Japanese Language Teacher Training Course
Faculty of Liberal Arts
(Applicable to students enrolled before 2022)
1. Overview
As globalization progresses, the demand for Japanese language education is increasing both in Japan and overseas. The number of foreigners studying Japanese at institutions in Japan alone already exceeds 200,000, indicating a growing need for Japanese language education. Furthermore, with the recent expansion of accepting foreign talent, the role of Japanese language education is crucial in addressing the challenge of building a multilingual and multicultural society in Japan. Looking overseas, as of 2019, there were over 3.8 million Japanese language learners in more than 140 countries, and this number is also increasing. In recent years, many overseas learners of Japanese language aim to come to Japan through various programs, diversifying the needs for Japanese language education for human resource development. To meet this domestic and international demand for Japanese language education, there is a need for excellent Japanese language teachers who possess systematic knowledge and skills, a global perspective, and the ability to practice locally.
Therefore, since 1994, Faculty of Liberal Arts has established courses necessary for training Japanese language teachers, with the aim of responding to the needs for Japanese language education both in Japan and abroad, and cultivating individuals who can contribute to an internationalized society as Japanese language teachers. Until 2010, the faculty adopted the minor model from the two models outlined in the report (1985) of the "Research Group on the Promotion of Japanese Language Education Policies," offering a total of 30 credits of courses. However, the Agency for Cultural Affairs compiled a new report ("On Teacher Training for Japanese Language Education," March 2000), which revised the various areas and categories that constitute the educational content. As a result, from 2011 onwards, Faculty of Liberal Arts' Japanese language teacher training program has also changed to a curriculum that conforms to this new report. Furthermore, in order to cultivate higher-quality Japanese language teachers, the faculty has not only established a rich and diverse range of courses, but has also set the required number of credits at 45 or more.
Currently, there are no regulations regarding the licensing of Japanese language teachers under the Education Personnel Licensing Act. Therefore, Tohoku Gakuin University's Faculty of Liberal Arts certifies individuals who have acquired the required credits and met certain conditions as having a "Basic Qualification for Japanese Language Teachers." With the promulgation and enforcement of the Act on the Promotion of Japanese Language Education, the establishment of a system for national qualification of Japanese language teachers has begun. Our university's Japanese language teacher training program is scheduled to respond to this change without delay.
2. Subjects and registration methods for the Japanese language teacher training program
- Courses to be taken and credits
-
- (Students admitted in 2019 or later)
- Faculty of Liberal Arts has defined the subject groups related to the Japanese language teacher training program as shown in Curriculum Table 1. Subjects marked with ◎ are compulsory and total 26 credits. All other subjects are electives, and a minimum of 19 credits must be earned. In addition, the required number of credits for each category must be met.
- (Students admitted between 2015 and 2018)
- Faculty of Liberal Arts has defined the subject groups related to the Japanese language teacher training program as shown in Curriculum Table 2. Subjects marked with ◎ are compulsory and total 40 credits. All other subjects are electives, and a minimum of 5 credits must be earned.
- (Students admitted between 2011 and 2014)
- Faculty of Liberal Arts has defined the subject groups related to the Japanese language teacher training program as shown in Curriculum Table 3. Subjects marked with ◎ are compulsory and total 36 credits. All other subjects are electives, and a minimum of 9 credits must be earned.
3. Japanese Language Teaching Practice
- (Students admitted in 2019 or later)
-
To obtain credits for the compulsory course "Japanese Language Teaching Practice Methods," students are required to complete teaching practice at a Japanese language education institution designated by this university. However, those who do not meet the following requirements will not be able to participate in Japanese language teaching practice.
- ① By the end of the second year, students must have earned at least 30 credits in general education subjects and foreign language subjects, and a total of at least 60 credits including the specialized subjects required for graduation.
- ② By the end of the second year, students must have taken at least eight required courses listed in Curriculum Table 1 and earned the necessary credits.
- ③ Of the required subjects, students must have earned credits for at least three of the six core subjects ("Advanced Topics in Japanese Linguistics," "Japanese Grammar," "Introduction to Japanese Language Education," "Japanese Language Teaching Methods," "Advanced Topics in Japanese Language Education I," and "Advanced Topics in Japanese Language Education II").
- ④ You must have made a preliminary registration for Japanese language teaching practice in your second year. (Details on how to make a preliminary registration will be provided separately in the second semester of your second year.)
- (Students admitted in 2015 or later)
-
To obtain credits for the compulsory course "Japanese Language Teaching Practice Methods," students are required to complete teaching practice at a Japanese language education institution designated by this university. However, those who do not meet the following requirements will not be able to participate in Japanese language teaching practice.
- ① By the end of the third year, students must have acquired the necessary credits for general education subjects and foreign language subjects for graduation, and the total number of credits acquired, including the specialized subjects required for graduation, must be 90 or more.
- ② By the end of the third year, students must have taken at least 12 required courses listed in Curriculum Table 2 and earned the necessary credits.
- ③ Of the required subjects, students must have earned credits for at least five of the seven core subjects ("Introduction to Japanese Linguistics A," "Introduction to Japanese Linguistics B," "Japanese Grammar," "Introduction to Japanese Language Education," "Japanese Language Teaching Methods," "Advanced Topics in Japanese Language Education A," and "Advanced Topics in Japanese Language Education B").
- ④ You must have made a preliminary registration for Japanese language teaching practice in your third year. (Details on how to make a preliminary registration will be provided separately in the second semester of your third year.)
- (Students admitted between 2011 and 2014)
-
To obtain credits for the compulsory course "Japanese Language Teaching Practice Methods," students are required to complete teaching practice at a Japanese language education institution designated by this university. However, those who do not meet the following requirements will not be able to participate in Japanese language teaching practice.
- ① By the end of the third year, students must have acquired the necessary credits for general education subjects and foreign language subjects for graduation, and the total number of credits acquired, including the specialized subjects required for graduation, must be 90 or more.
- ② By the end of the third year, students must have taken at least 12 required courses listed in Curriculum Table 3 and earned the necessary credits.
- ③ Of the required subjects, students must have earned credits for at least five of the seven core subjects ("Introduction to Japanese Linguistics (s)", "Introduction to Japanese Linguistics (w)", "Japanese Grammar", "Japanese Language Teaching Methods (s)", "Japanese Language Teaching Methods (w)", "Japanese Language Teaching Materials (s)", and "Japanese Language Teaching Materials (w)").
- ④ You must have made a preliminary registration for Japanese language teaching practice in your third year. (Details on how to make a preliminary registration will be provided separately in the second semester of your third year.)
4. Certification of Japanese Language Teacher Qualifications and Issuance of Completion Certificates
- (Students admitted in 2019 or later)
- Students who acquire 26 credits in required subjects (marked with ◎) as listed in Curriculum Table 1, plus 19 or more credits in elective subjects (unmarked subjects), thereby fulfilling the required credit requirements for each category, and who acquire a total of 45 or more credits, will be certified as having the basic qualification for teaching Japanese, and will be issued a certificate of completion for the Japanese language teaching course on the day of graduation.
- (Students admitted between 2015 and 2018)
- Those who acquire 40 credits from compulsory subjects (marked with ◎) listed in Course Table 2, plus 5 or more credits from elective subjects (unmarked subjects), for a total of 45 credits or more, will be certified as having the basic qualification to teach Japanese, and will be issued a certificate of completion for the Japanese language teacher training course on the day of graduation.
- (Students admitted between 2011 and 2014)
- Those who acquire 36 credits from compulsory subjects (marked with ◎) listed in Course Table 3, plus 9 or more credits from elective subjects (unmarked subjects), for a total of 45 credits or more, will be certified as having the basic qualification to teach Japanese, and will be issued a certificate of completion for the Japanese language teacher training course on the day of graduation.
Course table 1
(Applicable to students admitted in 2019 and later)
(◎ indicates a required subject)
| "On the ideal approach to training and developing personnel for Japanese language education" (Report of the Japanese Language Subcommittee of the Cultural Affairs Council, Agency for Cultural Affairs, March 2018) |
Curriculum for Japanese Language Teacher Training Programs at this University | ||||||
| region | classification | Courses offered at this university | Grade level at which the course begins | unit | classification Required unit |
lowest Acquisition unit |
|
| Company Association ・ sentence transformation ・ earth area to Seki circle ru territory area |
Company Association ・ sentence transformation ・ earth area |
The World and Japan | Japanese Literature History A | First half of 2 years | 2 | 8 | 45 |
| History of Japanese Literature B | Second half of 2nd year | 2 | |||||
| ◎Japanese Language and Culture Studies | 2 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| Special lecture on Japanese culture | 2 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| cross-cultural contact | ◎Cultural Fundamentals IA | First half of 1 year | 2 | ||||
| Cultural Fundamentals IB | Late 1st year | 2 | |||||
| cultural anthropology | 1 year and a half | 2 | |||||
| The History and Society of Japanese Language Education | ◎Introduction to Japanese Language Education | 1 year and a half | 2 | ||||
| words word and Company Association |
Language use and society | ◎Japanese Linguistics | 1 year and a half | 2 | 4 | ||
| The relationship between language and society | Sociolinguistics | 2 and a half years | 2 | ||||
| Intercultural communication and society | Intercultural Communication A | First half of 2 years | 2 | ||||
| teaching Education to Seki circle ru territory area |
words word and heart Reason |
The process of language comprehension | ◎Language and Communication | 2 and a half years | 2 | 6 | |
| Language education methods and development | ◎Language Acquisition Theory | 2 and a half years | 2 | ||||
| Intercultural understanding and psychology | Intercultural Communication B | Second half of 2nd year | 2 | ||||
| words word and teaching Education |
Language Teaching Methods and Practice | educational psychology (Department of Language and Culture / Department of Information Science / Department of Regional Design) |
2 and a half years | 2 | 8 | ||
| Education/School Psychology (Department of Human Science) |
2 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| ◎Japanese teaching method | 2 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| ◎Japanese Language Teaching Practice Methods | Second half of 3rd year | 2 | |||||
| Intercultural education and communication education | Reading comprehension and writing techniques | 1 year and a half | 2 | ||||
| Language education and information | The foundation of the information society | 1 year and a half | 2 | ||||
| ◎Special Lecture on Japanese Language Education I | 3 years and a half | 2 | |||||
| Special Lecture on Japanese Language Education II | 4 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| words word to Seki circle ru territory area |
words word |
Language structure in general | ◎Basic language theory IA | First half of 1 year | 2 | 10 | |
| ◎Basic language theory IB | Late 1st year | 2 | |||||
| Fundamentals of language theory II | 2 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| The structure of the Japanese language | ◎Advanced Topics in Japanese Linguistics | 2 and a half years | 2 | ||||
| ◎Japanese grammar theory | 3 years and a half | 2 | |||||
| Language research | Contrastive linguistics | 3 years and a half | 2 | ||||
| Communication skills | Advanced English Communication A | First half of 3rd year | 1 | 2 | |||
| Advanced English Communication B | Second half of 3rd year | 1 | |||||
| German Communication III A | First half of 3rd year | 1 | |||||
| German Communication III B | Second half of 3rd year | 1 | |||||
| French Communication III A | First half of 3rd year | 1 | |||||
| French Communication III B | Second half of 3rd year | 1 | |||||
| Chinese Communication III A | First half of 3rd year | 1 | |||||
| Chinese Communication III B | Second half of 3rd year | 1 | |||||
| Korean Language Communication III A | First half of 3rd year | 1 | |||||
| Korean Language Communication III B | Second half of 3rd year | 1 | |||||
| Research and presentation techniques | 2 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| total | 38 | 45 | |||||
Course table 2
(Applicable to students admitted between 2015 and 2018)
(◎ indicates a required subject)
| "On Teacher Training for Japanese Language Education" (Report of the Research and Study Cooperation Committee on the Training of Japanese Language Teachers, Agency for Cultural Affairs, March 2000) |
Curriculum for Japanese Language Teacher Training Programs at this University | ||||||
| region | classification | Courses offered at this university | Grade level at which the course begins | unit | lowest Credits earned |
||
| Company Association ・ sentence transformation ・ earth area to Seki circle ru territory area |
Company Association ・ sentence transformation ・ earth area |
The World and Japan | Japanese Literature History A | First half of 2 years | 2 | 6 | 45 |
| History of Japanese Literature B | Second half of 2nd year | 2 | |||||
| ◎Japanese Language and Culture Studies | 2 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| ◎Special lecture on Japanese culture | 2 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| cross-cultural contact | Cultural Fundamentals IA | First half of 1 year | 2 | ||||
| Cultural Fundamentals IB | Late 1st year | 2 | |||||
| cultural anthropology | 1 year and a half | 2 | |||||
| Contemporary Cultural Anthropology | 2 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| The History and Society of Japanese Language Education | ◎Advanced Topics in Japanese Linguistics | 3 years and a half | 2 | ||||
| words word and Company Association |
Language use and society | ◎Japanese Linguistics | 1 year and a half | 2 | 6 | ||
| The relationship between language and society | ◎ Sociolinguistics | 2 and a half years | 2 | ||||
| Intercultural communication and society | ◎Intercultural Communication A | First half of 2 years | 2 | ||||
| teaching Education to Seki circle ru territory area |
words word and heart Reason |
The process of language comprehension | ◎Language and Communication | 2 and a half years | 2 | 6 | |
| Language education methods and development | ◎Language acquisition theory | First half of 2 years | 2 | ||||
| ◎Language Acquisition Theory | Second half of 2nd year | 2 | |||||
| Intercultural understanding and psychology | Intercultural Communication B | Second half of 2nd year | 2 | ||||
| words word and teaching Education |
Language Teaching Methods and Practice | educational psychology | 2 and a half years | 2 | 10 | ||
| ◎Introduction to Japanese Language Education | 2 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| ◎Japanese teaching method | Second half of 3rd year | 2 | |||||
| ◎Japanese Language Teaching Practice Methods | 4 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| Intercultural education and communication education | Reading comprehension and writing techniques | 1 year and a half | 2 | ||||
| Language education and information | Basic Computer | First half of 1 year | 2 | ||||
| ◎Advanced Topics in Japanese Language Education A | First half of 3rd year | 2 | |||||
| ◎Special lecture on Japanese language education B | Second half of 3rd year | 2 | |||||
| Language and Information | 3 years and a half | 2 | |||||
| words word to Seki circle ru territory area |
words word |
Language structure in general | ◎Basic language theory IA | First half of 1 year | 2 | 12 | |
| ◎Basic language theory IB | Late 1st year | 2 | |||||
| Fundamentals of Language Theory IIA | First half of 2 years | 2 | |||||
| Fundamentals of Language Theory IIB | Second half of 2nd year | 2 | |||||
| The structure of the Japanese language | ◎Fundamentals of Japanese Language | 1 year and a half | 2 | ||||
| ◎Introduction to Japanese Linguistics A | First half of 2 years | 2 | |||||
| ◎Introduction to Japanese Linguistics B | Second half of 2nd year | 2 | |||||
| ◎Japanese grammar theory | 3 years and a half | 2 | |||||
| Language research | Contrastive linguistics | 3 years and a half | 2 | ||||
| Communication skills | Advanced English Communication A | First half of 3rd year | 1 | ||||
| Advanced English Communication B | Second half of 3rd year | 1 | |||||
| German Communication III A | First half of 3rd year | 1 | |||||
| German Communication III B | Second half of 3rd year | 1 | |||||
| French Communication III A | First half of 3rd year | 1 | |||||
| French Communication III B | Second half of 3rd year | 1 | |||||
| Chinese Communication III A | First half of 3rd year | 1 | |||||
| Chinese Communication III B | Second half of 3rd year | 1 | |||||
| Korean Language Communication III A | First half of 3rd year | 1 | |||||
| Korean Language Communication III B | Second half of 3rd year | 1 | |||||
| total | 80 | 40 | 45 | ||||
Course table 3
(Applicable to students admitted between 2011 and 2014)
(◎ indicates a required subject)
| "On Teacher Training for Japanese Language Education" (Report of the Research and Study Cooperation Committee on the Training of Japanese Language Teachers, Agency for Cultural Affairs, March 2000) |
Curriculum for Japanese Language Teacher Training Programs at this University | ||||||
| region | classification | Courses offered at this university | Grade level at which the course begins | unit | lowest Credits earned |
||
| Company Association ・ sentence transformation ・ earth area to Seki circle ru territory area |
Company Association ・ sentence transformation ・ earth area |
The World and Japan | History of Japanese Literature | 2-year full-year | 4 | 6 | 45 |
| ◎Japanese Language and Culture Studies | 2 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| ◎Special lecture on Japanese culture | 2 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| cross-cultural contact | Cultural Fundamentals I(s) | 1 year and a half | 2 | ||||
| Foundations of Culture I (w) | 1 year and a half | 2 | |||||
| cultural anthropology | 1 year and a half | 2 | |||||
| Contemporary Cultural Anthropology | 2 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| The History and Society of Japanese Language Education | ◎Advanced Topics in Japanese Linguistics | 3 years and a half | 2 | ||||
| words word and Company Association |
Language use and society | ◎Japanese Linguistics | 1 year and a half | 2 | 4 | ||
| The relationship between language and society | Sociolinguistics | 2 and a half years | 2 | ||||
| Intercultural communication and society | ◎Intercultural Communication I | 2 and a half years | 2 | ||||
| teaching Education to Seki circle ru territory area |
words word and heart Reason |
The process of language comprehension | ◎Language and Communication | 2 and a half years | 2 | 4 | |
| Language education methods and development | language acquisition theory | 2 and a half years | 2 | ||||
| ◎Language Acquisition Theory | 2 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| Intercultural understanding and psychology | Intercultural Communication II | 2 and a half years | 2 | ||||
| words word and teaching Education |
Language Teaching Methods and Practice | educational psychology | 2 and a half years | 2 | 10 | ||
| ◎Japanese teaching method(s) | 3 years and a half | 2 | |||||
| ◎Japanese teaching method (w) | 3 years and a half | 2 | |||||
| ◎Japanese Language Teaching Practice Methods | 4 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| Intercultural education and communication education | Techniques of linguistic expression | 2 and a half years | 2 | ||||
| Language education and information | Basic Computer A | 1 year and a half | 2 | ||||
| Basic Computer B | 1 year and a half | 2 | |||||
| ◎Japanese language education materials theory (s) | 3 years and a half | 2 | |||||
| ◎Theory of Japanese Language Teaching Materials (w) | 3 years and a half | 2 | |||||
| Language and Information | 3 years and a half | 2 | |||||
| words word to Seki circle ru territory area |
words word |
Language structure in general | ◎Fundamentals of Language I(s) | 1 year and a half | 2 | 12 | |
| ◎Foundations of Language I (w) | 1 year and a half | 2 | |||||
| Fundamentals of Language Theory II (s) | 2 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| Foundations of Language II (w) | 2 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| The structure of the Japanese language | ◎Fundamentals of Japanese Language | 1 year and a half | 2 | ||||
| ◎Introduction to Japanese Linguistics (s) | 2 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| ◎Introduction to Japanese Linguistics (w) | 2 and a half years | 2 | |||||
| ◎Japanese grammar theory | 3 years and a half | 2 | |||||
| Language research | Contrastive linguistics | 3 years and a half | 2 | ||||
| Communication skills | Advanced English Communication(s) | 3 years and a half | 1 | ||||
| Advanced English Communication (w) | 3 years and a half | 1 | |||||
| German Communication III (s) | 3 years and a half | 1 | |||||
| German Communication III (W) | 3 years and a half | 1 | |||||
| French Communication III (s) | 3 years and a half | 1 | |||||
| French Communication III (W) | 3 years and a half | 1 | |||||
| Chinese Communication III (s) | 3 years and a half | 1 | |||||
| Chinese Communication III (W) | 3 years and a half | 1 | |||||
| Korean Language Communication III (s) | 3 years and a half | 1 | |||||
| Korean Language Communication III (w) | 3 years and a half | 1 | |||||
| total | 80 | 36 | 45 | ||||