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 promote Japanese language, the Japan Foundation provided new teaching methods and learning materials and implemented the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic) in addition to the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) for Japanese-language learners.

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

To promote the use of the JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education*, the Japan Foundation disseminated information via websites, SNS and other means and enhanced the content of the standard-compliant teaching material Marugoto: Japanese Language and Culture and Irodori: Japanese for Life in Japan.
Regarding Marugoto, we published an e-book version of all levels and also published Starter in China and Myanmar, Pre-Intermediate in India, Pre-Intermediate and Intermediate 1 in Vietnam, and Intermediate 2 in Indonesia and Korea. Furthermore, we have added support materials in many languages on the Marugoto website.

* A framework developed by the Japan Foundation for considering ways to learn and teach the Japanese language and make evaluations based on the concept of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). In keeping with the philosophy of "Japanese for mutual understanding," it aims to cultivate "competence in accomplishing tasks" and "competence in intercultural understanding."

Implementing Tests to Evaluate Japanese-Language Proficiency

Launched in 1984, the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is the world's most popular Japanese test targeting non-native Japanese speakers. JLPT July 2020 was cancelled both in Japan and overseas, as we gave top priority to assuring the safety of examinees and other people concerned in holding the test. In JLPT December 2020, tests were held in three additional countries, including Tunisia, the Dominican Republic and Turkmenistan, and two additional cities that include Karur (India) and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (Russia). The test was held in a total of 137 cities in 29 countries/regions, including Japan (47 prefectures).

JLPT held in Ashgabat (Turkmenistan)

Japanese-Language Education Programs for New System of Acceptance of Foreign Human Resources

The Japan Foundation promoted initiatives in China, Mongolia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar and Nepal to support the acquisition of Japanese-language proficiency by people aiming to live and work in Japan. In FY2020, the web-based Japanese-language teaching material Irodori: Japanese for Life in Japan developed in FY2019 was accessed by approximately 2.52 million people in Japan and overseas. Also, Starter has been translated into five languages and Elementary 1 and 2 have been translated into seven languages and released free of charge.
In various countries, Japanese-language specialists and Japanese for Life in Japan coordinators introduced Irodori and provided training on how to hold classes using Irodori.