What's On

The Japan Foundation offices (Madrid, Colon, London and Paris) will jointly hold an online teachers’ seminar on the topic ‘Learners are people who “can do”! : Take a Look into Language Education from the CEFR's “Can Do” and “Mediation” on 22nd November 2024 (Friday).

The theme, date and time of the seminar are as follows. Please find the event details below written in Japanese.

*Please note that information is only available in Japanese, as the seminar will be conducted in Japanese. Thank you for your understanding.

 Theme: Learners are people who ‘can do’! : Let's Take a Look at Language Education through the CEFR's ‘Can Do’ and ‘Mediation’

 Date/Time: 22nd November 2024 (Friday),  9:00-11:30 (GMT/UTC) / 10:00-12:30 (CET)

 Application Deadline: 10th November 2024 (Sunday)

Online form

 Enquiries:

 The Japan Foundation, Madrid:  nihongo.kyoshi@jpf.go.jp  (Japanese / Spanish)

 The Japan Foundation, London enquiries: events.japanese@jpf.go.jp  (Japanese / English)

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このたびマドリード日本文化センターが中心となり、国際交流基金の欧州4拠点共催で2024年11月22日（金）にオンライン日本語教師研修会を開催する運びとなりました。

今回のテーマは【学習者は「できる」人である！～CEFRが描くcan doと仲介からことばの教育をのぞいてみよう～】　

講師に奥村三菜子先生をお呼びしての開催です！

多くの方にご参加いただけると幸いです。

テーマ：学習者は「できる」人である！

                 ～CEFRが描くcan doと仲介からことばの教育をのぞいてみよう～

日時：2024年11月22日（金）9:00-11:30 （英国・アイルランド）/10:00-12:30（中央ヨーロッパ）

形式：オンライン（Zoom）

使用言語：日本語

対象：
・欧州在住の日本語教師を優先しますが、他地域からもご参加できます
・CEFRを使った実践やCan-doや「仲介」の実践にご関心がある方
・オンラインレッスンやプライベートレッスンをされている方も大歓迎！

講師：奥村三菜子  先生 （NPO法人YYJ・ゆるくてやさしい日本語のなかまたち、副理事）

申込：Online form　＊締切：11月10日（日）

チラシ

※ポスターの時刻は、スペイン・ポルトガル時刻で表示されています。英国、アイルランドからのご参加のみなさまは、ポルトガルと同じ時間帯です。どうぞ時差にご注意ください。

講師からのメッセージ：

「できない」を「できる」にすることだけが教育ではありません。「できる」を「もっとできる」にすることも教育です。学習者本人も忘れていた／気づいていなかった「できる」を学びの場で発掘するために、私たちには何ができるでしょう？　CEFRが描くcan doと仲介の考え方からそのヒントを探ってみませんか？

講師略歴：

NPO法人YYJ・ゆるくてやさしい日本語のなかまたち、副理事

1990年代から日本語教育に携わる。1999年に赴任したドイツでCEFRと出会い、以来、CEFRを参照した教育実践、ワークショップ、教師研修等を多数行う。現在は、2019年に仲間と設立したNPO法人で、日本語教師同士および日本語教育と隣接領域をつなぎ、共に支え合うことができる場づくりの活動を行っている。

　主な著書：

　『日本語教師のためのCEFR』（共編著，くろしお出版，2016）

　『CEFR-CVとことばの教育』（共著，くろしお出版，2024）

　『日本語を教えてみたいと思ったときに読む本』（共著，コスモピア，2022）

　＊NPO法人YYJホームページ：https://www.yyjnpo.com

問い合わせ先 :
国際交流基金マドリード日本文化センター 　nihongo.kyoshi@jpf.go.jp

Date:	18 October 2024 - 22 November 2024
Download 1124 オンライン講演会_フライヤ2

Applications are now open for JaLaChamp 2025!

JaLaChamp, or Japanese Language Championship for Young Learners UK, is a contest for primary and secondary school students studying Japanese. There are two categories - the speech category, where students give a speech on a theme of their choice, and the video category where students are asked to create an original video either by individual or part of a group.

The world is changing very quickly. Technology is advancing, and nowadays if we have a computer or a smartphone we can send a message to anyone in the world. In a time like this, we should always consider the following questions: “What message do I want to convey and how?” Using the voice, the written word, visuals, design and more – there are many ways to express ourselves. It is important to be able to combine these different choices of expression to create a way of expressing ourselves that others can understand, empathise with or be persuaded by.

We want to encourage students to share with us their thoughts and viewpoints, as well as show us their creativity in full and have fun challenging themselves by entering this contest and using their Japanese!

Students can choose the category/division they apply for according to their age and level of Japanese.

Application deadline for Speech Category: Tuesday, 4^th February 2025 at 15:00

Application deadline for Video Category: Tuesday, 4^th March 2025 at 15:00

JaLaChamp 2025’s video category themes are:

Primary School: わたし（たち）の好(す)きな場所(ばしょ) “My/Our Favourite Place”

Secondary School 1: 私(わたし)（たち）がやってみたいこと “Something I/We Want to Try”

Secondary School 2: 私(わたし)（たち）が過去(かこ)から学(まな)べること “What I/We Can Learn from the Past”

The Finals Day is scheduled to be held on Saturday, 10^th May 2025, in London.

For more information about each category and about eligibility, please see the application guidelines below:

Download English Guidelines/ Japanese Guidelines

Please click here for the Speech Category Application Form.

Please click here for the Video Category Application Form.

Download the JaLaChamp 2025 poster

Videos from JaLaChamp 2024 Finals Day

Date:	2 September 2024 - 4 March 2025
Download JaLaChamp2025_Application Guideline_EN
Download JaLaChamp2025_Application Guideline_JP
Download JaLaChamp 2025 Poster
Download JaLaChamp2025_Consent Form Video Category

We are delighted to announce that the 20th Japanese Speech Contest for University Students is open for applications!

This contest gives students the chance to demonstrate their Japanese speaking skills, and to make their voices heard in Japanese. Finalists will be invited to give their speeches and presentations at the speech contest finals which will be held at King’s College London on Saturday 1st March 2025.

There will be fantastic prizes to finalists.

:: Contest Aims

The main purpose of the event is to improve the speaking and presentation skills of students studying Japanese as a foreign language. Through this event, we hope to promote Japanese language learning at higher education level in the UK and Ireland.

:: Who can apply?

The contest is aimed at undergraduate students who are currently studying Japanese as a foreign language at a university in the UK or Ireland.

There are three different categories*:

*Please be advised that contestants are expected to choose appropriate topics according to the category to which they are applying. Please read the aims of each category carefully as they have been modified since 2023.

1. Speech Category

Aim:

To discuss and/or argue a topic of your choice and offer opinions, suggestions and/or solutions.

Eligibility:

·        Undergraduate students who are studying a Japanese course aiming for the equivalent of JF standard C1 or C2* at a university in the UK or Ireland including, as an elective, optional or other university-based language course.

·        Those who have less than a total of three years’ residence in Japan since the age of six.

*      Five finalists will be selected.

Application Deadline: Monday 4th November 2024  (15:00 GMT)

2. Individual Presentation Category

Aim:

To explain your chosen topic and to convey your opinion or message using PowerPoint slides.

Eligibility:

·        Undergraduate students who are studying a Japanese course aiming for the equivalent of JF standard B1 or B2* at a university in the UK or Ireland.

·        Those who have spent not more than 12 months in total in Japan.

*      Five finalists will be selected.

Application Deadline: Monday 2nd December 2024 (15:00 GMT)

3. Group Presentation Category

Aim:

to introduce a topic related to the U.K. or another country outside of Japan.

Eligibility:

·        Undergraduate students who are studying a Japanese course aiming for the equivalent of JF standard A1 or A2* at a university in the UK or Ireland.

·        Groups of two to four students.

·        Postgraduate students alongside undergraduate student(s).

*      Five finalist groups will be selected.

Application Deadline: Monday 9^th December 2024 (15:00 GMT)

*Details of JF Standard can be found here: https://www.jfstandard.jpf.go.jp/pdf/web_whole_en.pdf  

Please see the files below for the contest poster, application guidelines for each category, and FAQ. URL for online application form can be found in the Application Guidelines for each category.

Contest Poster

Speech Category Application Guidelines

Individual Presentation Category Application Guidelines

Group Presentation Category Application Guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions

See videos from previous University Speech Contest Finals Day here.

Please email speechcontest@jpf.go.jp if you have any questions.

Date:	2 September 2024 - 9 December 2024
Download 20th Speech Contest Application Poster
Download SpC20 Speech Category guidelines
Download SpC20 Indivi Presen Category guidelines
Download SpC20 Group Presen Category guidelines
Download SpC20 FAQ

The Japan Foundation (JF) conducts its “Survey on Japanese Language Education” every three years in order to confirm the current state of Japanese language education in countries and regions around the world.

The information collected is very important as the results are widely used as basic data to understand the situation of Japanese language education all around the world.

The results will be compiled into a report containing the latest information concerning the current state of Japanese language education. They will also be utilised in our "search engine for institutions offering Japanese-language education".

The 2024 survey will be conducted from September 2024, but we wish to tell you basic information about the survey below. Additionally, your cooperation would be appreciated at this stage with item “5.” (“Request for information about institutions offering Japanese education”).

1.     Survey coverage

2.     Survey items

3.     Survey method

4.     Reward for responding to survey

5.     Request for information about institutions offering Japanese education.

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1. Survey coverage:

All organisations that potentially offer Japanese language education outside Japan.

The following organisations are NOT covered by the survey:

• Groups and activities that are not associated with an actual organisation
• Overseas educational institutions that offer only ‘kokugo’ (Japanese national language) education　

*However, overseas educational institutions offering courses that are not ‘kokugo’ education (Japanese as a heritage language / foreign language) will be covered at the departmental/course level.

• Broadcasters or website operators providing Japanese-language education for an unspecified number of people
• Short-term Japanese language experience activities

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2. Survey items:

(11 questions in total. The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete).

Basic information on your organisation (organisation name, name of Japanese-language education department , address / URL, contact information, institution type, educational stage (level) (in formal education terms, primary / secondary (lower/upper) / higher, other education), positioning of Japanese-language learning

Number of teachers (by education stage (level), breakdown of full-time/part-time, number of teachers who are native Japanese language speakers)

Number of Japanese language learners (breakdown by education stage (level))*

Whether degree awarding, Japanese language teacher training courses, and online classes are offered

Purposes and reasons for learners’ Japanese language learning, the state of Japanese language development at your organisation

*In the case of primary and secondary education, there is a question about the number of learners studying the Japanese language as a formal subject or as an extracurricular activity. In the case of universities, there is a question about the number of learners studying the Japanese language as a major, as a non-major, or as an extracurricular activity. Preparing these figures beforehand and having them at hand will help you in completing the survey smoothly.

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3. Survey method:

A questionnaire format to be answered online. The URL of the form will be sent to you via email.

*In some cases, we may seek your cooperation via a different method, such as over the telephone.

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4. Reward for responding to survey:

After you have submitted your response, you will be able to download supplementary Japanese language teaching materials created by the Japan Foundation. Please use them in your lessons.

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5. Request for information about institutions offering Japanese education.

Prior to the survey, we are seeking information on organisations that may teach Japanese in the UK. It does not have to be the organisation where you work . Ambiguous information is also welcome. If you know information on any organisations that may teach Japanese language, please provide information by the following ways. We appreciate your cooperation.

1.     Fill in the form.

2.     Send an email to LO_survey@jpf.go.jp

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For your information, the institute that can be searched from the website below are responded that they offer Japanese language education in the previous survey in 2021.

Search criteria | Survey Report on Japanese-Language Education Abroad 2021 (jpf.go.jp)

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If your organisation does not receive a request despite offering Japanese-language education, or you have any other inquiries, please contact us via the email above. 

We are hoping that a large number of organisations will cooperate with the survey and would like to ask for your help in this survey as without your answers your Japanese language education activities will not be reflected in the data and we will not have fully accurate figures, which would negatively affect the value of the survey.

Thank you for your support.

The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is a test for non-native speakers of Japanese which evaluates and certifies their Japanese-Language proficiency. The test takes place twice a year (July and December) in Japan and various locations around the world. Currently, it is the largest Japanese language test in the world, with more than 1.48 million people worldwide having registered for the JLPT in 2023.

The next December JLPT will take place on Sunday, 1^st December 2024. Registration will start at each test centre from early/ mid-August.  

Please check this page for any updates on UK test centres for the December 2024 JLPT. For application opening dates and registration details, please refer to each university’s website using the links below:

Japan Research Centre, SOAS University of London Applications CLOSED

University of Edinburgh Applications CLOSED

University of Leicester CLOSED

Please note that the JLPT is very popular and registration at each test centre will close when the test centre has reached its maximum capacity.

For more information about the test, please visit JLPT website.

Ø  Let’s Try Sample Questions!

Ø  Download a Guide to the 2024 Japanese-Language Proficiency Test.

Date:	1 December 2024
Download guide_2024B