JAPAN FOUNDATION LONDON LANGUAGE CENTRE
LEARNING

Courses for Learners


Courses and Events


The Japan Foundation London Language Centre runs various events throughout the year for learners of Japanese.
  1. Speech Contest for University Students
  2. 'Talking Contemporary Japan'
  3. Nihongo Cup
  4. Calendar of events
  5. Search for a Japanese class
  6. Courses and events for teachers

Japanese Speech Contest for University Students



This event, which was formerly part of the Sir Peter Parker Awards, provides an opportunity for students of Japanese to demonstrate their high level of spoken Japanese acquired in Japanese courses at HE institutions in the UK and Ireland.

The Fourth Japanese Speech Contest for University Students, co-organised by BATJ and the Japan Foundation, took place on Saturday, 21st February, at SOAS.

Click here to read a report on the contest.

Click here to see the programme.

The following organisations generously sponsored the 2009 Speech Contest:

jp-books logo jal logo japan center logo Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation logo
baker&mckenzie logo ricoh logo toshiba logo

 

Details for the next contest will be announced here when they are available.

Please click here for more information about the third speech contest which was held on Saturday 2nd February 2008.

Please click here for information about the second speech contest which was held on Saturday 3rd February 2007.

To read about the first speech contest which was held on Saturday January 28th 2006 see Mado Volume 25.



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'Talking Contemporary Japan'


‘Talking Contemporary Japan’ is 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 Language Centre. Classes are conducted in Japanese and participants should have Japanese language ability equivalent to JLPT level 2 or above.

The most recent Talking Contemporary Japan course took place in June 2009. Details of the next course will be announced here when they are available.

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Previous ‘Talking Contemporary Japan courses' have included:

  • Japan's Past Meets the Present
    Participants studied the Heian people and their descendants and learned how traditional culture remains part of the lives of modern Japanese people. Click here to read about the course.

  • Investigating Japanese Mysteries
    Participants discussed Japanese mystery stories and tried to solve them. Click here for a report on the course.

  • Exploring Japanese Culture through Comedy
    In this course participants learned about Japanese comedy from the Edo period through to contemporary Japan. Click here to read more about it.

  • Exploring Japan through Short Stories
    June's course focussed on reading and discussion of different short stories written by popular Japanese authors including Haruki Murakami, Shinichi Hoshi, Kaori Ekuni and Soseki Natsume. Click here for more information.

  • Exploring Contemporary Japan through Kurosawa’s film ‘Dreams’.
    This course focused on discussing a number of short stories from ‘Dreams’.

    Masami Torii took part in the course and later composed this excellent essay in Japanese about each of the eight episodes, as well as her overall thoughts on the film. Masami is a Japanese descendent who grew up in Ecuador and speaks Spanish as her native language. Click here to read her essay.

  • Exploring Contemporary Japan through Short Stories
    October’s course focussed on reading and discussing short stories by contemporary Japanese authors, such as Haruki Murakami, Banana Yoshimoto and Kaori Ekuni. Click here for more information.

  • Exploring Contemporary Japan through Okinawa
    Where does the Okinawan identity come from? How do people in Okinawa live today?
    Japan is often perceived as a country of harmony and homogeneity. The real Japan however is rich in cultural and social diversity. This four-week course focussed on Okinawa, a region which is known for its distinct history and culture.

  • Exploring Contemporary Japan through Japanese Media
    Looking at topics such as Sumo in Modern Japan, Challenges for the Japanese Royal Family Sources will be newspapers, magazines, TV news

  • Exploring Contemporary Japan through Japanese Film
    Working with extracts from three of the following films: ‘Warau Kaeru’, ‘Hebi Ichigo’, ‘Kuuchuu Teien’, ‘Maizon do Himiko’

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Nihongo Cup   



Nihongo Cup is the Japanese Speech Contest for Secondary Schools, which is organised by the Japanese Language Committee.

The 2009 Nihongo Cup was held in central London on 20th June.

Click here for a report on the event.

Click here for a report of the 2008 Nihongo Cup, and click here to read about the 2007 event.

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