Here is a list of questions which students, parents, teachers, and administrators frequently ask about Japanese language education.
-Mid-Atlantic Association of Teachers of Japanese (MAATJ) has created a handy new flyer which answers this question with the most up-to-date information available!
-Please check out our section for learners. It gives dozens of excellent reasons to study Japanese.
What linguistic skills are Japanese employers looking for when hiring?
-Check out MAATJ's in-depth "Business Needs for Japanese Language Learners" Survey Report
Please visit the Japan Foundation’s Directory of Japanese-Language Educational Institutions 2012. Using this directory, you can search for schools which teach Japanese by state and education level. It also includes contact information, and is searchable in Japanese and English.
If you are looking for a university which offers a Japanese major, you can use the directory above and search by Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree search option, or you can visit the Directory of Japanese Studies in the United States and Canada which gives a great deal of information about university programs. It also includes Japan Studies and East Asian Studies majors.
The AP Course Ledger is a searchable directory of all official AP classes. You can search by city and subject.
What websites can I use to study Japanese on my own?
There are quite a few. Please visit our Learning Materials page for a detailed list.
Can you recommend any Japanese language classes for adults living in Los Angeles?
Please check out JFLA’s own Japanese language classes called JF Nihongo.
I really want to go to Japan-related events in my area. How can I find out about them?
The best way is to contact your local Japan consulate (see a list of Japan consulates in America here) and see if they have a newsletter or events calendar. Also, check to see if your city has a chapter of a Japan or Asia society of some kind. Then you might consider joining their newsletter or liking their Facebook page for event information.
If you live in Los Angeles, please consider signing up for JFLA’s monthly newsletter BREEZE which features all of our events. You can sign up from our home page (the button is on the left).
I’m interested in studying abroad in Japan. Where can I get information about that?
A great source of information on study abroad in Japan is at the website of the American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ). The page is called All About Studying Abroad in Japan: Introduction, and it has all the information you could ask for, including a list of scholarships.
Does JFLA offer any study abroad scholarships?
JFLA does not offer study abroad scholarships. However, we do have a regularly updated Other Grant and Scholarship Opportunities page. AATJ’s Financial Aid page also has a detailed list of scholarships.
I’m interested in taking the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). Where should I start?
The JLPT is being administered by the American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ). Everything you need to know is at the AATJ website.
I would like to be a teacher of Japanese language in the U.S. How do I get a teaching license and position?
-First, please visit our Becoming a Teacher of Japanese Language page for detailed advice on getting a teaching license.
-Also, check out Mid-Atlantic Association of Teachers of Japanese's (MAATJ's) Handbook Guide to Becoming a Japanese Teacher as well as their flyer.
When you are ready to start the job hunt, please keep an eye on our Job Openings page. AATJ also has a Jobline, and you might consider joining the sensei-online listserv for email announcements. It is also a very good idea to join your local Japanese teachers’ association, and you can find a list of them here. You may also want to check with school districts where you are interested in teaching: last minute job openings are found every year in many districts.
How can I find out which U.S. schools offer Japanese?
Please visit the Directory of Japanese-Language Educational Institutions 2018 (Search). This site, maintained by the Japan Foundation's Headquarters, archives the data from a world-wide survey conducted in 2015, and is searchable in Japanese and in English. Click on the "North America" link to start.
I would like to visit some Japanese classes. Can you give me some names of schools that I could visit?
You can find names of schools that offer Japanese by visiting the Directory of Japanese-Language Educational Institutions 2018(Searchable in English and Japanese). You can also refer to our list of Japanese teachers’ associations. If you have a particular program in mind, please tell us the region/state as well as the level and the type of school/program you are interested in, and we will try to provide you with some names of schools. It is your responsibility, however, to contact the schools prior to your visit and get their permission to visit their classes.
I would like to contact other Japanese teachers in the area. How would I go about it?
Join the Japanese teachers' association in your area. You can find an appropriate association by looking at Affiliates at the AATJ website, or by checking out our own Teachers’ Association page here.
Where can I find online teaching resources?
Please visit our Teaching Resources page. You can also tell your students about our Learning Resources page.
I want to hold a Japan-related event for my students and community. Have any ideas?
Yes! Please visit our Real Advocacy Stories page. It’s full of stories from real schools about events and other ways to promote your program. You can get plenty of ideas and advice there. Make sure that you spread the word about your event far and wide so that the whole community knows how much fun your students are having!
My administration is thinking about cutting the Japanese program. How can I convince them not to?
Share information with them about the strong ties between the US and Japan. For example, share SPEAKJAPAN.org. It features a lot of clearly-stated reasons for young people to study Japanese. It’s student-targeted, but the statistics are convincing for all ages. For the more academically minded, you can print out articles from the Useful Resources page.
Also, you can request official support letters from your local consulate and teachers’ association. You can also request one from JFLA by emailing jflaeducation@jflalc.org with information about your situation.
Could you please send me some Japan Foundation merchandise for my school event?
It depends on what we have in stock. Priority will be given to events (like speech contests) which involve a great many people from outside of your school, or from multiple schools. We will also ask you to provide us with photographs after the event takes place. Email jflaeducation@jflalc.org for more information.
I’m trying to arrange for a guest speaker/native speaker to come and talk to my students. How can I find someone?
Consider approaching your local consulate or Japan Society. Have you kept in contact with any former students who have gone on to visit Japan? Think about inviting them to give a short presentation about their trip. You could also contact your local chapter of the JET Alumni Association (JETAA) and ask about interested volunteers.
How do I start an official AP Japanese class?
Please visit the AP Course Audit site for a description of the requirements.
Why should my child study Japanese?
Please check out our resources for parents. It gives dozens of excellent reasons to study Japanese.
I want my child to study Japanese. Where should I start looking for schools which teach it?
Please visit the Japan Foundation’s Directory of Japanese-Language Educational Institutions 2015. Using this directory, you can search for schools which teach Japanese by state and education level. It also includes contact information, and is searchable in Japanese and English.
I want my child to take the AP Japanese Exam. Where can I find a school which teaches AP Japanese/holds the exam?
The AP Course Ledger is a searchable directory of all official AP classes. You can search by city and subject.
I want my child to take the JLPT. Where can I find information about that?
The JLPT is being administered by the American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ). Everything you need to know is at the AATJ website.
Why should I offer Japanese at my school?
-Mid-Atlantic Association of Teachers of Japanese's (MAATJ's) brand-new flyer succinctly lists the myriad benefits of learning Japanese.
-Please check out our resources for administrators. It gives dozens of excellent reasons to study Japanese.
How can I raise awareness of my school's Japanese program in my community?
Please visit our Real Advocacy Stories page for ideas about how to make your Japanese program more visible. If you are interested in doing a large event, please consider applying for our grants. You can also visit our Administrators advocacy page for an informational flyer and a video tutorial about funding language programs.
I’m interested in getting funding for my school’s Japanese program. Where do I find out about that?
Check out this section for all the information you need!
5700 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036-
jflainfo@jpf.go.jp
323.761.7510
