The Activities of the Japan Foundation
Language: Japanese-Language Education Overseas
Establishing Environments for Japanese-Language Education Overseas
To ensure that high-quality and stable Japanese-language education is widely implemented overseas, the Japan Foundation collaborated with local government agencies and principal Japanese-language education institutions taking into consideration the circumstances of each country and region and mainly undertook the following programs to promote the establishment of Japanese-language education environments in each country and region.
Assistance for Activities of Japanese-Language Education Organizations, Support for Network Formation
We provide assistance for activities that help spread the Japanese language such as Japanese-language courses, purchase of teaching materials and speech contests through local educational organizations beginning with JF Nihongo Network (Sakura Network) Members*.
* Sakura Network Members are core Japanese-language educational institutions/organizations located in each country. As of March 31, 2017, the membership included 288 institutions in 92 countries/regions.
Sri Lanka: Assistance for "The Japanese Day 2017" event at Royal College Panadura
Implementation of Training Programs for Japanese-Language Teachers and Learners in Each Country
We invited Japanese-language teachers and learners from overseas to the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa and the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai for training to enhance the skills of these human resources who will handle Japanese-language education overseas.
Training for Japanese-language learners at the Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai
The Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa
The Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa, was established in 1989 to comprehensively provide support for Japanese-language education overseas. Overseas Japanese-language teachers are invited for training programs on the Japanese language, Japanese-language teaching methods and Japanese culture. It also develops and provides teaching materials and carries out programs to disseminate the JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education.
Short-Term Training Program for Teachers of the Japanese Language (Summer) held at the Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa
The Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai
The Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai was established in 1997 as a Japanese-language training facility providing support to Japanese-language learners from overseas. Foreign service officers, public officials and Japan specialists are invited to the institute from various countries to receive training in specialized Japanese that is useful for their work duties and research; moreover, the institute has training programs for learners from overseas. It also promotes the development of e-learning materials such as online Japanese courses, Japanese learning websites and apps based on the know-how it acquires through the training programs.
Japanese-Language Program for Specialists held at the Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai
(c) Mariko Tagashira
Encouragement of Japanese-Language Education and Learning
Example of Initiatives by Country: Vietnam – Spreading Japanese-Language Education at the Primary and Secondary Educational Levels
Vietnam – Number of Japanese-language learners and institutions at the primary and secondary education levels
(Click image to enlarge)
The Japan Foundation has commenced support in response to the Vietnamese government's plan for introducing Japanese-language education as a first foreign language at the secondary education level in Vietnam. In collaboration with Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training, the Japan Foundation is implementing a variety of measures that include dispatching Japanese-language specialists to cooperate in curriculum development and textbook production; inviting Japanese-language teachers to Japan for training; and holding local seminars in Vietnam. As a result, the number of Japanese-language learners at the secondary education level exceeded 10,000 and as of October 2017, the number of schools providing Japanese-language education using government-designated textbooks has expanded to 70 schools (42 junior high schools and 28 high schools).
At the primary educational level as well, in September 2016, classes on Japanese language as a first foreign language commenced on a trial basis at a total of five elementary schools in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
As in the previous fiscal year, during FY2017 a team consisting of teachers from the University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, who were appointed by Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training, and Japanese-language specialists from the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam, produced textbooks for each school-year level and carried out teacher training.
Example of Initiatives by Country: United Kingdom –
Expanding Japanese-Language Education to Primary Education
In 2014, foreign language education for third to sixth grade students at public primary schools in England became compulsory. In response, the Japan Foundation developed teaching materials for primary education and has carried out a variety of initiatives to encourage the adoption of a Japanese-language curriculum. In September 2017, we commenced courses on Minato, an online Japanese-language learning platform, for persons involved in primary and secondary education. In March 2018, we co-organized the Coventry Young Ambassador Japan Conference together with a local primary school in Coventry in central England. Approximately 250 students from 29 primary schools attended this event and enjoyed their first-hand experiences with the Japanese language and Japanese culture and sports.
Dispatch of Japanese-Language Specialists
Example of Initiatives by Country: France – Debut of the Regular Japanese-Language Teachers by the New Certification Examination
The Japan Foundation dispatches Japanese-language specialists to overseas educational institutions. In France, a Japanese-language category was newly added to the regular teacher certification examination for secondary education. In response, led by Japanese-language specialists dispatched by the Japan Foundation, we held Japanese-language teacher training sessions as well as internships for students majoring in Japanese language and also provided training in Japan as we worked to prepare for the implementation of this examination. In June 2017, three persons passed the new examination in the Japanese-language category and then obtained the certification of the regular Japanese-language teachers in France at the secondary education level.
Pre-Arrival Japanese-Language Training Based on EPAs
The Japan Foundation implemented six-month preparatory pre-arrival Japanese-language training for 649 nurses and certified care worker candidates who will be accepted by Japan based on bilateral Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between Japan and Indonesia and the Philippines, respectively. Following their arrival in Japan, the candidates will receive an additional six months of Japanese-language training, after which they will be assigned to hospitals and caregiving facilities to work with the intention of passing a national examination.
