For schools starting out with Japanese

Our school is thinking of trying Japanese. Where should we start?

1. Why not arrange a taster session at your school through our Japanese Taster for Schools Programme, so that you and your students can find out first-hand what it is like to learn Japanese? Volunteers introduce basic Japanese language such as numbers and greetings in a fun and interactive.

2. Try holding a Japan Day. You may be able to hire a chest of Japanese cultural artefacts from the Embassy of Japan or the Japan Society, and apply for a Japan Society Small Grant to help you fund the event.

3. Attend one of our events for schools. The Japan Conference for Schools is a great way for teachers to hear seminars by others who have introduced Japanese or done Japan-related projects with their students. Senior teachers can find out more about introducing Japanese at our annual Head Start course. You can read about all of our upcoming Japanese Language events here.

4. Get in contact with other schools teaching Japanese. We have a list of schools teaching Japanese here, and you can read in-depth case studies about some of these schools here. We also have an email-discussion group for Japanese teachers, JLE-UK, which is a fantastic way to network.

5. Apply for funding through our Local Project Support Programme. We are keen to support projects that promote the introduction of Japanese into the curriculum at primary and secondary schools.

6. Contact us! If you would like any advice at all on introducing Japanese at your school, even as a club or enrichment activity, we would be delighted to help you. We can provide advice on lesson planning, where to find suitable resources, how to teach Japanese language and even assist you in finding a teacher. Click here to view our contact details.

Click here to view our information sheet about support available for schools with Japanese

Click here to view a list of resources useful for schools starting out with Japanese.

Our school is thinking of starting a new language. Why should we consider Japanese?

Here are just a few reasons why offering Japanese will benefit your school and your students:

1. At secondary schools, the government is encouraging more flexible learning of a wider range of European and world languages, including Japanese. As for primary schools, the UK government is currently considering its plans for the national curriculum, but recently issued a statement saying “Over 90% of primary schools are already offering some language teaching to their 7-11 year olds. Given its importance, primary schools that are teaching languages should continue to do so.”

2. Japanese language boosts cultural diversity and international awareness within the school.

3. Japanese gives students a rare opportunity to learn a non-European language with an entirely different writing system. It also gives students a sense of achievement from knowing a less common language

4. Beginner’s spoken Japanese is comparatively easy – Japanese has only two irregular verbs, no genders, simple pronunciation, no plurals and is not a tone language!

5. Japanese is linked a fascinating culture, both modern (computer games, manga, anime, the TV drama Heroes…) and traditional (origami, samurai, ninja, martial arts, taiko drumming…)

6. Many schools find that Japanese appeals to boys, as well as students who have not enjoyed other languages.

7. There is a huge amount of support available for teaching Japanese, including many free resources, funding for school partnerships and other projects, and a network of Japanese teachers through the JLE-UK email list. Finally, our staff will help you with any questions you have about Japanese, and can offer specialist advice on teaching the language.

How many schools teach Japanese?

As of 2012, around 300 primary schools, secondary schools and sixth form colleges are teaching Japanese in the UK. You can see the full list of schools here and case studies of particular schools here. This figure includes those teaching within the curriculum as well as those teaching it as an extra-curricular subject. The majority of these schools are secondary schools, but this number also includes some primary schools. The teaching of Japanese in UK schools has been growing over the last decade. Click here to see statistics on Japanese GCSE, AS and A2 exam entries.

What is the set-up of Japanese in UK schools?

This varies a lot between schools. Many schools offer Japanese as an extra-curricular subject. For others, Japanese is taught within the curriculum, in the same way as other languages. Other schools don’t teach it regularly but offer taster sessions. Primary schools that teach Japanese often use many Japan-related ideas across the curriculum. Sometimes the Japanese teacher is a full-time teacher who teaches other subjects (often other languages). Sometimes the teacher is not based at the school, but visits the school regularly to teach Japanese. Many teachers are native speakers of Japanese, but many are not. Some schools have a Japanese language assistant. Click here to read case studies of schools teaching Japanese.

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Finding someone to teach Japanese

How can we get hold of a Japanese teacher?

Schools, universities and other institutions are welcome to advertise for a teacher of Japanese on our website. This is free of charge. When new jobs are advertised on our website, we also notify members of JLE-UK, our email discussion list for teachers of Japanese. You may also be interested in arranging for a Japanese language assistant through the British Council.

How can I arrange for a Japanese Language Assistant to teach at my school?

The British Council language assistants department arranges for Japanese Language Assistants to work in UK schools. These assistants are likely to be training to teach Japanese as a foreign language at university, and can:

• Work with Japanese teachers in the classroom if Japanese is already formally taught at your school, or
• Work on their own with small groups of pupils if they are introducing Japanese to your school.
• Run lunchtime Japanese clubs where the focus is mainly on Japanese culture.
• Help set up links with schools in Japan and help contribute to international projects. (Link to British Council website)

If you are interested in introducing Japanese into your school, but would only have a few hours of Japanese on your timetable each week, bear in mind that language assistants can be shared among up to three schools in your area (including primary schools), with one school acting as the official host for administrative and support purposes. Click here to see a list of UK schools teaching Japanese. Please see the British Council website for further information on how to apply for a Japanese language assistant.

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Teaching Resources

How can we get hold of Japanese resources?

Our library holds around 9,000 books and audio-visual materials, and is the only one in the UK dedicated to Japanese language education. Teachers of Japanese at institutions can join the library as full members; others are welcome to use the library on a reference-only basis. We offer a loan-by-post service to full members. We also offer many free online resources, including the popular Ready Steady NihonGO! (suitable for Key Stage 2) and CHIKARA (suitable for GCSE).
Finally, you can buy resources from these Japanese bookshops in the UK.

Which textbook should I use?

Although we don’t endorse particular textbooks, we do offer lists of resources that are suitable for different levels, such as primary, GCSE, A-level, and resources for starters. Click here to view these lists. In addition, our librarian and language advisors would be happy to advise you on the contents of resources, to help you find ones that are suitable for your needs. Click here for contact details.

Where can I buy Japanese books?

JP- Books
Mitsukoshi, Dorland House, 14-20 Regent Street, London, SW1Y 4PH.
Tel: 020 7839 4839
Email: info@jpbooks.co.uk

Japan Centre Bookshop
19 Air Street, Soho, London, W1B 5AG.
Tel: 020 3405 1150
Email: bookshop_manager@japancentre.com

Can I join your library?

Teachers of Japanese at institutions can join the library as full members; others are welcome to use the library on a reference-only basis. We offer a loan-by-post service to full members. For more information, click here.

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Exams

Can our students take any exams in Japanese?

Yes. Japanese exams that are commonly taken by school students in the UK include GCSE, AS, A2, Asset qualifications, CBLC and IB. Click here for more details about these exams. Click here to see statistics on Japanese GCSE, AS and A2 exam entries.

What exams are available for adult learners of Japanese?

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test is a popular exam among adult learners of Japanese. The test is available at five levels and is held twice a year in London. For information about other Japanese exams, click here.

How can I find out more about preparing my students for exams?

We run or co-organise regular courses for teachers, and many of these focus on Japanese exams such as GCSE, A-level, Asset and IB. For background information about Japanese exams, click here.

Funding for Japanese and projects with partner schools

Is there any funding available to support Japanese at our school?

Yes! The British Council, Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation and the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation offer funding for various Japan-related projects and exchanges. The Japan Society Small Grants are grants to support small-scale projects and events taking place in the UK.

How can I set up an exchange with a school in Japan?

The Japan Society locates partner schools in Japan and supports both UK and Japanese schools as they develop their exchange activities. This includes language support for exchange between students using the bilingual Japan UK LIVE! website, to enable them to communicate freely and creatively. The British Council’s Global Gateway also offers a school partner-finding service with 6,000 schools from every continent signed up. Many organisations offer funding for projects with Japanese partner schools.

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Networking and advice

Do you have a list of schools teaching Japanese?

Yes! Click here to see it.

How can I get in touch with other schools teaching Japanese?

Click here to see a list of schools in the UK that teach Japanese. Click here to sign up to JLE-UK, our email discussion list for teachers of Japanese and others interested in this area.

I want advice on teaching some difficult grammar points in Japanese. Can you help?

Certainly! Our Japanese language advisors would be delighted to answer your questions and give you advice. Click here for contact details.

You may also find it useful to sign up to our email discussion list, JLE-UK, and ask other teachers of Japanese for their advice.

I have run out of teaching ideas – help!

Why not check out our online Teaching Resources for some new ideas, or visit our library? You are also welcome to contact our Japanese language advisors and our library and resource information officer to ask their advice. Click here for contact details. You can also sign up to our email discussion list, JLE-UK, and ask other teachers of Japanese for their advice.

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Courses for teachers of Japanese

I’m teaching Japanese, but my Japanese is very rusty. Can you help?

Absolutely! In London, we offer Japanese Refresher Courses, for non-native speaking teachers of Japanese, every summer. Our four-week evening course, “Japanese Plus” is held three times a year, and is aimed at adult learners at around JLPT level 2/N2. The Japan Foundation also offers 2-month and 6-month language courses in Urawa, Japan, for non-native speaking Japanese teachers. There is no course fee for any of these, although we do not cover travel expenses. If you would like to find out about private tutors, evening or part-time courses in your area, or links to help you learn Japanese, please click here.

Finally, for teachers with a basic level of Japanese, Japan Foundation Sydney offers an online course, J-Basic. Please click here for more information.

What courses do you offer for teachers of Japanese?

We run and co-organise many different courses for teachers of Japanese, including exam-based training courses focusing on GCSE, Asset Languages, and IB qualifications in Japanese. We also offer workshops about using the CHIKARA resources for GCSE Japanese. Native- and non-native speaking teachers above a particular level of Japanese can apply for our training programmes in Urawa and Alsace. For non-native speaking teachers who want to improve their Japanese, we offer Japanese refresher courses in London every summer, as well as 4-week, 2-month and 6-month language courses in Urawa, Japan. We additionally hold an online course for teachers with a basic level of Japanese, J-Basic. Finally, the Japan Conference for Schools is not specifically aimed at teachers of Japanese but may be a helpful way to share ideas and network.

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Becoming a teacher of Japanese

How can I become a Japanese teacher in a UK school?

Click here to download the guidelines and information about qualifications needed in order to teach Japanese in a UK school. There is a Japanese version available here

Is it possible to teach Japanese full-time?

Although the number of schools offering Japanese has been increasing, only a very small number of schools have enough Japanese on the curriculum to merit appointing a full-time teacher just for Japanese. However, there are many full-time secondary teachers who teach Japanese as one of their main subjects, usually alongside other languages. Other teachers offer Japanese part-time at several different schools.

How do I search for Japanese language teaching vacancies?

Click here to see our teaching jobs page.

How can I get more experience of teaching Japanese in the UK?

Native or fluent speakers of Japanese can join our Japanese Taster for Schools volunteer programme, and gain experience of running Japanese language tasters in schools.

I would like to teach Japanese as a private tutor. Can you help me find new students?

Click here to advertise yourself as a private tutor on our website.

I’m not a native speaker of Japanese. How good does my Japanese have to be to teach it?

Your Japanese doesn’t have to be perfect to teach it. As an example, most non-native teachers at UK secondary schools have around level 2/N2 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. However, there are also many excellent teachers with Japanese below this level, who are successfully introducing Japanese language and culture in schools.

Do you have a list of schools that offer Japanese in the UK?

Yes! Click here to see it.

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Learning Japanese in the UK

Do you run any courses for Japanese learners?

We currently run two regular events for Japanese learners, Japanese from Scratch and Japanese Plus.

Japanese from Scratch is a new series of Japanese language and culture workshops from the Japan Foundation London, suitable for those who are interested in learning Japanese but haven't started yet, or those who have just started learning. Workshops are held for a single evening several times a year, and each workshop focuses on a different theme. Please click here for more information.

Japanese Plus is a new Japanese language course designed for adult learners interested in updating and refreshing their knowledge about Japan whilst practising their Japanese language skills in a series of evening classes at the Japan Foundation London. The course level is aimed at learners with a Japanese level of approx. JLPT Level 2 / N2 and above. Please click here for more information.

Where else can I study Japanese in the UK?

To search for an evening class or part-time course in Japanese, please use the following websites:

• www.floodlight.co.uk
• www.hotcourses.com

(Please note the Japan Foundation cannot recommend particular institutions or courses.)

Our links section has some useful websites to help you learn Japanese. Please click here for a list of Japanese tutors around the UK. Click here to go to the UCAS website and search for degree courses in or with Japanese.

Where can I buy Japanese books?

JP- Books
Mitsukoshi, Dorland House, 14-20 Regent Street, London, SW1Y 4PH.
Tel: 020 7839 4839
Email: info@jpbooks.co.uk

Japan Centre Bookshop
19 Air Street, Soho, London, W1B 5AG.
Tel: 020 3405 1150
Email: bookshop_manager@japancentre.com

What Japanese-language examinations can I take in the UK?

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test is a popular exam among adult learners of Japanese. At the moment, the test is available at four levels and is held once a year in London. For information about other Japanese exams, click here.

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Learning Japanese in Japan

Where can I study Japanese in Japan?

Organisations that can help:

• Japan Student Services Organisation (formerly AIEJ)
• Study in Japan : a guide provided by the government
• The Embassy of Japan
• Language Schools Guide
• The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation
• ISA
• WWOOF Japan : A Japanese farm stay organisation
• Language schools in Japan
• Organise a home stay
• Global 30

Who can help me to arrange a gap year in Japan?

Organisations that can help:

Working Holiday Scheme
This scheme offers Britons between the ages of 18 and 25 years the opportunity to experience living and working in Japan for up to one year.
Please get in touch with The Consulate General of Japan in London:
Tel: 020 7465 6565

Lattitude (formerly Gap Activity Projects)
Placements available through Lattitude take place in care centres, hospitals and schools.
Email: volunteer@lattitude.org.uk
Tel: 0118 959 4914

Project Trust
Volunteers have the opportunity to participate in team teaching or community based work, either in Tokyo or Hokkaido.
Tel: 020 7796 1170/1/3
Email: info@projecttrust.org.uk

Intercultural Youth Exchange (icye)
Projects include teaching sports at different YMCA's, working with children, fair trade shops, campaign organisations and centres for disabled people.
Tel: 0870 774 3486

Japan School-Exchange
Volunteers are based at Japanese schools, funded by the Japanese Government and administered in the UK by Youth for Understanding.
Tel: 0141 812 5561
Email: yfu@holliday123.freeserve.co.uk
For more information: contact The Year Out Group, an association of leading Year Out organizations.

The Year Out Group:
Tel: 07980 395789
Email: info@yearoutgroup.org