News

We have provided information below covering current issues in Japanese-Language Education in the United States. We hope that you will take it upon yourself to look further into these issues, educating yourself on how they will affect you, your program, and you students. We also hope that through educating yourself on these current issues, you will get involved and become proactive in furthering Japanese language education here in the US. Good Luck!

Advocacy Kit V3 and Advocacy Website Project

During the 2009 fiscal year, the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, initiated two projects to advocate Japanese language education and foreign language education in general in the United States. Our efforts culminated in the revision of the Advocacy Kit, which now features powerpoint presentations that can be viewed online or downloaded as PDF files to be viewed online. Individual Advocacy Folders can also be ordered free of charge from our website for any K-16 educational institutions in the United States. Please visit the link below for additional information.

Advocacy Kit V3

In addition to the revision of our Advocacy Kit, we also worked with members of ATJ, AATJ, and NCJLT to develop a centralized Advocacy Website that will be hosted on AATJ's website. It is our goal that this site will serve as a hub of information that is routinely updated to stay fresh and up-to-date so Japanese language teachers as well as foreign language instructors in general will have an assortment of tools to rely on in their fight for their student's education. We hope that everyone will be able to benefit from the materials we worked so hard to provide. This site is currently being updated so please check back frequently for new information.

Advocacy Website Project

Japanese Language Learning Websites

The Japan Foundation recently developed three free websites to facilitate the teaching of Japanese language and culture online. Using anime and manga, which is the cornerstone to Japanese pop culture, JF offices in Urawa and Kansai each developed a website to promote the learning of Japanese language and culture to the youth of the world.

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2009 Survey on Japanese Language Education Abroad

In order to obtain an accurate picture of the current condition of Japanese-language education around the world, the Japan Foundation conducts a survey every few years of overseas organizations that offer Japanese-language courses. The survey results are compiled and published in a series of reports. We hope that these reports will be essential in enhancing the mutual cooperation among teachers, students, administrators, community leaders, or anyone who is involved with Japanese language education.

The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, completed both phases of the survey by the end of the 2009 fiscal year and our Headquarters is currently compiling the data collected from the surveys that were distributed worldwide. A summary of the findings will be announced by the end of summer, 2010. Please visit the website below for additional information.

Nihongo de Care-Navi

"Nihongo de Care-Navi" (http://nihongodecarenavi.jp/) is a website to support foreigners who are learning Japanese language to work as nurses and caregivers in Japan . The content of this website is now available as a book. Useful expressions and examples of verbal contact in nursing and caretaking scenes are provided in Japanese and English.

Vocabularies and expressions are categorized by scenes the reader may face in caretaking job. Terms required in each scene, such as "Bathing," "Examination/Test," or "Report" can be found at once, both in Japanese and in English.

This book is full of illustrations, making the book easy-to-understand and reader-friendly. There are also columns to enrich the understanding of customs and relationships in Japan . This book comes in paperback size to make it for handy reference.

Sakura Network

The Japan Foundation (JF) is establishing the “Sakura Network” to enhance Japanese language education overseas because we believe that the link between the JF and the institutions/organizations involved in Japanese-language education throughout the world is very important.

In principle, institutions/organizations that have a working relationships with the JF through our various support programs for Japanese-language education overseas form the "Members" of the "Sakura Network." In addition, institutions and organizations that work on projects that have an extensive ripple effect over an entire region or country in terms of enhancing the establishment and development of Japanese-language education form the "Core Members."

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Sakura Network Worldwide Members List

Erin's Challenge on UTB Channel 18.2 in Los Angeles

"Erin's Challenge, I Can Speak Japanese" is currently being broadcast live on digital sub channel 18.2 in Southern California. This program was made possible by the cooperation between the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles and Universal Television Broadcasting (UTB) Hollywood. Prior to the original February 16th digital TV transition date, UTB had announced its plans to broadcast 24 hours a day. They wanted to provide their viewers with a wide range of programs for their diverse viewer base and The Japan Foundation thought that this was an excellent opportunity to introduce the Erin 's Challenge series for the first time in the lower 48 states. It is also being broadcast in Oahu, Hawaii by Nippon Golden Network (NGN) on cable channel 677.

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Minna no Kyozai Website Update

We have updated the Minna no Kyozai Website to the following URL:

Japanese

English: http://minnanokyozai.jp/kyozai/ja/render.do

Please be aware of the changes.

Draft of Foreign Language Content Standards for California Public Schools

The California Department of Education (CDE) is pleased to announce the posting of draft Foreign Language Content Standards for California Public Schools for field review.

Senate Bill 5 (Karnette) authorizes the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop and the State Board of Education to adopt foreign language standards by June 1, 2009.

The draft standards can be accessed online at http://www.stanford.edu/group/CFLP/. Reviewers can provide feedback on the draft standards to the CDE via a survey posted on this site; comments can be sent to FLSTANDARDS@cde.ca.gov through September 21, 2008.

We welcome your participation in providing input on the draft standards as an organization, as well as from your members. Please feel free to forward this information as necessary.

If you have any questions about the field review process, please contact Arleen Burns, Foreign Language Consultant, by phone at (916) 323-5818 or by e-mail at aburns@cde.ca.gov.