(2009-2010 Fiscal Year)

Special Grant Program for Professional Development

Opportunities for Japanese Langauge Teachers

Application period was closed on 7/31/2009.

This program is designed to provide financial aid to organizations/institutions (example: teachers’ associations, universities, etc.) that are planning to hold seminars/workshops/teacher training courses that can provide participants with CEUs (Continuing Education Units), university credits, clock-hours, and/or a certificate of professional development hours, etc., which are authorized to be used towards receiving/renewing the teacher's licenses/credentials. The purpose of this grant is to support Japanese language teachers who need professional development opportunities to receive/maintain their Japanese teacher's license/credentials. 

The proposed projects (workshop, seminars, etc.) must be held between the dates of September 3, 2009 and March 14, 2010.

[Grant Coverage]

(1) The Japan Foundation’s contribution will not exceed US$3,000 per project.

(2) Items eligible for support:

 a. Expenses provided for participants who require professional development credits/hours to receive/maintain their teacher’s license/credential:

• Credit Application Fee
• Event Registration Fee (＊)
• Transportation (＊＊)
• Accommodation (＊＊＊)

 b. Expenses for lecturers:

• Honorarium
• Transportation (＊＊)
• Accommodation (＊＊＊)

 c. Other Expenses (rental fees for venue and equipment, printing cost for handouts)

＊ In the event that the proposed project is hosted by a group (teachers association, etc.) that also requires a    participant to pay a membership fee to participate in the event, the JFLA will only cover the event registration fee and not the membership fee for the participant.

＊＊ Airfare should cover only economy class seats using the most cost effective route from the departing airport to the destination airport.

＊＊＊ We only cover hotel expenses for the days in which the program is taking place. Additional days are to be born by the participant and will not be covered under this grant.

1. Applications must be submitted through a non-profit institution/organization involved in Japanese-language education (e.g., teachers’ associations, colleges/universities, etc.).

2. Projects must fulfill the following requirements to be eligible for funding:

 (1) Projects must provide credits, CEUs, clock hours, or certificate of professional development hours, etc., which are authorized to be used towards receiving/maintaining their teacher’s licenses/credentials. Applicants must submit supplementary documents as proof that these professional development hours/credits are authorized and can be used towards receiving/maintaining the applicant’s teaching license/credential.

 (2) Projects must start and complete between the dates of September 3, 2009 and March 14, 2010.

 (3) Projects must be related to Japanese-language education and should contribute to the promotion of Japanese language education in the area.

 (4) Projects should be carried out by the applying institution/organization, and a part of the cost should be borne by institution/organization.

 (5) Projects must not be aimed at religious or political purposes.

3. Applicants must have a bank account in the institution’s name capable of accepting grants from the Japan Foundation. The grant funds will be remitted to the bank account of the applying institution, and cannot be sent to any personal accounts. (Bank accounts may also be opened before the remittance.)

4. Applicants must be capable of implementing their proposed projects.

5. In principle, the Japan Foundation does not provide grants for:

 (1) Foreign governments, including their administrative organizations and their embassy/consulate general in Japan, but excluding academic, cultural, or research institutes such as universities, and museums.

 (2) International organizations that currently receive financial contributions for administration of operation fee
from the Japanese government.

6. Receipt of grants or benefits from the Japan Foundation must not violate any laws or ordinances, etc.

Successful Grant Recipients in 2009-2010 Fiscal Year:

Arizona Association of Teachers of Japanese 1. Project Title:  "What is Scaffolding? Practical Applications in Secondary and College Level Japanese Classroom" 2. Project Date:  September 13, 2009 3. Project Venue: Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ) 4. Project Description:   This workshop demonstrates the crucial role of scaffolding in making authentic materials comprehensible. This technique has yet to be carefully examined in instruction for teaching Japanese. This workshop presents definitions of "scaffolding," a synthesis and analysis of existing scaffolding activities, and a demonstartion of how to develop activities based on recognized principles and strategies. Examples will be shared, followed by hands-on activities. Guest speaker for this workshop is Dr. Hiroko Kataoka (California State Unviersity, Long Beach). 5. Credits/Units to be given to participants through this workshop toward obtaining/maintaining their teacher credentials:   6 hours of CEU (Continuing Education Unit) or Clock Hours

George Mason University 1. Project Title:  "Integrating Language Learning Instruction Strategies into a Standards-based Japanese-language Curriculum" 2. Project Date:  January 10, 2010 3. Project Venue:  George Mason University  4. Project Description:   More and more teachers of Japanese at all education levels are endorsing the curricular concepts of the Five Cs, the five goal areas of a language curriculum, expounded in any of the editions of the Standards for Foreign Language Learning. Learning "How to learn" becomes the key to success in the student's learning. In other words, language-learning instruction strategies is now more crucial than ever. Led by Dr. Jill Robbins (Director, National Capital Language Resource Center), one of the nation's most experienced workshop leaders with expertise in language learning strategies, this one-day workshop will demonstrates how Japanese-language teachers can incorporate such strategies into their standards-based classrooms. 5. Credits/Units to be given to participants through this workshop toward obtaining/maintaining their teacher credentials:   0.6 CEU from George Mason University

New Jersey Association of Teachers of Japanese 1. Project Title:  "NJATJ Professional Development Workshops" 2. Project Dates:  November 5, 2009 and March 3, 2010 3. Project Venues:  NJEA Conference Site (Atlantic City, NJ) & Seton Hall University (South Orange, NJ) 4. Project Description:   The first workshop will be at the New Jersey Education Association's convention in November. Topics of the sessions will be "Using Anime in Japanese classrooms," "Culturally Authentic Reading Activites," "Using Technorolgy in the Japanese Language Classroom," and "Strategies for AP Japanese," etc. The second workshop will be offered as an independent NJATJ endeavor. It will be lecture-style presentations with hands-on workshops in order to give teachers a number of practical ideas to take back to their classrooms.  5. Credits/Units to be given to participants through this workshop toward obtaining/maintaining their teacher credentials:   10 hours of CEU.

Northeast Council of Teachers of Japanese 1. Project Title:  "NECTJ Professional Development Workshops/Benkyo-Kai in 2009-2010" 2. Project Term:  October 3, 2009 - February 14, 2010  3. Project Venue:  United Nations International School (New York, NY) 4. Project Description:   NECTJ offers 3 workshops (Topics: Using Technology in Japanese-language classrooms, Contest-based Instruction, Grammar and Strategies) and 4 benkyo-kai for the follow-ups during the 2009 fiscal year. Guest speakers for the workshops (in alphabetical order) are Ms. Etsuko Takahashi (Wesleyan College), Ms. Wako Tawa (Amherst College), and Dr. Tohsaku Yasuhiko (University of California, San Diego). 5. Credits/Units to be given to participants through this workshop toward obtaining/maintaining their teacher credentials:   30 hours of professional development units and/or 2 credits from SUNY (State University of New York)

Oregon Association of Teachers of Japanese 1. Project Title:  "Dokodemo Nihongo: Japanese for Educators" 2. Project Term:  October 24, 2009 - February 27, 2010 3. Project Venue:  Pacific University (Forest Grove, OR) 4. Project Description:   OATJ offers 6-day workshop spread throughout the 2009 school year. There will be a different lecturer (presentor) for each workshop.  While teaching assigned topics (homelife/school life in Japan, holidays and cultural activites, etc.), the professor will also demonstrate and incorporate a variety of strategies and mothodologies. This will include lecture, group work, reading and writing experiences, hands-on activities, and guided discussion on pedagogy.   5. Credits/Units to be given to participants through this workshop toward obtaining/maintaining their teacher credentials:   20 hours of professional development units and/or 1 credit from Pacific University

University of Washington 1. Project Title:  "Japanese Pedagogy Workshop on Assessment" 2. Project Date:   January 23, 2010 3. Project Venue:  University of Washington (Seattle, WA) 4. Project Description:   University of Washington (Dept. of Asian Languages and Literature) invites Prof. Yasuhiko Tohasaku to give a workshop on Assessment for teachers of Japanese in Washington and neighboring states.  Participants will become familiar with current issues in assessment, and reevaluate how we assess students' progress in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.    5. Credits/Units to be given to participants through this workshop toward obtaining/maintaining their teacher credentials:    5.5 clock-hours of professional development