Improving Japanese Language Education in Local Communities

• Japanese Language Education Program for "Foreigners Living in Japan" (since 2007)

This program is designed to enable foreign residents in Japan to attain the level of Japanese language required for daily living. It has been in place since 2007, and aims to promote Japanese language education by supporting outstanding examples of Japanese language education in local communities, and providing training and research opportunities that will improve Japanese language education.
In 2012, when the program framework was modified, the following programs were put in place.

1. Practical programs for community Japanese language education (A)
Japanese language classes for Foreigners Living in Japan, and training of instructors and provision of educational materials required for offering the class

2. Practical programs for community Japanese language education (B)
Promoting the preparation of a system of Japanese language education for Foreigners Living in Japan

3. Local-level Japanese language start-up program for the Japanese Language Education Program for "Foreigners Living in Japan"

4. Training courses for coordinators of community Japanese language education
Training designed for future leaders of community Japanese language trainers

• Training for Japanese language trainers at the prefectural and municipal level (since 2008)

Establishing a system for learning Japanese language as a social communication tool is essential to integrating foreign residents as members of society, and preventing social marginalization due to limitations in language skill.

Thus, the Agency for Cultural Affairs provides training for Japanese language trainers at the prefectural and municipal level, so that they can share information about their efforts with the national and municipal governments, or at associations for international exchange established by local governments, and improve their abilities to design and develop local policies for Japanese language education. (since 2008)
(This has been devolved to prefectures and municipalities since 2013)

Resource for Japanese Language Education

• Improvement of Content and Methods of Japanese Language Education for Foreigners Living in Japan (Curriculum, Guide Book, Examples of Material, Assessment of Proficiency, Assessment of Execution, Handbook)

  In July 2007, the Commission on Japanese Language Education was established within the Japanese Language Division of the Council for Cultural Affairs, in order to carry out systematic studies of the content and methods of Japanese language education for foreign residents, to enable people to live rewarding lives using Japanese language as members of Japanese society.

• NEWS (NIHONGO Education contents Web sharing System)

• Database of proposed standard curricula of Japanese language education for "Foreigners Living in Japan"

• Handbook of Learning Japanese and Life in Japan

  The Agency for Cultural Affairs has developed the Handbook of Learning Japanese and Life in Japan to help foreigners new to life in Japan to learn the Japanese language. This handbook discusses the importance of learning Japanese and provides information on Japanese language education and daily life as well as introductory Japanese knowledge. It is available in five languages (Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, and English translation with the original Japanese).

• Japanese language education for returnees from China

  From 1982 to 2009, the Agency for Cultural Affairs had developed and provided Japanese study materials for people returning from China to help them learn Japanese and settle in Japan smoothly. Although the study materials are not handed out anymore, the material is available for download from the Japanese website.

• Improving Japanese language teaching

  The Agency has developed a teaching guide for Japanese language to provide personalized instructions addressing a variety of purposes for studying Japanese.
  - Gaikokujin business kankeisha notameno nihongo kyoiku Q&A (Q&A on Japanese Education for Foreign Businesspeople) (August 1994)
  - Ibunkarikai notameno nihongo kyoiku Q&A (Q&A on Japanese Education for Cross-cultural Understanding) (August 1994)
  - Gijutsu kenshusei notameno nihongo kyoiku Q&A (Q&A on Japanese Education for Technical Students) (March 1997)
  - Chugo kukikokusha noameno nihongo kyoiku Q&A (Q&A on Japanese Education for Returnees from China) (March 1997)

Japanese Language Education for Refugees

• Program for Japanese Language Education for Convention Refugees and Resettled Refugees

  As part of a program to support the settlement of convention refugees, the Agency for Cultural Affairs has provided Japanese language education at support facilities for refugees' settlement. The Agency also introduced a government pilot project in 2010 to provide Japanese language education to refugees from Myanmar who were accepted for refugee resettlement.

• Japanese language education program for convention refugees

  [1] Japanese language education at a resettlement support facility (about 180 days)

  [2] Provision of Japanese language learning materials

  [3] Instruction and advice by counsellors on Japanese language education

• Japanese language education program for refugees relocated for resettlement

  [1] Japanese language education at resettlement support facilities (about 180 days)

  [2] Provision of Japanese language learning materials

  [3] Instruction and advice from counsellors on Japanese language education

  [4] Survey and verification of the effect of Japanese language education

  [5] Building a post-resettlement Japanese language learning support system