Amidst cost-cutting pressure, the government-run JET (Japan Exchange & Teaching) Program is in danger of being cut. Many JET alumni are speaking up, such as Bahia, who explains how the program provides essential foreign exposure and helps improve English proficiency. The Jetwit site provides background details. The 23 year old program offers one-year contracts to foreign college graduates to work in schools all over the country. There were 4,436 participants in 2009, mostly from the United States.