The Activities of the Japan Foundation

Language: Japanese-Language Education Overseas
Enhancing Overseas Japanese-Language Teaching Methods and Proficiency Assessments of Japanese-Language Learners

To further spread Japanese language learning, it will be important to promote the international standardization of teaching content that raises convenience for Japanese-language learners and to upgrade proficiency assessments to help encourage learning. Accordingly, we implemented the following programs.

Holding of Japanese-Language Proficiency Test

Launched in 1984, the JLPT is the world's most popular Japanese test. In FY2017, tests were held in eight additional countries, including Sweden, Belgium, Georgia, Slovenia, Belarus, Uruguay, Sudan and Morocco, and four additional cities that include Weihai (China), Semarang (Indonesia), Hue (Vietnam) and Portland (U.S.). This brings the total number of testing locations to 286 cities in 81 countries/regions, including Japan. Also, the number of applicants reached 1,027,111 in FY2017, exceeding one million for the first time since the JLPT's launch in 1984 (887,380 took the test). A cumulative total of 11,867,636 people have applied for the test.

Examinees in Yangon, Myanmar

Development and Operation of e-Learning

We worked to upgrade content by adding Elementary 1 (A2) to the Marugoto Japanese online course, which is the main course of the Japanese language learning platform, JF Japanese e-learning Minato. We also made Minato available in a wider choice of languages by adding Spanish, Chinese, Indonesian, Thai and Vietnamese languages. As a result, the number of users has increased to 33,031 as of the end of FY2017. Moreover, we added the Elementary 2 (A2) level to MARUGOTO+ (MARUGOTO Plus), a website for studying Japanese language and Japanese culture based on the coursebook Marugoto: Japanese Language and Culture.

Disseminating Information about Japanese-Language Teaching Methods and Providing Teaching Materials

To promote the JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education, we disseminated information through seminars, workshops, websites and SNS in Japan and overseas. We published the coursebook based on the JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education, Marugoto Intermediate 2 (B1), and held seminars to promote the usage of the Marugoto series. We also provided supplementary materials for the books in multiple languages and supported local publishing. Furthermore, we convened a symposium based on the theme of e-learning as a project to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai, and also distributed information about the use of e-learning.

Implementing Surveys on Overseas Japanese-Language Education and Learning and Providing Related Information

To ascertain the current state of overseas Japanese-language education, every three years the Japan Foundation implements the Survey on Japanese-Language Education Abroad on a global basis with the cooperation of our overseas offices, Japan's overseas diplomatic missions and other related agencies. In FY2017, we progressed with preparations for the newest survey scheduled to be implemented in FY2018 and created questionnaires in various languages.