2027 TRAINING PROGRAMS for JAPANESE-LANGUAGE TEACHERS

The Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa (JFJLI, Urawa) provides training opportunities in Japan (Saitama Prefecture) for Japanese-language teachers teaching outside of Japan. The eligibility, duration, and content differ in every program.

• Program Outline (PDF:677KB)
• JFJLI, Urawa “Training Programs”
• JFJLI, Urawa “Former participants voice”(in Japanese)

 

1. Basic Training Program [Six Months] (for non-native speakers of Japanese)
2. Japanese Language Program [Seven Weeks] (for non-native speakers of Japanese)
3. Japanese Teaching Methods Program [Six Weeks/Summer/Winter Sessions] (for non-native speakers of Japanese)

Note: Self-study courses for Japanese-language teachers, "Teaching Methods for Japanese Language Teachers Online Course" on our website "JF Japanese e-Learning Minato." We will gradually increase the content, so please take advantage of it. website: https://minato-jf.jp/ The on-demand teaching materials used in the courses are also uploaded on the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa（JFJLI, Urawa） website. website: https://www.jpf.go.jp/j/urawa/j_rsorcs/teaching-methods.html

Grant Coverage

There are no tuition fees. Participants will reside at the Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa (single rooms) and we will cover meals, and insurance for sickness and injury during  he training period. We will NOT cover airfare for US citizens.

Program Venue

Japan Foundation - Japanese Language Institute (in Urawa, Japan)

Application Deadline

Apply through Online Application Portal by 1 p.m., December 1st, 2026 (Japan Standard Time) [8PM, November 30th , 2026 Pacific Time]

Contact:

Click here and use the form to contact us with any questions or to inform us of your intention to apply to one of these programs (Select Anything Related to Japanese Language Education).

Application Materials

• Application Instructions/Documents Kit (English) (ZIP:3.6MB) (Contents of ZIP File: PDF, Word)
• Application Instructions/Documents Kit (Japanese) (ZIP:5.9MB) (Contents of ZIP File: PDF, Word)

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1. [BT] Basic Training Program (Long-term)

Duration: August 31, 2027 – February 24, 2028 (tentative)

This program is a 6-month program designed for teachers who are early in their career with an opportunity to improve their Japanese-language skills, acquire the basic teaching methodology, and deepen their knowledge of Japan.

Notification of Results

Late April 2027

2. [JT] Japanese Language Program

Duration: June 1, 2027 - July 22, 2027 (tentative)

This program is a seven-week program designed to provide an opportunity to improve their Japanese-language skill which is necessary as teachers of Japanese-language, as well as deepen their knowledge of Japan  . There will be NO lessons of Japanese-language teaching methodology.

Notification of Results

Late March 2027

3. [MT] Comprehensive Japanese Teaching Methods Program

Duration: July 13, 2027 - August 26, 2027 (tentative)

Training Programs of six weeks duration, which is designed to improve the teaching methodology and deepen their knowledge of Japan. There will be NO lessons for improving Japanese-language skill.

Past Participant Comments

Madeleine Graham, Odyssey Middle School (San Mateo, CA)
Kristin Wingate, Cranford Public Schools (Cranford, NJ)
Yunchuan Chen, Duke University (Durham, NC)

Notification of Results

Late March 2027