Baku State University
SAKASHITA Taichi

Azerbaijani Japanese-Language Teachers at Baku State University

In this year’s report, I would like to introduce the Azerbaijani Japanese teachers at Baku State University. At Baku State University, where I am dispatched, three graduates are currently working as teachers of the university’s Japanese course. In the countries around Azerbaijan, it is common for those with experience living in Japan to work as teachers when they return to their country. Some of the teachers at Baku State University have not only lived in Japan, but also became fascinated with Japanese learning from when they were students and wished to become teachers in order to share their experiences with other students. As there are few Japanese companies in Azerbaijan, and it cannot be said that students here have less opportunities to study in Japan, the ability to communicate the meaning and benefits of learning the Japanese language to the students is a great help.

Support for Azerbaijani Japanese-Language Teachers

As a Japanese-Language Specialist for the Japan Foundation, I consult with the teachers on how to run their daily classes and support them to improve their teaching. As each is experienced both as a learner and a teacher, my interaction with them is less about giving advice and more about listening to them, exchanging opinions, and searching for ways to improve together. I also hold classes for the teachers once or twice per week at their request.

I am impressed by their desire to continue to improve their Japanese-language abilities even after becoming teachers, but I also make sure to use teaching materials and methods different from the teachers’ own classes so that the time spent will assist them in improving their classroom activities. When the teachers realize that something is effective for them as learners, they are likely to apply that to their own classes as well. Many aspects of the Japanese teaching materials also challenge the values of the learners, and as we discuss the topics introduced, we improve our mutual understanding which in turn helps build a relationship of trust.

The Japanese-Language Teachers Workshop and Exchange Meeting Aims to Give Teachers the Opportunity for Interaction and Cooperation

There are people teaching Japanese in Azerbaijan at places other than Baku State University. However, there are almost no opportunities for all of those teachers to interact with each other. Even the teachers at Baku State University only get to meet with each other several times per week before or after class.
With a desire to give the teachers a chance to learn from each other, and not simply from me as the Japanese-Language Specialist, I decided to plan a group workshop for the teachers.
My thinking was that if the Azerbaijani teachers interacted more with each other, forming a network of cooperation to solve problems, Japanese-language education in the country could make the progress without depending entirely on the Japanese-Language Specialist.

Accordingly, the “Japanese-Language Teachers Workshop and Exchange Meeting” has been taking place since February 2018 as an opportunity for interaction and cooperation between the teachers. The meeting involves group discussions on teaching methods for beginner and intermediate grammar, showing each other teaching materials they have used in class, sharing the problems they are aware of, and problem-solving workshops. In the beginning, there was a tendency for participants to argue with each other due to a lack of experience in such events, and they were unable to proceed smoothly with the group work. However, by explaining the purpose of the gathering and gradually improving my approach, connections that had not previously existed began to develop among the teachers. Furthermore, though the Japanese-Language Teachers Workshop and Exchange Meeting was begun by myself as the Japanese-Language Specialist, the teachers have become more proactive, offering their own proposals, such as inviting English teachers to the meetings or setting topics for the themes based on topics difficult to teach in class, such as grammar.

This kind of feedback from the teachers is the greatest encouragement for me as the planner of the meeting. I intend to continue working hard for the further development of Japanese-language education in Azerbaijan along with the passionate Azerbaijani teachers.