Japanese-Language Education Overseas [Language]

To make the Japanese language easier to learn and teach, the Japan Foundation develops infrastructures and environments for Japanese-language education overseas. In addition, it promotes Japanese-language education according to the circumstances by country and region through various activities, such as dispatching Japanese-language specialists and conducting Japanese-language training.

1. Japanese-Language Education Assistant Program: J-LEAP

J-LEAP aims to strengthen and maintain the basic infrastructure of Japanese-language education and the understanding of Japan in the U.S. By dispatching Japanese Assistant Teachers (ATs), J-LEAP endeavors to serve the needs of U.S. K-12 educational institutions seeking to strengthen their Japanese-language programs. ATs will engage in Japanese classes with and under the instruction of their supervisors (Japanese-class teachers). ATs will help with creating materials and curriculums, preparing homework and tests, and will also assist or conduct other Japan-related activities at schools and in the community to contribute to a better understanding of Japanese culture and society.

Last updated September 5, 2024

Program Outline Japanese-Language Education Assistant Program: J-LEAP (PDF:61.2KB)
Eligibility Area Japan / Overseas*
Applicant Individual*
*Japanese nationals whose native language is Japanese and who reside in Japan or overseas.
Application Deadline January, 2025
Application Instructions / Application Form Application Guideline and the Application Form will be available on the Japan Foundation's website around fall 2024
Reference Program Overview

2 NIHONGO Partners Program

This program dispatches NIHONGO Partners to secondary educational institutions etc. in Asia, mainly 10 ASEAN countries in order to support the local Japanese-language teachers and students.
The NIHONGO Partners will support the educational activities of the local Japanese teachers but also aim to spread the charms of the Japanese language and cultures through their learning support and cultural activities inside and outside the classroom.

Through local activities and people-to-people exchanges, NIHONGO Partners themselves are also expected to deepen their understandings toward the language and cultures of the area or country where they stay and serve as liaisons within Asian countries in the future.

Last updated September 5, 2024

Program Outline NIHONGO Partners Program (PDF:50KB)
Eligibility Area Japan
Applicant Individual
Application Instructions / Application Form

Once the details are available, the application instructions and application forms will be available on the Japan FoundationNIHONGO Partners Program’s website.

3 NIHONGO Partners in Collaboration with Japanese Universities

This program dispatches students as NIHONGO Partners in collaboration with Japanese universities to support local Japanese-language teachers and students at institutions of higher education, mainly in ASEAN countries.
They will not only support the educational activities of the local Japanese-language teachers and students, but also aim to deepen communications and understandings between locals and Japanese.

Last updated September 5, 2024

Program Outline NIHONGO Partners in Collaboration with Japanese Universities (PDF:71KB)
Eligibility Area Japan
Applicant Organization
Application Deadline Submission by E-mail by 1 p.m., December 3, 2024, Japan Standard Time
Application Form NP-IP
Applcation Instructions / Application Form

4. Program for Specialists in Cultural and Academic Fields

With the aim of supporting specialists who require Japanese-language proficiency in order to smoothly perform their specialized work and research activities (such as researchers, graduate students, librarians, and museum and art museum curators), this program provides training to improve their Japanese- language ability by learning practical Japanese and actually using it in their research and specialized work-related activities, conducted at the Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai.
* In FY2025, only a six-month course will be offered.

Last updated September 5, 2024

Program Outline Program for Specialists in Cultural and Academic Fields (PDF:80.6KB)
Eligibility Area Overseas
Applicant Individual
Application Deadline Apply through Online Application Portal by 1 p.m., December 3, 2024 (Japan Standard Time)
Application Form KC-G
Application Instructions / Application Form

5. Support Program for Organizations in Japanese-Language Education (Grants)

This program aims to support Japanese-language education activities by targeting Japanese-language teachers and students of overseas Japanese-language institutions and organizations.

Last updated September 5, 2024

Program Outline Support Program for Organizations in Japanese-Language Education (Grants)(PDF:60.4KB)
Eligibility Area Overseas*
*For countries that have the Japan Foundation's overseas offices (except for Russia, Cambodia and Laos), support is provided through that local office. Please contact the Foundation's local office for details. (JF overseas offices info)
Applicant Organization
Application Deadline Apply through Online Application Portal by 1 p.m., December 3, 2024 (Japan Standard Time)
Application Form JN-FK
Application Instructions / Application Form
Reference

6. Support Program for Organizations Providing Japanese-Language Education for Living and Working (Grants)

This program aims to support the costs of projects by organizations/groups that provide Japanese-language education necessary for people living and working in Japan, including those who plan to come to Japan under the Specified Skilled Worker status of residence.

Last updated September 5, 2024

Program Outline Support Program for Organizations Providing Japanese-Language Education for Living and Working (Grants) (PDF:65.5KB)
Eligibility Area Overseas（Mongolia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan）
Applicant Organization
Application Deadline Applications should be submitted by e-mail to the Japanese diplomatic mission in the applicant’s country no later than December 2, 2024.
Application Form JN-NK
Application Instructions / Application Form

7. Training Program for Teachers of the Japanese Language

The Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa (JFJLI, Urawa) provides training opportunities in Japan (Saitama Prefecture) for Japanese-language teachers teaching outside of Japan.
The eligibility, duration, and content differ in every program.

7 (1) Basic Training Program for Teachers of the Japanese Language

This program is a six month program designed for teachers who are early in their career with an opportunity to improve their Japanese-language skills, acquire the basic teaching methodology, and deepen their knowledge of Japan.

Last updated September 5, 2024

Eligibility Area Overseas
Applicant Organization
Application Deadline Apply through Online Application Portal by 1 p.m., December 3, 2024 (Japan Standard Time)
Application Form NC-BT
Application Instructions / Application Form

7 (2) Japanese-Language Program for Teachers of the Japanese Language

This program is a six weeks program designed to provide an opportunity to improve their Japanese-language skill which is necessary as teachers of Japanese language. There will be NO lessons of Japanese-language teaching methodology.

Last updated September 5, 2024

Eligibility Area Overseas
Applicant Organization
Application Deadline Apply through Online Application Portal by 1 p.m., December 3, 2024 (Japan Standard Time)
Application Form NC-JT
Application Instructions / Application Form

7 (3) (4) (5) Japanese Teaching Methods Program for Teachers of the Japanese Language (Summer/Autumn/Winter)

Training Program of four to six weeks duration, which are designed to improve the teaching methodology will be conducted 3 times in FY 2025. There will be NO lessons for improving Japanese-language skill.

Last updated September 5, 2024

Eligibility Area Overseas
Applicant Organization
Application Deadline Apply through Online Application Portal by 1 p.m., December 3, 2024 (Japan Standard Time)
Application Form NC-MT-S/NC-MT-A/NC-MT-W
Application Instructions / Application Form

7 (6) Japanese-Language-Teacher Training Program to Accept Foreign Nationals (Teaching Methods)

This program is a 4-week onsite training program for teachers of the Japanese language at overseas organizations that provide Japanese-language education, with the aim of supporting Japanese-language educational programs for those who come to Japan on the working visa: Specified Skilled Worker, etc. The aim of the program is for participants to improve their teaching skills and to deepen their knowledge on Japanese affairs, society, and culture.

Last updated September 5, 2024

Eligibility Area Overseas (designated countries/areas)
Applicant Organization
Application Deadline Apply through Online Application Portal by 1 p.m., December 3, 2024 (Japan Standard Time)
Application Form NC-FN-M
Application Instructions / Application Form

7 (7) Japanese-Language-Teacher Training Program to Accept Foreign Nationals (Japanese-Language)

This program is a five-week training program for teachers of the Japanese-language at overseas organizations that provide Japanese-language education, with the aim of supporting Japanese-language educational programs for those who come to Japan on the working visa: Specified Skilled Worker, etc. The aim of the program is for the participants to improve their Japanese-Language.

Last updated September 5, 2024

Eligibility Area Overseas (designated countries/areas)
Applicant Organization
Application Deadline Apply through Online Application Portal by 1 p.m., December 3, 2024(Japan Standard Time)
Application Form NC-FN-J
Application Instructions / Application Form
Grants