Events & Programmes Archive

The Japanese Taster for Schools (JTS) Programme exists to create links between schools and Japanese-speaking volunteers. JTS volunteers carry out school visits across the UK to introduce students at any level to the Japanese language by carrying out fun and informative taster sessions. The JTS programme is a fantastic opportunity to use your Japanese to gain practical experience volunteering in your local community. We accept volunteers of any proficiency of Japanese. To empower and encourage volunteers, we will be holding an online training session on 19th February. We will provide information about the JTS programme and there will be a talk given by an experienced teacher of Japanese. There will also be a chance to ask us questions and speak to other volunteers! This event is open to everyone – including people who are already registered as volunteers or are interested in becoming volunteers. However, we are particularly encouraging new and prospective volunteers who have not yet held a taster session, as we want to give these volunteers the confidence to get started on a taster session! Find out more about the JTS Programme here General Information Date/Time: 19th February 2024 (Monday), 17:30-18:30 (GMT) Venue: Online (Zoom software) Cost: Free (booking essential) Maximum number of participants: 20 Spoken language: English Event Schedule 17:30 – 17:40: Intro / Explanation of the JTS programme 17:40 – 18:00: Guest speaker talk – Anne Rajakumar, teacher of Japanese (topic: teaching Japanese in the classroom) 18:00 – 18:15: Moderated group discussion 18:15 – 18:25: Q&A 18:25 – 18:30: Close Click here to fill out an application form to attend NB: There is NO application deadline but applications will close if the maximum number of participants is exceeded.

Are you interested in teaching Japanese in secondary schools in England? Would you like to get the teaching qualification to realise that ambition? If so, please don’t miss this great opportunity!   The National Modern Languages SCITT and the Japan Foundation, London will be holding an information event aimed at potential applicants for the National Modern Languages SCITT (School-Centred Initial Teacher Training). This is a national scheme approved by the government’s Department for Education. It is designed to train successful applicants to become Early Career Teachers by obtaining a QTS.   The National Modern Languages SCITT (The NML SCITT) is unique, being the only national single-subject provider to specialise solely in the teaching of modern languages. The NML SCITT programme is a great opportunity for those who are looking to gain QTS together with the recognised standard qualification of Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The PGCE programme is offered in conjunction with Sheffield Hallam University, and comes with credits towards an eventual possible Masters-level qualification, should trainees take up the option to continue study in the future. Subject to financial, degree classification and residential qualification, participants accepted on the programme may receive a substantial bursary while training; this is currently £25,000, but please note that this is subject to annual change. The training year consists of an empowering combination of practical training in school placements, supported by University- and centre-based academic tuition.   The NML SCITT will introduce a new pathway for training Japanese language teachers as part of its programme; there will be an expectation in the first instance that Japanese will be offered alongside either French, German or Spanish in order to cater for schools’ existing curricular offers, and to ensure that there is a possibility of qualifying for the bursary. Whilst in the past the provider’s focus has mainly been on these nationally prevalent modern languages (French, German, and Spanish), Mandarin, Arabic, Russian and Italian have also featured in our trainees’ languages skill sets. The NML SCITT will be proud and pleased to add Japanese to the programme portfolio.   Please note that trainees are required to have French, German or Spanish as a primary foreign language they can potentially teach, with Japanese as an additional language. This means that trainees will be able to teach two languages.   On this information day, Mr Keith Faulkner from the National Modern Languages SCITT will give a speech about SCITT, and explain how to apply for the NML SCITT. There will be a Q&A session.   Dates: Day 1: 17:00-17:45 on Monday 5th February Day 2: 11:00-11:45 on Tuesday 6th February Note: Each session has the same content.   To apply, please click here Participation fee: Free (registration in advance is required.) Registration deadline: 2nd February Languages used: English Online (ZOOM meeting)  

The JF/BAJS Japanese Studies PhD Workshop returns in 2024, this year with the theme Life After Your PhD!

The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2024 is the largest ever!   Starting off on 2 February, the programme visits 30 cities in the UK, including Oxford, Lancaster, Chichester, Liverpool and as far as Orkney, as new stopovers!  

Interested in starting a Japanese Club at your school? Call for Participating Schools with Teachers for the Online Training Programme! More information coming soon so keep an eye on this page!

This Seminar will be organised by the British Association for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language and the Japan Foundation, London. Each year, we use these seminars as an opportunity to explore practical, every-day themes that apply to both younger and older learners, studying at all types of educational institutions. We invite educators at the forefront of their fields to provide a novel and exciting learning opportunity. This time, we have invited Professor IMAI Mutsumi, author of one of the best-selling books of 2023 in Japan - “Nature of Language: How Language was born and has evolved.” We believe that as A.I. evolves, there will be those who are experiencing increasing opportunities to re-think what it means to learn a language. What are the differences between A.I. and people? How did language come to be and systemise? What are the fundamental characteristics of language? Professor Imai will discuss all these themes using onomatopoeia as a starting point. We look forward to receiving your applications.     Event Outline Date/Time: 4th February 2024 (Sunday), 10:00 to 12:00 GMT Theme: Nature of Language: How language was born and has evolved. Speaker: Professor IMAI Mutsumi (Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University) Target audience: Japanese language educators and post-graduate university students specialising in Japanese language education who are based in the United Kingdom and Europe. (Applications from those in other regions will also be accepted if places are available) Maximum number of participants: 80 Location: Online seminar using Zoom software Spoken language: Japanese Cost of seminar/applications: BATJ member £5  / BATJ non-member £10 Application deadline: 30th January 2024 (Tuesday), 12:00 GMT   * Once the number of places has been filled, applications will close. Organisers: The British Association for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language and the Japan Foundation, London.   -   Download a PDF flyer with all the information about this event Enquiries: (About the seminar) BATJ: seminar@batj.org.uk(Technical support, such as about Zoom) JF: events.japanese@jpf.go.jp

We are proud to be partnering with the University of Edinburgh for a number of talks in their Asian Studies Seminar Series. Join the University of Edinburgh for this talk, The Scots and Japan: First Contact (1613-1623) by Professor Ian Gow which will reveal evidence of Scots working with Japan in the early 17th century! This talk event is free and booking is not required, just turn up!  To find out more, click here.    

This lecture will trace the development of waka from its early beginnings as a tool for communication and social relationships among the elite nobility

The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is a test for non-native speakers of Japanese which evaluates and certifies their Japanese-Language proficiency. The test takes place twice a year (July and December) in Japan and various locations around the world. Currently, it is the largest Japanese-language test in the world, with more than 1.36 million people in 87 countries worldwide registered for the JLPT in 2019. The next JLPT will take place on Sunday, 3rd December 2023 at three locations in the UK: London (SOAS University of London), Edinburgh (the University of Edinburgh) and Cardiff (Cardiff University). Please refer to university’s website for application opening dates and registration details. ×          Japan Research Centre, SOAS University of London ×          Centre for Open Learning, The University of Edinburgh ×          Cardiff University Please note that JLPT is very popular and registration at each test centre will close when the test centre has reached its maximum capacity. For more information about the test, please visit the JLPT website  Ø  Let’s Try Sample Questions! 

The Japan Foundation London will hold an online exchange event for teachers of Japanese as heritage language on 26th November 2023, Sunday.  The date and time of the event are as follows. Please find the event details below written in Japanese. *Please note that information is only available in Japanese, as the event will be conducted in Japanese. Thank you for your understanding.   Title: UK Online Exchange for Teachers of Japanese as heritage Language 2023 Date/Time: 26th November 2023 (Sunday),  10:00-12:00 (GMT/UTC) Application Deadline: 22th November 2023 (Wednesday) 13:00（GMT/UTC） Click here to apply using our online application form Enquiries: Japan Foundation, London enquiries: events.japanese@jpf.go.jp  (Japanese / English)   ************** 　この度JFロンドンでは、英国にて継承日本語教育に携わる先生方やプレイグループの運営に携わる保護者の皆さまを対象に、オンライン交流会を実施いたします。 　JFロンドンでは近年、外国語としての日本語教育のサポートに加え、継承語として日本語教育のサポートを進めています。 　これまで教師のみなさまを対象とした事業としては、欧州内のJF拠点の共催セミナーやヨーロッパ日本語教師会のSIG「欧州継承日本語ネットワーク」が主催する交流イベントの後援など、欧州全域のみなさんを対象としたものを実施してまいりました。また「小噺をとりいれた教育実践」等、継承日本語教育にも適したテーマの研修会やイベントも行ってきました。子どもたちが参加できるイベントとしては、JaLaChamp（Japanese Language Championship for Young Learners UK）を2023年より実施しています。 　ですが、英国内の継承日本語教育関係者がざっくばらんに情報交換をする機会は限られており、そのような場を望む声が届いています。昨年、JFロンドンが継承日本語教育関係者の方々にヒアリング調査を行った際にも、定期的な情報交換や実践共有の場がほしいという声が出ていました。 　そこで、今回は英国内で継承日本語教育に携わっている方々がオンラインで集い、お互いの活動を共有したり、耳より情報を共有したりする機会を設けたいと思います。また、「英国の継承日本語教育の未来」をテーマに、自分たちにできること、やってみたいことについてざっくばらんに話をする時間も設ける予定です。 　日曜の午前の実施で恐縮ですが、ご参加を検討いただけると幸いです。 　どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。   タイトル：英国継承日本語教育関係者オンライン交流会2023 日時：　2023年11月26日（日）10時～12時GMT/UTC 場所：オンライン（Zoom meeting） 対象者：英国で継承日本語教育に携わる教員やプレイグループ等の運営に携わる保護者等 参加費：無料 使用言語：日本語 申込み締切：2023年11月22日（水）13:00　GMT/UTC 申込み　オンライン・フォーム 【問い合わせ先】 　ロンドン日本文化センター events.japanese@jpf.go.jp （日本語／英語）  

The Japan Foundation in Europe (Cologne, Budapest, London, Madrid and Paris offices) will jointly hold an online teachers’ seminar on the topic ‘Bringing Language and Culture Together in the Classroom’ on 24th November 2023, Friday. The theme, date and time of the seminar are as follows. Please find the event details below written in Japanese. *Please note that information is only available in Japanese, as the seminar will be conducted in Japanese. Thank you for your understanding. Theme: ‘Bringing Language and Culture Together in the Classroom: Activity Examples for Intercultural Understanding’  Date/Time: 24th November 2023 (Friday),  8:30-10:30 (GMT/UTC)  Application Deadline: 10th November 2023 (Friday) 17:00（GMT/UTC)         https://forms.office.com/r/sJEx1rV5pY  Enquiries: The Japan Foundation, Madrid: nihongo.kyoshi@jpf.go.jp (Japanese) The Japan Foundation, London enquiries: events.japanese@jpf.go.jp  (Japanese / English) ------- このたびマドリード日本文化センターが中心となり、国際交流基金の欧州５拠点共催で、以下の通り2023年11月24日（金）にオンライン日本語教師研修会を開催する運びとなりました。 テーマ：「ことばと文化を一緒に学ぶ授業へ　―異文化理解のための活動例―」 講師：二瓶知子 先生（国際交流基金 日本語国際センター） 日時：11月24日（金）8:30-10:30（GMT/UTC） 共催：JFマドリード、ケルン、パリ、ロンドン、ブダペスト 形式：オンライン（Zoomミーティング） 定員：90名程度　 対象：日本語教師（欧州在住の日本語教育に携わっている方を優先します） 参加費：無料 使用言語：日本語 講師からのメッセージ： 　みなさんは、どのように日本文化を教えていますか。また、教科書に散りばめられている日本文化をどのように扱っていますか。文化を学ぶことは、ただ知識を得るだけでなく、相互理解を促し、より豊かなコミュニケーションにつながります。本セミナーでは『まるごと 日本のことばと文化』やその他の教材を例に、JF日本語教育スタンダードの異文化理解の考え方と、授業での扱い方を紹介し、「自分は教室で学習者に『何を』『どのように』伝えているか」を振り返ります。 講師略歴： 　これまで日本及び海外において、教師研修や教材開発、日本語教育に関するセミナーやワークショップを数多く担当。国際交流基金ジャカルタ日本文化センターでは『まるごと』を使ったコースの立ち上げ・運営・実施に関わる。著書に『中級日本語で挑戦！スピーチ＆ディスカッション』、『もっと中級で挑戦！スピーチ＆ディスカッション』（凡人社）、『外国人のためのケータイメール＠にっぽん』（アスク出版）等 【参加申し込み】 　https://forms.office.com/r/sJEx1rV5pY 　（〆切：11月10日 17:00　GMT） 【広報用フライヤー】 　フライヤーはこちらからダウンロードください。 　なお、ポスター内の時間は「中央ヨーロッパ時間 CET」で記載されており、英国時間とは1時間の時差がございますので、ご注意ください。 【問い合わせ先】 　マドリード日本文化センター　 nihongo.kyoshi@jpf.go.jp（日本語） 　ロンドン日本文化センター events.japanese@jpf.go.jp （日本語／英語）  

Are you interested in teaching Japanese in secondary schools in England? Would you like to get the teaching qualification to realise that ambition? If so, please don’t miss this great opportunity!     The National Modern Languages SCITT and the Japan Foundation, London will be holding an information event aimed at potential applicants for the National Modern Languages SCITT (School-Centred Initial Teacher Training). This is a national scheme approved by the government’s Department for Education. It is designed to train successful applicants to become Early Career Teachers by obtaining a QTS.   The National Modern Languages SCITT (The NML SCITT) is unique, being the only national single-subject provider to specialise solely in the teaching of modern languages. The NML SCITT programme is a great opportunity for those who are looking to gain QTS together with the recognised standard qualification of Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The PGCE programme is offered in conjunction with Sheffield Hallam University, and comes with credits towards an eventual possible Masters-level qualification, should trainees take up the option to continue study in the future. Subject to financial, degree classification and residential qualification, participants accepted on the programme may receive a substantial bursary while training; this is currently £25,000, but please note that this is subject to annual change. The training year consists of an empowering combination of practical training in school placements, supported by University- and centre-based academic tuition.   The NML SCITT will introduce a new pathway for training Japanese language teachers as part of its programme; there will be an expectation in the first instance that Japanese will be offered alongside either French, German or Spanish in order to cater for schools’ existing curricular offers, and to ensure that there is a possibility of qualifying for the bursary. Whilst in the past the provider’s focus has mainly been on these nationally prevalent modern languages (French, German, and Spanish), Mandarin, Arabic, Russian and Italian have also featured in our trainees’ languages skill sets. The NML SCITT will be proud and pleased to add Japanese to the programme portfolio.   Please note that trainees are required to have French, German or Spanish as a primary foreign language they can potentially teach, with Japanese as an additional language. This means that trainees will be able to teach two languages.   On this information day, Mr Keith Faulkner from the National Modern Languages SCITT will give a speech about SCITT, and explain how to apply for the NML SCITT. There will also be a Q&A session.    -   Dates:   Day 1: 11:00-11:45 on Tuesday 21st November Day 2: 18:00-18:45 on Thursday 23rd November Day 3: 18:00-18:45 on Thursday 7th December Note: Each session will have the same content.    -   To apply, please click here:   https://forms.office.com/r/PBtmkV9yDA   Participation fee: Free (registration in advance is required.)   Registration deadlines:   16th November (Day 1 - 21st November) 20th November (Day 2 - 23rd November) 4th December (Day 3 - 7th December) Languages used: English   Format: Online (ZOOM meeting)