The Activities of the Japan Foundation
The Japan Foundation Asia Center
Support for Japanese-Language Learning The NIHONGO Partners Program
The NIHONGO Partners program sends Japanese citizens to educational institutions in Asia to serve as partners for Japanese teachers and their students by supporting Japanese-language classes and introducing Japanese culture. In FY2019, 515 partners were dispatched to 501 junior high schools, high schools, universities and other learning institutes in the 10 ASEAN countries, China and Taiwan. The NIHONGO Partners program not only fosters connections with Japanese-language learners and local people but also introduces Japanese culture through extracurricular activities and events.
People from a Variety of Ages and Backgrounds Support Students to Learn Practical Japanese
NIHONGO Partners participate in the program with a passion for interacting with Asia using their respective personal strengths and experiences, regardless of their knowledge or skills in Japanese-language teaching. As native Japanese speakers, they support students to learn practical Japanese language and culture.
Learning from One Another Creates Strong Ties
The role of NIHONGO Partners is to learn the local language and culture of where they are sent, as well as conveying Japanese language and culture. They deepen relationships by spending time in the same community and interacting respectfully.
Messages from Past Participants
NIHONGO Partners
SANO Yukiko
NIHONGO Partners, Indonesia Group 9
I encouraged students at a school that I was dispatched to exchange letters with high school students in my hometown of Numazu (Shizuoka Prefecture). I was really happy to see high school students in Indonesia interact with other students of their age through Japanese. Since returning to Japan I have been working as a firefighter in Numazu and have been engaged in disaster preparedness education for foreign residents. I have been volunteering to help foreign residents living in local communities communicate in Japanese and reduce the worries in their lives. Working as a bridge between Japan and other parts of Asia, I wish to increase the number of fans of Japan.
Teacher at a school accepting NIHONGO Partners
Fiona Toh Shu Chew (Malaysia)
Miri Science Secondary School）
Students were initially shy about talking to NIHONGO Partners. However, you could see that they had a strong desire to talk to them and gradually came out of their shells. The NIHONGO Partners invited Japanese friends to classes and gave students opportunities to talk in Japanese, which helped them improve their speaking and listening abilities. Since they have come, students have started to more actively participate in classes, and they are learning more about the Japanese language and Japan.
Student at a school accepting NIHONGO Partners
Sitigron Krasu (Thailand)
Pua School
I primarily studied grammar and vocabulary in Japanese classes and was not good at conversation. After the NIHONGO Partners came here, I had opportunities to talk in Japanese every day and came to speak in Japanese with confidence.
I would like to study Japanese at university and study in Japan. I would also like to have a job related to Japan in the future.