Influence of the JET Programme on Japanese Language Education:

Did joining JET motivate the UK returnees to become a teacher of Japanese?

 

Masumi Tanaka  Formerly of the Japan Foundation London

Toshiko Ishida  Professor Emerita, University of Tsukuba

 

This study aims to clarify what factors motivated JETs to become teachers of Japanese language. The survey was conducted by gathering data from former JET teachers who are teaching Japanese at UK secondary schools. The survey revealed the following:

·         six items including interaction with students contributed to the decision of JETs to become teachers of Japanese language. This suggests that the programme plays a role in producing potential teachers of Japanese.

·         former JET’s knowledge of Japanese language, culture and society gained in Japan is utilized in order to introduce Japanese classes at schools where Japanese had not been taught before. This suggests that the presence of JET teachers increases the number of institutions offering Japanese and the number of students learning Japanese in the UK secondary sector.

·         former JET teachers are playing a role in teaching about Japanese culture and Japan based on their real experience through sharing their cross-cultural experience with their students.

·         former JET teachers are utilising 1) links with other former JET teachers and 2) ideas for activities and materials they obtained in Japan in their Japanese language teaching activities in the UK.

However, the respondents missed the opportunities to gain knowledge to teach Japanese in Japan through the Japanese language teaching training. Considering the teachers of Japanese who do not specialized in language education, any teacher training course should, whether it takes place in the UK, or indeed anywhere outside of Japan, provide participants with the opportunity to improve their Japanese language teaching skills as well as their Japanese language skills.

 

 

日本語教育におけるJETプログラムの影響

－JETプログラムはイギリス人参加者に日本語教師となる動機を与えたか－

 

元国際交流基金ロンドン事務所　田中真寿美

筑波大学名誉教授　石田敏子

 

本研究の目的はJET参加者が日本語教師になることに影響した要因を明らかにし、非母語話者日本語教師研修改善のための示唆を得ることである。英国の中等教育機関で日本語を教える元JET教師を対象にアンケート調査を行った。その結果、生徒との交流体験などが日本語教師になる動機となっていることがわかった。また、元JET教師の日本語、日本文化・社会に関する知識がそれまで日本語教育が行われていなかった学校で日本語の導入に役立っていること、元JET教師が生徒と異文化体験を共有することで日本や日本文化を伝える役割を果たしていること、他の元JET教師との情報交換や日本で得た教材・活動のアイディアが日本語授業に生かされていることがわかった。しかし、日本での日本語教育研修の受講機会が生かされておらず、UKまたは海外での非母語話者教師研修では日本語教授知識の習得も研修目的とすべきであると考えられる。