New Chief Japanese Language Advisor at the JFLLC
28th February, 2008
The Japan Foundation London Language Centre recently bade a fond farewell to Hiromi Kijima, and has now welcomed new Chief Japanese Language Advisor Yoko Udagawa.
Click 'download attachment' to read messages from them both.
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The Third Japanese Speech Contest for University Students
4th February, 2008
On Saturday 2nd February, the Third Japanese Speech Contest for University Students final was held at Imperial College. The event, co-organised by BATJ and the Japan Foundation, saw finalists in two categories battle it out for some fantastic prizes.
In Category 1, for students studying Japanese as a main degree subject, the six finalists were competing for the first prize of a return ticket to Japan, a Japan rail pass and 1000 pounds. Michael Downey, a 3rd year student from the University of Leeds, took the prize for his speech entitled 'The unique Japanese approach to showing consideration for others and its disappearance from modern society'. Second place went to Antoni Slodkowski, a 2nd year student at SOAS, who spoke on 'Living in a Japanese teahouse - cultural experience in Kyoto'. Antoni won a digital camera and 500 pounds.
The six category 2 finalists all study Japanese as an elective or optional course. The first prize of a notebook PC went to Handoo Seo, 2nd year student at Imperial College, for his speech 'Life's magic'. In second place, Faizal Farokh asked 'Do video games have a bad influence on youths?' Faizal, a 4th year student at Imperial college, won a digital camera and 500 pounds.
The standard of all the speeches was very high, and all finalists took home goody bags from JP-Books and tea sets from the Japan Centre. There were also prizes for audience members who took part in a raffle, as well as enjoying a Japan Quiz, and a J-pop singalong.
Please click 'download attachment' below to read a summary of the winners' speeches.
The Japan Foundation would like to thank Baker & McKenzie LLP, The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Japan Airlines, the Japan Centre, JP-Books, Ricoh UK Ltd and Toshiba of Europe Ltd for their generous support.
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Finalists of the Third University Speech Contest |
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The Japan Foundation at the 2007 Language Show
23rd November, 2007
The Japan Foundation London Language Centre attended the 2007 Language Show at Kensington Olympia from 2nd to 4th November. The Japan stand was organised by the JFLLC, and shared with the Japan National Tourist Organisation and JP-BOOKS. Our objective was to talk to language learners about opportunities to study Japanese, and language teachers about programmes available to support the teaching or introduction of Japanese in their schools.
The JFLLC displayed UK students' work in Japanese, as well as some pictures of school life in Japan, calligraphy, and small examples of origami. We also had a table with leaflets on our programmes, details of useful resources and websites for starters.
As well as discussing the language provision and support available, we also encouraged visitors to try our Japan Quiz, and to learn to write their names in katakana. We brought along lots of stickers and sushi erasers as prize
On Friday 2nd November, JFLLC language advisor Shoko Iizuka gave a very successful Japanese language taster. This was sold out, and there was standing room only.
Over the three days 9512 people visited the language show, and around 600 came to the Japan Foundation section of the Japan stand. We were very pleased to see them all, and are already looking forward to next year's event.
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'A Love for Languages' - East Sussex Primary Languages Conference
23rd November, 2007
On Wednesday 14th November, assistant programme officer Alastair Warner travelled to Alfriston in East Sussex to attend the East Sussex Primary Languages Conference called 'A Love for Languages'. Primary schools in East Sussex must introduce a language onto the curriculum by 2008, so representatives from a number of organisations were present to give advice and support on introducing different languages into their schools.
The Japan Foundation presented to the whole group, and kicked off with a wonderful Japanese language taster by one of our StepOutNet volunteers. She introduced the teachers to some basic Japanese expressions, and they were soon able to give their names and ask for food items. This was followed up with a Japanese song with actions, and then the teachers were taught to make an origami hat. The volunteer also brought along a mannequin dressed in a yukata.
After the taster, Alastair gave a presentation on the support available to teachers from the Japan Foundation, and especially our free Ready Steady NihonGO! scheme of work for primary schools and our StepOutNet programme of volunteers. The Japan Foundation provided leaflets to the teachers, and also set up a laptop so they could try out Ready Steady NihonGO! for themselves.
The Japan Foundation was very pleased to have the opportunity to attend the conference. If you know of similar events happening in your area, please let us know!
Erin's Challenge! I can speak Japanese!
17th August, 2007
Grasp the flow of a natural Japanese conversation by watching a mini-drama based at a Japanese High school. The Japan Foundation, together with NHK, has produced an educational series of 25 episodes targeted at young people who are learning Japanese. The title of the series is "Erin ga chousen! Nihongo dekimasu" (Erin's Challenge! I Can Speak Japanese!). Erin, the main character in the series, is a high school student who comes to Japan on an exchange program.
The program includes skits by rising actors and fun and easy explanations by anime characters, and it is designed to help viewers not only to learn the language but also to cultivate an attitude of cultural understanding.
The series will be available to purchase on DVD in August 2007 from JP books.
Please click here to download the publicities for the series:
Publicity1
Publicity2
For more information see the Japan Foundation Urawa web site
Teaching Japanese? Are you a member of jle-UK?
20th April, 2007
Jle-UK is an email discussion list for teachers of Japanese and others interested in Japanese Language Education. The list has been created as a forum both for sharing practical classroom tips and information and also for the discussion of more academic issues. It is a great way to make sure that you don't miss out on training courses and grant programmes that may be of interest to you, as all information is posted here as soon as the application period opens. To join send an email to listserv@mailtalk.ac.uk. In the body of the email write: join jle-uk Firstname Surname. Subscribe now and keep in touch!
1st January, 2000
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Japan Foundation Mailing list
If you would like to receive information about news and events from the Japan Foundation please provide us with your details by registering with the Japan Foundation.
News Archives
Archives of Mado
The archives of Mado (April 1999- September 2006) may be particularly useful in the following ways:
- For ideas, texts and activities to use in the classroom see the Teacher’s pages. To see what is included in the Teacher’s pages of each edition click here.
- To find out what other schools have done to introduce and develop Japanese language education in their schools.
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News, views, teaching ideas and course information designed for everyone involved in teaching Japanese in the UK.
| Nihongo Cup attracts record number of entries |
| Setting up a network for Stepping Out |
| Japanese Works |
| Teacher's Pages: Lafcadio Hearn: A love of Old Japan |
| Undergraduates compete in new Japanese speech contest |
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| Mado is now available to you online! |
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To make the most of this interactive online only version simply download as usual and then save a copy to your desktop.
From the saved copy you will be able to access the sound files with ease. |
| Undergraduates compete in new Japanese speech contest |
| Head start inspires action in japanese |
| Expanding the Japan-related Network |
| Teacher's Pages: Waste not want not: Mottanai! |
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| The Launch of Ready Steady NihonGO! |
| Why Practice Pronunciation? |
| Japanese Clubs - 35 Years of Gonenkai |
| Teacher?fs Pages: Japanese Pronunciation |
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| Setting standards for Japanese |
| Manga and anime in your classroom |
| The power of speech |
| Teachers Page: Dealing with dilemmas |
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| 15 years of Urawa |
| Higher Education Focus |
| New Library books |
| GCSE Reading Resource |
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| Ready Steady NihonGO: Moving forward in 2005 |
| Q & A: WJEC Level 1 Certificate in Japanese |
| Resources: Using ICT in the Classroom |
| Teachers Page: CV for the Future |
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| Speech Contest; Finals Day report |
| Annual Support Programmes |
| Resources: Tobu reviewed |
| Teachers Page: Kanji Mix and Match |
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| Working together with other Japan-related organisations |
Standards in Japanese :The Languages Ladder
Head Start 2004 reviewed |
| Stretching Out reviewed |
| Teachers Page: Reading for A Level |
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JLC Re-launches Speech Contest for Schools
Stepping Out reviewed |
| Ready Steady NihonGO |
| Reports from the Primary Conference |
| Teachers Page: Laughter Brings Good luck (Fukuwarai) |
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| Refresher
course at new centre |
| Ready Steady NihonGO |
| British Council Education and Training |
| What’s New in the Library |
| British Council Education and Training |
| Teachers Page: Plan your Dream Trip to Japan with Dragons, Snakes and Ladders |
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| Japan Foundation on the move |
| Biggest ever Head Start |
| The National Languages Strategy: Languages for all, Languages for life |
| Top-ten online resources |
| Teachers Page: Using ICT to keep up with current issues |
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| Celebrating Japanese Teaching in the UK |
| Taking Control – event review |
| Japanese for Everyday Communication – event review |
| Primary Japanese |
| Jle-uk |
| Tobu wins award |
| Teachers Page: Haiku for the New Year |
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| Starting Younger |
| Getting to grips with Grammar |
| The Green Paper |
| Urawa Nikki |
| Teacher Page: A Place Near Me |
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| Japanese Degree Course Report Update |
| Japan 2001: Education reviewed |
| Teachers Page: Teaching Japanese through Mathematics |
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| Class Acts: Success Stories from the UK |
| Japanese Classroom |
| Q & A: AS exam |
| Resources: CD-ROMS reviewed |
| Teachers Page: Writing a Diary |
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| Symposium on Bridging the sectorial divide |
| Flights of Fancy |
| Resources: Preview of Mirai stages 3 & 4 |
| Teachers Page: Making a Speech in Japanese |
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| WJEC |
| Teachers Page: Motivating through Manga, |
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| Tobu |
| Japan 2001 Special inc. Class Acts, Homestay UK, Higher Education seminar |
| Resources: Ima reviewed… |
| Teachers Page: Kanji Families |
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| Starting Young |
| Japanese A Level set texts… |
| Teachers Page: Let’s Recycle |
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| Staffing Japanese |
| A level update |
| Focus on A Level Resources… |
| Teachers Page: Omikuji |
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| Refresher Course reviewed |
| Annual Support Programmes |
| Exchanges with Japan |
| Teachers Page: Talking Timetables, |
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| Head Start reviewed |
| The new A level Japanese |
| ALL launches Japanese Language Committee… |
| Teachers Page: Food, Fitness and Health |
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