J-LEAP (Japanese Language Education Assistant Program)

What is J-LEAP?

This program brings Native Japanese Language Teaching Assistants (TAs) to K-12 educational institutions in the U.S. for up to two years to strengthen their Japanese language programs as well as create opportunities to nurture a new generation of qualified Japanese language teahcers. The program started in 2011 and is jointly administrated by The Japan Foundation (JF) and The Laurasian Institution (TLI). Currently we have a total of 23 TAs in 19 different states nationwide.

List of Year 1 (2011-2013 cycle)

List of Year 2 (2012-2014 cycle)

Bringing a TA into the classroom gives students the opportunity to hear and learn authentic Japanese language from a different Japanese speaker, to interact with a native Japanese speaker (or a different native speaker), and to be exposed to authentic communication between the Japanese language teacher and TA.

The community gains a TA who can also serve as a cultural ambassador by engaging in cultural events and activities in the area.

The TAs participating in J-LEAP are native Japanese language speakers, and hold a Bachelor's degree (or higher) in Japanese language education as a major or minor or Japanese-language teaching competency certification; or have completed a 420-hour professional development program for teachers of the Japanese language.

The TA’s compensation is fully covered by JF; therefore, participation in the program is a cost-effective way to provide additional support to a Japanese language and culture program.

Application for 2013-2015 Host Organization has begun!

We are looking for Host Organizations that:

Are U.S. K-12 schools offering Japanese language courses
Are willing to expand and invigorate their Japanese language courses with the addition of a Japanese TA
Can find a host family to accommodate the TA for the first 3 months
Can appoint a Japanese language teacher as the TA’s supervisor to support the TA during his/her term
Can provide basic working environment, such as desk space and parking

How to apply:

To apply for J-LEAP, download the program information and the application below and mail to TLI by Thursday January 31^st, 2013. (All the application materials must arrive at TLI Seattle office by January 31^st.).

Program Information: Download 2013-15 J-LEAP information

Application for Host Organizations: Download 2013-2015 J-LEAP Application

The Laurasian Institution: http://www.laurasian.org/Programs.htm

Mail to:

The Laurasian Institution

12345 Lake City Way NE #151

Seattle, WA 98125

Tel: +1-206-367-2152

For More information, please contact:

The Japan Foundation Los Angeles

Tel: 323-761-7510 (Ext: 105)

E-mail: jflajleap@jflalc.org