This program provides specialists (Researchers, Postgraduate Students, Librarians, Museum Curators, etc.) who need a good command of Japanese language to conduct field work and research through an intensive residential training course on the Japanese language.
There are no tuition fees. Participants will reside at the Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai (single rooms) and we will cover meals, teaching materials, field trip expenses, and overseas travel insurance. Airfare will NOT be covered for US applicants.
There are 2-month and 6-month courses, and both courses are primarily "language training" courses for participants requiring Japanese language proficiency for specialized work and research activities. Professional education in their specific area of expertise is NOT included in the curriculum.
Two-Month Course: June, 2019 – August, 2019 (Date varies but typically the first week of June to the second week of August)
This course focuses on general Japanese language proficiency and aims to assist participants improve speaking, hearing, reading, and writing skills. Optional lessons are also offered to meet individual Japanese language needs for specialized work purposes and academic research activities. Moreover, the program includes some activities for enhancing participants' understanding of Japanese society, such as social events with the local community, field trips, etc.
Two-Month Course Program Flow Chart (PDF)
Gina Kim (University of California, San Diego) [2017-2018]
Karen Tsai (University of California, Santa Barbara) [2017-2018]
Lin Li (University of Wisconsin - Madison) [2016-2017]
Samuel Timinsky (University of Wisconsin - Madison) [2016-2017]
Six-Month Course: October, 2019 – April, 2020
This course focuses on Japanese language proficiency necessary for specialized work or research activities. It aims to assist participants acquire Japanese language skills necessary to collect and present information and network with people in their fields. It also enables participants to carry out various kinds of activities such as visits to other institutions, interviewing professionals, etc. And through these activities they will develop their practical Japanese language skills. Hence it is essential for participants to have a specific and concrete theme of their work/study/research and to be independent and willing enough to design and plan their major field-related activities to be carried out outside the Japan Foundation Japanese Language Institute, Kansai. Moreover, the program includes some activities for enhancing participants' understanding of Japanese society, such as social events with the local community, field trips, etc.
Six-Month Course Program Flow Chart (PDF)
Elizabeth McDonald (University of California, Riverside) [2016-2017]
(Your application must ARRIVE by this date, this is NOT a postmark.)
Mailing Address:
Japanese Language Program for Specialists
Japan Foundation, Los Angeles
5700 Wilshire Blvd. STE 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Click here and select Japanese Training Programs from the online form to contact us with any questions or to inform us of your intention to apply to one of these programs.
Potential participants should currently be active as a researcher, postgraduate student, librarian, or museum curator in the fields such as Social Sciences and Humanities, and their work/project should be related to Japan.