The Activities of the Japan Foundation

Language: Japanese-Language Education Overseas
Establishing Environments for Japanese-Language Education Overseas

Even with the various effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Japan Foundation carried out the following programs to promote the establishment of Japanese-language education environments in each country and region to ensure that high-quality Japanese-language education continues to be widely implemented.

Dispatch of Japanese-Language Specialists

The Japan Foundation dispatched Japanese-Language Specialists and Japanese-Language Assistants to overseas universities and educational institutions (42 countries, 121 posts). We also provided training to local Japanese-language teachers, gave advice on preparing teaching materials and Japanese-language teaching methods, supported the formation of networks among teachers and visited educational institutions to offer guidance. In addition, we implemented teacher seminars and Japanese-language courses online to support Japanese-language education.

A Kimono-wearing class by a Japanese-Language Assistant (Australia)

Training for Overseas Japanese-Language Teachers

For those overseas Japanese-language teachers deprived of the opportunity to visit Japan for training at the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we implemented online courses to offer a portion of the contents originally planned for onsite courses/programs using live lessons and newly created on-demand teaching materials. Based on the evaluation and results of these online training courses, we will set some themes related to Japanese-language teaching methods as a new recruitment program in the next fiscal year and have decided to implement online training.

Online Basic Training Program for Teachers of the Japanese-Language (Autumn)

Support for Japanese-Language Education Institutions

Besides conventional support programs, the Japan Foundation provided special support programs to promote the development of online programs for JF Nihongo Network ("Sakura Network") members and Japanese-language educational institutions around the world struggling to respond to the circumstances arising from COVID-19.

* "Sakura Network" members are core Japanese-language educational institutions/organizations located in each country. As of March 31, 2021, the membership included 292 institutions in 93 countries/regions.

The First Japanese Singing/Reading Contest (Timor-Leste)

Training Programs for Overseas Learners

As visiting Japan is difficult under the current circumstances, the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai implemented online training for overseas Japanese-language learners. Under the Lee Soo-Hyun Youth Exchange Program, the Institute also established a virtual venue where Korean high school students can interact with Japanese young people and host families. Additionally, the Institute provided individual guidance online and as well as opportunities for the practical use of Japanese to overseas scholars requiring specialized Japanese-language proficiency.

Smiling Korean high school students at the Lee Soo-Hyun Youth Exchange Program Online Completion Ceremony

Pre-Arrival Japanese-Language Training Based on EPAs

In November 2019, the Japan Foundation started preparatory pre-arrival Japanese-language training (6 months) for nurses and certified care worker candidates from Indonesia and the Philippines (642 in total in both countries). The aim is to enable these persons to acquire the Japanese-language proficiency necessary for employment after arrival in Japan. However, this program was suspended in March 2020 due to the spread of COVID-19. Because these candidates' travel to Japan was postponed, the Japan Foundation implemented follow-up training online to prevent their Japanese-language proficiency from deteriorating. Moreover, six-month preparatory pre-arrival training for new candidates (501 in total in both countries) was started online in February (Indonesia) and March (Philippines) 2021, respectively.

EPA Online Training (Indonesia)