Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Learning and Teaching Resources: ポップカルチャー New & Old


Many Japanese language learners are drawn to Japan through its pop culture.  This could be through its anime, manga, music, dance, and more.  What better resource than a text that focuses exactly on that?

「ポップカルチャー New & Old, edited by Yoshiro Hanai, teaches Japanese through an introduction to Japanese pop culture; it is very informative and provides the historical contexts from which learners can appreciate various cultural phenomenon, from how Sukiyaki became a hit in the U.S., to the history of anime in Japan’s postwar era, to the roots of popular music in Japan.  Reading materials utilize kanji complemented with furigana, and so learners will be able to rapidly familiarize themselves with kanji and their readings.  Contents are provided both through the textbook and on the website.

The book effectively makes use of content-based learning so that students can more smoothly progress to more advanced-level study.  Students will surely be able to increase both their cultural knowledge and linguistic skills.  This is an invaluable text worth checking out!

Friday, August 25, 2017

Who's Hiring? Jobs that use Japanese (August 25, 2017)

Here are just a few of the job opportunities out there that require Japanese. These ones were posted this week. 

VIP Bilingual Corporate Travel Consultant (Travel Agent)  at TSI USA (Los Angeles, CA).

https://www.indeed.com/cmp/TSI-USA/jobs/Vip-Bilingual-Corporate-Travel-Consultant-ad8d61fdc93f1389?q=Japanese


Foreign Language Instructor at CIA (Washington D.C.).
https://www.cia.gov/careers/opportunities/support-professional/foreign-language-instructors.html

 Client Relationship Coordinator-(Bilingual Korean or Japanese)  at Marquis Publications (Long Island, NY).
https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Marquis-Publications/jobs/Client-Relationship-Coordinator-e9deb2762a5b6dd1?q=Japanese

Bilinugal Japanese/English Business Planner  at Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems, Inc. ( Farmington Hills, Michigan).
http://jobs.jobvite.com/careers/sews/job/opGt4fwm?__jvst=Job%20Board&__jvsd=Indeed

Specialist Librarian at TheUniversity of Iowa (Iowa City, IA).
https://jobs.uiowa.edu/pands/view/71555

AppleCare Team Manager at Apple (Austin, TX).
https://jobs.apple.com/search?job=112901908&openJobId=112901908#&openJobId=112901908

Export Coordinator at Hankyuu Hanshin Express (UK) Limited (Jamaica, NY).
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/431507469?trkInfo=searchKeywordString%3AJapanese%2CsearchLocationString%3A%252C%2B%2Cvertical%3Ajobs%2CpageNum%3A1%2Cposition%3A5%2CMSRPsearchId%3A77848837-bac8-480f-8d0f-784462e49379&refId=77848837-bac8-480f-8d0f-784462e49379&trk=jobs_jserp_job_listing_text

Junior Japanese Translator (Contract) at PlayStation (San Diego, CA).

https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/384837308?trkInfo=searchKeywordString%3AJapanese%2CsearchLocationString%3A%252C%2B%2Cvertical%3Ajobs%2CpageNum%3A2%2Cposition%3A16%2CMSRPsearchId%3Ae3fb9ec7-bd86-4e49-b2b3-74afa3e4cdb6&refId=e3fb9ec7-bd86-4e49-b2b3-74afa3e4cdb6&trk=jobs_jserp_job_listing_text

Monday, August 21, 2017

Programs for Students and Researchers

Here are some new programs that interested students and researchers may be interested in applying to:

Name: English-Japanese Bilingual Education Course for International Students
Institution: Shimane University
Type: New program
Application period: Dec. 4 – Dec. 8, 2017
Education eligibility: from undergraduate
General description: English-Japanese Bilingual Education Course for International Students in the field of science and technology, from April 2018

Name: Reischauer Scholars Program
Institution: Stanford University: Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education
Type: Online course for high school students
Link: http://spice.fsi.stanford.edu/fellowships/reischauer_scholars_program/
Application period: August 14 - October 2, 2017
Education eligibility: High school student (grades 10 - 12)
General description: The Reischauer Scholars Program (RSP) is an online course for high school students to participate in an intensive study of Japan.

Name: 13th Hakuho Foundation Japanese Research Fellowship
Institution: Hakuho Foundation
Type: Japanese Research Fellowship
Application period: June 9 – October 31, 2017
Education eligibility: must possess doctoral degree
General description: Invites researchers conducting research to Japanese language, Japanese language education, Japanese literature, or Japanese culture to do residential research in Japan

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Professional Development and Grants

Please make use of these resources and grants for your professional development!

STIPENDS AND GRANT

AP Japanese Language and Culture Professional Development Workshop Stipend
-Financial Assistance to participate in workshop for AP Japanese Language and Culture

NFMLTA/MLJ Travel Support Grants for Foreign Language Professionals 2017 Award
-A grant of up to $1000 for foreign language professionals to defray the cost of conference attendance

Cheng & Tsui Professional Development Grants
-A grant for Japanese language teachers in K-16 to attend seminars, workshops, conferences, etc.


PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Global Competency and Japanese Language Education Workshop
-For promoting Japanese language education and provide advocacy and core practices information

Annual Fall Conference at ACTFL

FOR STUDENTS

Bridging Scholarships for Study Abroad in Japan
-For students studying abroad in Japan in Spring 2018

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Student Voices: Micah



What does learning Japanese personally mean to students? In this section, we highlight students and their motivations to learn Japanese!  Here Micah talks about his hope to learn Japanese so he can be able to use it in Tottori while living there as an Assistant Language Teacher on the JET Program, as well as practice speaking it with his mother, another language learner!

Click the link below to watch:

What does learning Japanese mean to YOUR students?  What inspires them?  Let us know!

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Learning and Teaching Resource: Marugoto for Self-Study



Check out this new FREE resource for those interested in learning Japanese on their own time!  Our Japan Foundation has developed a self-study course for A2 learners (based on the JF Standard; see this link for a quick guide and this link for more details).

This course can be taken from anytime, so it is great for those with schedule restrictions!  Learners will be able to finish each section with useful “can do” expressions for everyday Japanese.

Self-Study Course:

And don’t forget to check out our Marugoto Plus series, which provides learning materials for A1 through A2 levels:
 
These sites have video clips with optional subtitles in Japanese, English, and Romaji so that learners can follow along at their own comfort level, culture notes, fun ways to learn vocabulary, and more!