Summary of Japanese-Language Education Overseas Programs

Summary of Japanese-Language Education Overseas Programs

1. Promoting the JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education

• JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education website accessed approximately 238,000 times in 12 months
• ‘Minna no Can-do’ Website accessed approximately 357,000 times in 12 months
• Marugoto: Japanese Language and Culture published overseas edition in 2 levels in 1 country
• Irodori: Japanese for Life in Japan enhanced content with grammar worksheets, audio files, and more
• Hikidasu Nihongo: Activate Your Japanese! Content-Library website enhanced content with multi-language subtitles, explanatory articles, and more
• Sharing information at webinars, workshop, etc. in Japan and overseas

2. Online Educational Tools

• Approximately 158,000 annual participants for JF Japanese e-Learning Minato
• Approximately 59,000 annual participants in the Irodori Japanese Online Course
• ‘Minna no Kyozai’ Website accessed approximately 1,646,000 times in 12 months
• MARUGOTO website accessed approximately 5,138,000 times in 12 months
• MARUGOTO Plus websites accessed approximately 8,340,000 times in 12 months
• Irodori: Japanese for Life in Japan website accessed approximately 4,385,000 times in 12 months
• Hirogaru, get more of Japan and Japanese website accessed approximately 520,000 times in 12 months
• Japanese in Anime & Manga website accessed approximately 1,150,000 times in 12 months
• NIHONGO eな website accessed approximately 810,000 times in 12 months
• Nihongo de Care-Navi website accessed approximately 370,000 times in 12 months
• Hikidasu Nihongo: Activate Your Japanese! Content-Library website accessed approximately 361,000 times in 12 months
• “Erin’s Challenge! I Can Speak Japanese.” Contents Library website accessed approximately 1,379,000 times in 12 months
• Challenge with Erin - Japanese Language Test - (beginner-level learning app) downloaded approximately 10,000 times in 12 months
• HIRAGANA Memory Hint (character learning app) downloaded approximately 160,000 times in 12 months
• KATAKANA Memory Hint (character learning app) downloaded approximately 90,000 times in 12 months
• KANJI Memory Hint 1, 2, 3 (character learning app) downloaded approximately 80,000 times in 12 months

3. Tests for Assessing Japanese-Language Proficiency

• Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)
  1st Test (July 2):Overseas: Held in 168 cities in 54 countries/regions, with 404,996 examinees.
  Japan*: Held in 47 prefectures, with 197,144 examinees.
  2nd Test (December 3):
  Overseas: Held in 247 cities in 84 countries/regions, with 426,748 examinees.
  Japan*: Held in 47 prefectures, with 236,547 examinees.
  *In Japan, the test is run by Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES).
• The Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic)
  Conducted monthly in 21 cities in 11 overseas countries and 47 prefectures in Japan, with 103,183 examinees

4. Surveys and Provision of Information Relating to Japanese-Language Projects

• Kokusai Koryu Kikin Nihongo Kyoiku Ronshu (The Japan Foundation Journal on Japanese-language Education) (issued annually)
• Nihongo Kyoiku Tsushin (updated monthly) accessed approximately 510,000 times in 12 months
• Operation of website Nihongo Kyoiku Kuni·Chiikibetsu Joho (Information on Japanese-language Education by Country/Region; available in Japanese)

5. Japanese-Language Education Overseas Programs of Overseas
Offices and the JF Nihongo Network (“Sakura Network”)

• Projects by Japan Foundation’s overseas offices and Japan Center for Human Resources Development (Japan Center) branches:
  358 projects in 28 countries
• JF Nihongo Network (“Sakura Network”): 355 organizations in 101 countries/regions
  Support for overseas Japanese-language education institutions (grants): 443 grants in 79 countries/regions

6. Dispatch of Japanese-Language Specialists

Dispatch of Japanese-Language Specialists and other personnel

• Japanese-Language Senior Specialists: 29 posts in 15 countries
• Japanese-Language Specialists: 72 posts in 35 countries
• Japanese-Language Assistants: 13 posts in 11 countries
• Japanese Language Education Assistant Program (J-LEAP): 12 posts in 1 country
• Japanese for Life in Japan Coordinators: 8 posts in 5 countries

7. Training Programs for Overseas Teachers

Training Programs for Teachers of the Japanese Language

• Basic (in Japan): 41 people in 29 countries
• Comprehensive Teaching Methods (in Japan): 62 people from 28 countries/regions
• Training Program for Secondary School Teachers of the Japanese Language from the Republic of Korea (in Japan): 31 people from 1 country
• Training Program for Secondary School Teachers of the Japanese Language from the People’s Republic of China (in Japan): 18 people from 1 country
• Training Program for Secondary School Teachers of the Japanese Language from the Philippines (in Japan): 17 people from 1 country
• Specific Theme: 25 people from 11 countries/regions
  Teaching Japanese Characters (online): 11 people from 9 countries
  Assessment of Language Learning: 14 people from 11 countries
• Japanese-Language (in Japan): 32 people from 18 countries
• Japanese Teaching Methods Program for Teachers of Specified Skilled Worker Candidates: 59 people from 12 countries
  Session 1 (in Japan): 28 people from 6 countries
  Session 2 (in Japan): 22 people from 6 countries
  Session 3 (in Japan): 9 people from 5 countries
• Japanese-Language Training Program for Queensland Teachers invited by Osaka Prefectural Government: 5 people from 1 country
• Training Program for Thai Secondary School Leading Teachers: 14 people from 1 country
• Irodori Japanese Online Course utilization seminar (August 2023) (online): 55 people from 12 countries

8. Training Programs for Overseas Learners

Japanese-Language Program for Specialists

• Continued from FY2022
  Foreign Service Officers and Public Officials: 28 people from 25 countries
• In FY2023
  Foreign Service Officers and Public Officials: 34 people from 34 countries
  Specialists in Cultural and Academic Fields / 5-month course: 7 people from 6 countries
  Specialists in Cultural and Academic Fields / 2-month course: 7 people from 6 countries

Japanese-Language Programs for Overseas Students

• Outstanding Students: 41 people from 41 countries
• Lee Soo-Hyun Youth Exchange Program: 20 people from 1 country

9. Preparatory Japanese-Language Training for Indonesian and Filipino Nurses and Certified Care Worker Candidates under Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA)

6-month Preparatory Japanese-Language Training for Nurses and Certificated Care Workers Candidates in Indonesia and the Philippines

• EPA-related training: 4 programs in 2 countries
  FY2022 (continued from FY2021): 314 from Indonesia / 231 from the Philippines
  FY2023 (new): 312 from Indonesia / 247 from the Philippines

10. Commissioned Training Programs

Training for Teachers

• 1st Intensive Teacher Training for Japanese Language Program by Hakuhodo Foundation: 26 people from 1 country
• 2nd Intensive Teacher Training for Japanese Language Program by Hakuhodo Foundation: 34 people from 1 country
• Advanced Training Program for Japanese Language Teachers at Chinese Universities by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (the first phase): 23 people from 1 country
• Japanese Teacher Dispatching Program by Japan Russia Youth Exchange Center, summer training: 6 people from 1 country
• Training for Secondary School Japanese Teachers in New Zealand: 6 people from 1 country

Training for Learners

• Japanese-Language Program for Indonesian University Students (Commissioned by Osaka Gas Foundation of International Cultural Exchange): 2 people from 1 country
• Japanese Short-Stay Insession Program from Osaka University (J-ShIP): 47 people from 4 countries in Summer Course and 19 people from 4 countries in Winter Course
• Japan Latvian Society in Kansai Japanese-Language Program: 1 people from 1 country
• Japanese-Language Program for Students of Assumption College Thonburi, Thailand: 26 people from 1 country
• Japanese-Language Program for Students of Suksanari School, Thailand: 20 people from 1 country
• Japanese-Language Program for Students of secondary schools in Malaysia (Sultan Ismail National Secondary School and other schools): 42 people from 1 country
• Japanese-Language Program for Students of Asociación de Japonés del Estado de México A.C.: 8 people from 1 country

11. Other Training Programs

• Japanese-Language Program for JET Participants in Osaka: 77 people from 9 countries
• JET Training Program for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language: 58 people from 20 countries
• Educators Meeting for Teaching the Japanese Language to Children Connected to Japan: 18 people from 16 countries/regions

12. Libraries of Japanese-Language Institutes

• The Library of the Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa received 7,930 visitors
• The Library of the Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai received 11,920 visitors

13. NIHONGO Partners Programs

• Number of dispatched people
  Brunei: 12
  Cambodia: 24
  China: 39
  Indonesia: 71
  Laos: 4
  Malaysia: 14
  Philippines: 18
  Taiwan: 89
  Thailand: 76
  Vietnam: 34
  Total: 381

14. Follow-up program for returned NIHONGO Partners

• NIHONGO Partners Reception: 68 participants
• Step-up Workshop for Alumni Partners seeking careers in multicultural coexistence
  Held in Kanto Region: 34 participants
  Held in Kansai Region: 37 participants

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