A Practical and Synthetic Teaching Japanese Program for English Speaking Peoples

1992 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 02045002
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for international Scientific Research
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: University-to-University Cooperative Research
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University of Education
• Principal Investigator: YOSHIDA Hiroo Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo Campus, 教育学部札幌分校, 教授 (10002453)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): WILLIAM PFIS University, of・Alaska, Professor ; SETSUKO CORN University, of・London, Lector ; WILLIAM H・PA University, of・Alaska, Professor ; SUZUKI Junkichi University of London, of・London, Lector ; JOHN BREEN University, of・London, Lecturer ; TSUJII Yoshiaki Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo Campus, 助教授 (40091532) ; STEFAN KAISE University, of・London, Professor ; TSUNEMOTO Teruki Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo Campus, 助教授 (10163859) ; MURAYAMA Noriaki Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo Campus, 助教授 (30002471) ; BABA Toshiomi Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo Campus, 講師 (70218668) ; MIZUNO Masakatsu Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo Campus, 助教授 (30107239) ; HONDO Tomohiko Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo Campus, 助教授 (10199581) ; KATO Tomio Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo Campus, 教授 (20095748) ; YOSHIMI Takao Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo Campus, 助教授 (80142777) ; YAMASHITA Katsuhiko Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo Campus, 教授 (80002468) ; KOBAYASHI Kazuhiko Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo Campus, 教授 (70002475) ; TANIMOTO Kazuyuki Hokkaido University of Education, 学長 (20002446) ; PHISTERER William University of Alaska ; PARRETT William H University of Alaska ; KAISER Stefan University of London ; BREEN John University of London ; CORNISH Setsuko University of London
• Project Period (FY): 1990 – 1992
• Keywords: Japanese Teaching / Japanese Affairs / Japanese Training In Japan / Interactive Japanese Teaching Course

Research Abstract

Our research project has aimed to develop a comprehensive and practical teaching system of Japanese for English speakers. It includes theory and method, curriculum, drawing, analyzing, evaluating of materials for Japanese teaching.
Our project has started together with study program for the students of SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL AND AFRICAN STUDIES(SOAS). All of first year students majoring Japanese at SOAS have to come and do our intensive course for four months. The number of students is ten to twentyfive and after their study in London for six months they have first experiences of their living and studying in Japan at our campus. All the time we had to do our best to prepare and complete the course. The course is very intensive and the scale of class is very small(4-8). The students showed hundreds of practical questions they had during their life in Japan.
Therefore our project mainly was practical. We made out many practical materials for teaching and learned how to use them. All our staffs had enormous experiences of Japanese teaching method for foreign students.
At the same time our such experiences have orientated us to necessity of theorizing them. During this final year of our project we have attempted to generalize Japanese teaching method for foreigners. here is three principles we have gotten from our practice.
1. teachers and learners have to learn each other during their classes. It must be a creative process.
2. Teaching at classes must be individual and personal. Without such individuality teachers cannot answer practical queries by foreign learners.
3. Good circumstances and networks must be prepared during their stay and study. Learning Japanese means to learn Japanese culture and lifestyle and this is very difficult for foreigners. The supporting system for foreign learners outside of classes is very important.
Our program with SOAS is to continue for five years from 1993. We are planning to develop our research project cooperating with this program, and it will be more fruitful in the near future.