Courses for Learners

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

The Japanese Speech Contest for University Students is co-organised by BATJ and the Japan Foundation.

This event, which was formerly part of the Sir Peter Parker Awards, is now in its third year and 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 finals will this time be held at Imperial College on 2nd February 2008.



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

To read about the First Speech Contest for University Students see Mado Volume 25.

Exploring Japan through Short Stories (5 - 26 June 2008)

'Talking Contemporary Japan' is designed for adult learners interested in updating and refreshing their knowledge about Japan whilst practising their Japanese language skills.

This new Talking Contemporary Japan course will be taught by Shoko Middleton, a Japanese Language Advisor at the Japan Foundation London Language Centre. The course will be held every Thursday in June.

Each week, participants will discuss a different short story written by a popular Japanese author.

1. Short-short stories by Haruki Murakami
2. Short-short stories by Shinichi Hoshi
3. A short story from 『つめたいよるに』 by Kaori Ekuni
4. A short story from 『夢十夜』 by Soseki Natsume

Please click here for more information on the course, and click here to download an application form.

The deadline for applications is Friday 23rd May 2008.


Previous ‘Talking Contemporary Japan courses' have included:

• 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 will focus 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’
  ‘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 JLPT2.
  
  

Nihongo Cup is the Japanese Speech Contest for Secondary Schools. The extended deadline for applications for the Nihongo Cup 2008 is 28th April.

Click here for more information about Nihongo Cup 2008 on the JLCWEB page, and click here to download a flyer.