Conference Committee Members (CCM)

About CCM
The Conference Committee Member (CCM) system is one of the more unique aspects of the Yamagata JET program. While most prefectures hoist the majority of planning professional development events onto the ALT Prefectural Advisor (PA), the Yamagata Prefectural Institute instead seeks applicants to help discuss and decide content for the yearly seminars. These applicants are usually a mix of backgrounds, from various countries, school levels, and regions within the prefecture. Traditionally, there are 8 CCM who work with the ALT PA and the Japanese PA.

CCM meet in Tendo at the center, and spend the morning and afternoon discussing topics on the agenda, planning, and creating content. In pairs, CCM generally create and deliver presentations on daily life or teaching topics. CCM also work with the PAs and RAs to help organize and keep information and materials for teaching, such as The Yamagata JET Share Drive. They also work directly with the staff of the Prefectural Education Institute to check participants in and guide them throughout the day.

Professional Development Events
CCM are responsible for 3 main events throughout the JET calendar year: New Jet Orientation, the Skills Development Conference, and the regional seminars. While they cannot decide major factors (re: online or in-person, number of days, location, etc), they have input on speakers and themes. For all events, surveys are distributed and responses are recorded.

New Jet Orientation (NJO)
In a calendar year that JETs arrive in August, NJO is usually in September. For years that ALTs arrive later, NJO falls in October. It is usually 3 days. It covers topics relevant to daily life, professional life, and teaching topics. Both ALTs and CIRs attend. Usually, a brief teaching demonstration is included so that participants can get constructive feedback. Usually, Regional Advisors attend to meet and support the new JETs on the last day.

Most participants eat in the cafeteria at the center, and JETs from faraway COs and stay in the prefectural dorms. There are usually optional events like an enkai (dinner & drinks party) or ice breakers in the evening.

Skills Development Conference (SDC)
SDC is always in mid-November. It is traditionally 2 days, although it was shortened to 1 day in 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Both ALTs and JTEs/HRTs attend, but CIRs do not attend.

SDC usually has 2 keynote speakers, one for elementary school teachers and one for Junior High and Senior High School teachers. In the afternoon, there are hands-on workshops with the keynote speaker from the morning. Day two usually includes another workshop or presentation of some kind, followed by an afternoon of presentations given by the CCM. Participants choose which topic to attend.

Regional Seminars
During January and February, there are 4 different regional conferences. JETs only attend the conference for their region. The morning is usually a demonstration lesson that everyone watches and then discusses. The afternoon is a mix of information from the PAs and other content. Some regions have all ALTs bring an activity to share. Others have ALTs volunteer to present a short topic.

Contacting CCM
The current CCM for the 2020-2021 JET year can be contacted individually or as a team at yamagata.ccm@gmail.com.