June, 2016: Breeze Issue #104

A Free Monthly E-Newsletter for Friends of Japan & Teachers of Japanese

Japanese Language Education Update 31:
Three Free Resources for Teachers

by Amanda Rollins, Japanese Language Program Coordinator

Japanese Language Education Update 30: Three Free Resources for Teachers
Hey Japanese language teachers! Have you ever thought to yourself, “Gee, I’d sure like to connect my students to students in Japan”? How about, “Well shucks, I wish I could tell my students which JLPT level they should take before taking the test!”

Well, it turns out that there are FREE resources that will help you do just that:

Japan Educational Travel
brought to you by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
JNTO just launched a brand new website called Japan Education Travel. Its mission is to support school trips to Japan and educational exchanges, and they have hired staff who will match your American school with a Japanese school by contacting regional government offices in Japan. Those who are interested in this service should email JNTO Los Angeles at info@jnto-lax.org or JNTO New York at visitjapan@jntonyc.org. If you’re not sure which office to email, find their jurisdictions at this link.
Go check out the website and email JNTO to find a school in Japan today.

Global Classmates
brought to you by Kizuna Across Cultures
Global Classmates is an online exchange program run by Kizuna Across Cultures, a non-profit which supports grassroots exchange. This is a 6-month program during which high school students exchange videos, photos, and messages on various topics throughout the school year. There is no travel involved. Multiple programs are running at multiple schools throughout the year, and they all end in a program-wide competition called “Video Koshien” in which every participating schools competes for “best video.” Sounds like fun!

The Japanese Computerized Adaptive Test (J-CAT)
brought to you by Tsukuba University
J-CAT is a computerized adaptive test – That means that each time you answer a question correctly, the test questions get harder until you start answering incorrectly. That’s how it finds your Japanese level.
After you register for the test, the J-CAT office will approve your registration within 72 hours and send you the password. Then you can take the test whenever and wherever you like! The results (which you will receive immediately after the test) will show you approximately where you land on the JLPT scale. The test takes about 45 to 90 minutes, and it features listening, reading, grammar, and vocabulary sections.
Use the J-CAT to determine which JLPT level your students should take – or you can even use it as a free student placement tool.