The Activities of the Japan Foundation
Language: Japanese-Language Education Overseas
Japanese-Language Education Online
With face-to-face programs and opportunities to visit Japan lost due to the impact of COVID-19, the Japan Foundation newly implemented the following programs online.
Implementing Programs Online
With the spread of COVID-19 making it difficult to hold face-to-face programs, the Japan Foundation implemented a variety of online programs in regions throughout the world. Participants from across the world, regardless of where they reside, engaged in exchanges transcending national boundaries and regions via the Internet. The Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai held three online seminars for people involved in Japanese-language education in Japan and overseas who are aiming to transition to online classes or produce video teaching materials. (A total of 662 people from 51 countries/regions participated.)
The instructor explained in detail how to produce various video teaching materials.
Studio at the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai
Development and Operation of e-Learning
The Japanese-language learning platform JF Japanese e-Learning Minato provides self-taught students a venue for learning. Driven by growing demand for online education amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the total number of registered users increased by more than 80,000 from the previous year to 225,340 people in 198 countries and regions around the world. Additionally, the website MARUGOTO Plus provides an abundance of video teaching materials in conjunction with Marugoto: Japanese Language and Culture, a teaching material produced by the Japan Foundation, and the number of page views increased by 75% from the previous year.
Image of a live lesson taken at Minato
Online learning using Minato and Marugoto
Expanding Japanese-Language Learning Opportunities through Workshops
To broaden the base of overseas Japanese-language learners, the Japan Foundation held online workshops tailored to the needs of various corners of the world. The Japan Foundation, Sydney took a popular theme furoshiki from its Centre Visit program (cultural experience workshops using Japanese language) in order to develop "Online Furoshiki Workshops". The Japan Foundation, London held "Kobanashi Workshop for Educators" on incorporating "kobanashi (anecdotes)" into Japanese-language education, which also contributed to the building of a network among workshop participants.
Online Furoshiki Workshop (Australia)
Online Content Production
Responding to rising demand amid the spread of COVID-19, The Japan Foundation, Seoul in collaboration with the Japanese Language and Literature Association of Korea and Korea Japanese Teacher's Association, produced one new content item for higher education and two new content items for secondary education and distributed these free of charge to Japanese-language teachers. The Japan Foundation, Mexico held a contest for creating learning materials targeting Mexico and the Caribbean region of Central America and displayed six works that passed the first screening on its website under the supervision of a Japanese-language specialist.
"Online Japanese Education Content" for Korean higher education institutions Planning/Production: Japanese Language and Literature Association of Korea