marian Jacobs, October 2006

"I was able to experience Japan in a way most people who do not speak Japanese cannot... From friendly conversations with strangers in a restaurant, to an amazing homestay visit with a family in Soka, all of these activities touched me in a way that no textbook, documentary or television show ever could." - Jeffrey Perl, October 2006

"Never before have I felt so welcomed amongst strangers, to the point where I felt like I have lived in Japan my entire life.  I now strive to achieve this same amiability and spirit of giving throughout my daily routine, hoping to translate this into the character of my students" - Laura Abeln, June 2006

"Every moment of every day was an adventure and a learning experience. We were treated with respect and importance everywhere we went, and the Japanese people opened their doors and their hearts to us." - Kathleen Allan, June 2004

"In a time when the world suffers misunderstandings between cultures and nations, and tries to solve problems with war and power, I feel truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to build a small piece of understanding between the United States and Japan."  -  Lynnea Venieris, November 2003

"My experience in Japan was beyond what I ever dreamed, and this opportunity has had a very powerful impact on my life, both personally and professionally. This opportunity for American teachers is a huge step toward encouraging our students to gain a better understanding of our world." - Janet Tift, October 2002

Click here for more impressions of the program by former participants.

The Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program was established to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Fulbright Program — a U.S. government-initiated project created in 1946 to foster mutual Imageunderstanding through exchanges of university students, faculty and researchers. More than 6,000 Japanese people have benefited from the U.S. Fulbright scholarship program. Many Japanese recipients of Fulbright scholarships went on to become leaders in government, business, and academia and were instrumental in the post-war redevelopment of Japan. To show the Japanese people's appreciation for the Fulbright Program, the Government of Japan established the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund to invite thousands of American teachers and administrators to Japan. The 2008 Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program competition marks the twelfth year of this program.

The Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program continues a tradition of dialogue and exchange between the United States and Japan. JFMF Teacher Program participants will play a key role in educating America's youth and in developing future leaders who are informed about both countries. The JFMF Imageprogram's focus on primary and secondary education reflects the importance of internationalizing curricula at an early stage, and of providing opportunities for international experience to those who educate our young people.


About the Japan-U.S. Educational Commission (Fulbright Program)
The Japan-U.S. Educational Commission (JUSEC) is a binational commission, funded by the governments of the United States and Japan to promote mutual understanding through administering the Fulbright Program. It is also responsible for the overall administration of Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund programs, which are funded entirely by the Government of Japan. Its activities in this regard are implemented through the JFMF office and its contracting agency.

About the Institute of International Education
IIE is the contracting agency for coordinating JFMF Teacher Program pre-program activities in the United States. Founded in 1919, IIE is a private not-for-profit organization committed to international education and exchange. Its Washington, D.C. office serves as the principal point of contact for the JFMF Teacher Program in the United States.