Quarter century process of Japanese teacher training course for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language in the Faculty of Intercultural Studies in Yamaguchi Prefectural University
Academic Archives of Yamaguchi Prefectural University Volume 15
Page 249-256
published_at 2022-03-31
Title
山口県立大学国際文化学部日本語教員養成課程四半世紀の歩み
Quarter century process of Japanese teacher training course for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language in the Faculty of Intercultural Studies in Yamaguchi Prefectural University
Abstract
Japanese teacher training course for teaching Japanese as a foreign language in Yamaguchi Prefectural University was instituted as one of the qualification licenses with the foundation of the Faculty of Intercultural Studies in April, 1994.
Since our establishment we have sent more than 500 graduates out to society. I engaged in the teacher training program as a chief for 28 years, and now, upon retiring in March of 2021, look back on more than a quarter century of this work.
During these 28 years, we changed the curriculum three times to meet the needs of the times. 570 students participated in domestic training of the Teaching Japanese as a foreign language course, which was the most important core subject. We conducted this course 26 times without fail. In terms of the overseas training, 195 students were sent as trainees mainly to secondary schools. 125 overseas Japanese assistants were sent to 23 organizations of eight countries, and this constituted the main characteristic of the Japanese teacher training course in Yamaguchi Prefectural University. The reason why we focused on the experience in foreign countries was that we expected our students to make much of the relationship with the people and experience the enjoyment felt through teaching Japanese. As a result, we hoped the people who come to understand Japan and Japanese culture would increase, and that they will further help in building a peaceful world. Finally, we showed there are many graduates, who are now Japanese specialists in The Japan Foundation, Japanese lecturers in university or Japanese teachers in Japanese language schools, with all playing an active role at home and abroad.
We also showed a variety of examples of career paths with Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language as one of their life choices.
Since our establishment we have sent more than 500 graduates out to society. I engaged in the teacher training program as a chief for 28 years, and now, upon retiring in March of 2021, look back on more than a quarter century of this work.
During these 28 years, we changed the curriculum three times to meet the needs of the times. 570 students participated in domestic training of the Teaching Japanese as a foreign language course, which was the most important core subject. We conducted this course 26 times without fail. In terms of the overseas training, 195 students were sent as trainees mainly to secondary schools. 125 overseas Japanese assistants were sent to 23 organizations of eight countries, and this constituted the main characteristic of the Japanese teacher training course in Yamaguchi Prefectural University. The reason why we focused on the experience in foreign countries was that we expected our students to make much of the relationship with the people and experience the enjoyment felt through teaching Japanese. As a result, we hoped the people who come to understand Japan and Japanese culture would increase, and that they will further help in building a peaceful world. Finally, we showed there are many graduates, who are now Japanese specialists in The Japan Foundation, Japanese lecturers in university or Japanese teachers in Japanese language schools, with all playing an active role at home and abroad.
We also showed a variety of examples of career paths with Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language as one of their life choices.
Source Identifiers
Resource Type
departmental bulletin paper
Date Issued
2022-03-31
File Version
Version of Record
Access Rights
open access
Relations
[ISSN]2189-4825