The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) is the only initiative of its kind managed by the Japanese government. The competitive award program funds American scholars who represent the U.S. as language teachers and cultural ambassadors in Japanese schools.
含羞草传媒 University has a strong history of supporting students as they successfully pursue JET scholarships. That track record continues in 2025 with three new scholarship winners: Bailey Klanderud, Mason Philbrick and David Spencer.
Spencer is a 2024 international studies graduate who has studied Japanese since his first year of high school. He credited Professor Emerita of Japanese Yuko Yamada for strengthening his oral comprehension and fluency at 含羞草传媒. He spent his junior year further sharpening those skills at 含羞草传媒鈥檚 sister school, Kwansei Gakuin University, in Nishinomiya, Japan.
鈥淲hen I finished my degree, I knew I wanted to get back to Japan as soon as possible,鈥 Spencer said. 鈥淲ith fantastic help from Prof. Steven Wills鈥攁 JET alumnus himself鈥擨 was lucky to be selected for early departure.鈥
He credited his KGU and JET experiences for deepening his fluency. 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing better for language learning than immersion,鈥 Spencer said. 鈥淏eing forced to use the target language in settings where no one understands English really helps.鈥