Speak Japan by The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles: January 2018

Friday, January 26, 2018

Why Learn Japanese? Videos Adocating for Learning Another Language

Here are some videos with great reasons to learn another language (both Japanese and non-Japanese specific).

4 reasons to learn a new language | John McWhorter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQRjouwKDlU

“To go into a culture and to only ever process people through that kind of scrim curtain is to never truly get that culture… One reason to learn [languages] is that they are tickets to being able to participate in the culture of the people who speak them.”

Leads with Japanese: Megan, Student

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4tbcDBNwm8

*Don’t forget to check out the Lead with Languages website!

http://www.leadwithlanguages.org/lwl-language/japanese/

9 Reasons to Learn Japanese

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11Z-UHz3qwY

Why Students Should Learn a Second Language

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0MlOuOPjfU

ACTFL Keynote Presentation: Rick Stevens (2015 Speaker)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxPwCc11V2I

“When we travel we humanize [the locals] and they humanize us.”

“When we think of how we’re going to grapple with this globalized society, we know we need to be globally competent. And it is important to have our language efficiency and it is important to have our global outlook. And when we put that together, I believe we are really creating a younger generation more able to deal with the exciting future that we’re facing.”

Who’s Hiring: Jobs that Use Japanese (1/26/2018)

A sample of job postings that use the Japanese language, posted every week. Please share with any who may be interested!

New and updated postings for language teachers on our website:

https://www.jflalc.org/jle-jobs#News

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International Consultant - Bilingual Japanese at The Joint Commission (Location not listed).

Japanese Linguist Translator at CWU, Inc (Location not listed).

ADR Script Supervisor at Group 1200 Media (Flower Mound, TX).

Bilingual Japanese-English Administrator at TOP NY (Schaumburg, IL).

Manager, Japan – International Sales & Product Marketing at SharkNinja (Needham, MA).

International Trade Specialist Fluent in Japanese at Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP (Washington D.C.).

(Japanese Bilingual)Business Development Representative at Works Applications Co., Ltd. (Los Angeles, CA).

Japanese Translator at Continental Inc (Elwood, IN).

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Grants and Resources for Teachers

Here are some websites with some good resources and info on grants (including non-Japanese) for educators! Check them out!

Fund for Teachers
Resource and info for teachers. In particular, check out the Teacher Resources page for lots of great links to other excellent grants and opportunities.

Travel the World with Grants for Educators
Provides a rundown of grants that allow travel to other parts of the world, such as the Keizai Koho Center Fellowship.

Travel Grants and Fellowships for Educators
Blog post with many travel grant and resources.

The Big List of Educational Grants and Resources
I think it's a big list of educational grants and resources...

Grants for Teachers
Website with grants searchable by state, subject, grade level, and other.

Friday, January 19, 2018

US-JF Elgin Heinz Teacher Awards

The United States-Japan Foundation (US-JF) is now currently accepting applications and nominations for the Elgin Heinz Teacher Awards. This award is open to K-12 teachers and there are two award categories: humanities and Japanese language. Candidates generally have at least 10 years of experience, and will have shown commitment to promoting understanding between Japan and the US. The award includes a certificate of recognition, monetary award of $2,500, and award of $5,000 for project funds.

For more information on eligibility, application/nomination procedures, and more, please visit the below link:

US-JF Elgin Heinz Teacher Awards

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Book review: NIPPON 3.0 の処方箋

Last year, TJSC (the Teachers of Japanese in Southern California) invited Dr. Yasuhiko Tohsaku to their fall workshop as a keynote speaker to discuss language education in the 21st century. I enjoyed his presentation, and later on over the winter vacation, I had the chance to read his book. To summarize, this book outlines bringing Japan and language education up-to-date for the 21st century. "Nippon 3.0" refers to upgrading Japan’s education system to be able to respond to the growing diversity and complexity in the world today. However, the ideas that he writes about are perfectly applicable to any language educator’s work.