ADVOCACY KIT
WHY LEARN JAPANESE?
Over the last 100 years, Australia has developed a deep and lasting relationship with Japan, not only politically and through trade, but on a grassroots, person–to-person level. Japan’s rich culture, both ancient and modern, holds a fascination for us and our students, and we are drawn to the ‘soft power’ of Japanese culture in the form of manga, anime, art, music, fashion and food. For many students, meeting Japanese people or staying in Japan has been a memorable and life-changing experience. Australians work closely with Japanese companies, organisations and individuals in various areas, and there are many opportunities for work related connections in the future.
ADVOCACY KIT FOR TEACHERS
The Japan Foundation, Sydney has created a kit for teachers to use for promoting their Japanese language programs. It contains the following three resources. Click on each one for details.
1. Advocacy brochure for beginner students and parents
This colourful brochure contains a variety of information about Japanese traditional and modern culture and aims to inspire students to study Japanese. It can be distributed to secondary students when they are considering their subject choices. We have created two different designs, sakura design and sky design with the same contents. Each design was produced in two versions, A and B. Version A contains “messages from Senpai” (former students) and a blank section which teachers can fill in with their own Japanese program information. Version B includes an additional blank “messages from Senpai” section, which teachers can fill in with their former students’ stories and messages. See below for instructions on how to insert the information into the brochure and print it out.
How to use this resource:
- Click the files below to download the PDF file. Use ADOBE ACROBAT READER to open the files.
*You will need ADOBE ACROBAT READER (free software) to insert texts and photos. - Insert your Japanese program information into the blank section of the brochure.
SAMPLE - Print out the brochure back to back and fold into 3 sections.
*Ensure that the scale is set to 100 % on the print screen and choose flip on short edge. Click here to check how to set up the printer.
This brochure has been created by The JPF, Sydney with references to the following:
Australian Bureau of Statics (ABS). (2020 December). International Merchandise Trade, Preliminary, Australia: Contains preliminary estimate of international merchandise trade, includes breakdowns of imports, exports, source and destination countries. Retrieved January 29, 2021, from https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/international-trade/international-merchandise-trade-preliminary-australia/dec-2020.
Central Japan Railway Company. (n.d.). Linear Chuo Shinkansen. Retrieved January 29, 2021, from https://linear-chuo-shinkansen.jr-central.co.jp/.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. (2021, January 6). FCAI releases VFACTS 2020 new vehicle sales figures. https://www.fcai.com.au/news/index/view/news/695.
Japan External Trade Organization. (2018, March 14). Market Report on Japan’s Smart Robotics Industry. https://www.jetro.go.jp/usa/topics/market-report-japan-smart-robotics-industry.html.
Japan National Tourism Organization. (2020, January 17). Number of visitor arrivals to Japan down 4.0% YoY to 2.526 million in December 2019 Annual total reaches 31.882 million (preliminary figures estimated by JNTO) . https://asset.japan.travel/image/upload/v1579653938/pdf/Number_of_visitor_arrivals_to_Japan_Annual_total_reaches_31.882_million.pdf.
Japan National Tourism Organization. (2020, August 26). Postcards from japan: the man behind the ‘matsuri’, the most unmissable local festivals and finding ‘ikigai’ in ancient japanese traditions with Nobuya Miyata. https://www.japan.travel/en/uk/inspiration/postcards-from-japan-matsuri/
2. Advocacy PPT presentation for teachers
This PPT presentation contains material that teachers can use to introduce their Japanese language courses to students. It uses entertaining quizzes to present facts about Japan and its connections to Australia. Teachers can add their own information to Slides 14, 28 and 29 about events and activities they conduct in their programs, such as language days or exchange programs.
This PPT has been created by The JPF, Sydney with references to the following:
AgriFutures Australia. (2017, May 24). Wasabi. https://www.agrifutures.com.au/farm-diversity/wasabi/.
Australian Embassy Tokyo. (n.d.). Australia and Japan’s 107 sister-city/sister-state relationship. Retrieved April 8, 2021, from https://japan.embassy.gov.au/tkyo/sistercities.html.
Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (2018, August). Japan-Australia economic partnership agreement. https://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/agreements/in-force/jaepa/fact-sheets/Pages/jaepa-fact-sheet-agriculture-and-processed-food.
Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (2020, January). Composition of trade Australia 2018-2019, 86. https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/cot-2018-19.pdf.
Bialystok, E & Craik, F. (2010). Cognitive and Linguistic Processing in the Bilingual Mind. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19(1), 19-23. doi – https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721409358571.
Commonwealth of Australia. (2017). Japanese investment in Australia: A trusted partnership-celebrating the 60th anniversary of the 1957 Australia-Japan Agreement on Commerce. https://www.austrade.gov.au/international/invest/importance-of-foreign-direct-investment/japanese-investment-in-australia/report.
Gold, B. T., Kim, C., Johnson, N. F., Kryscio, R. J., & Smith, C. D. (2013). Lifelong bilingualism maintains neural efficiency for cognitive control in aging. The Journal of Neuroscience, 33(2), 387–396. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3837-12.2013.
Keysar, B., Hayakawa, S. L., & An, S. G. (2012). The Foreign-Language Effect: Thinking in a Foreign Tongue Reduces Decision Biases. Psychological Science, 23(6), 661–668. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611432178.
Krizman, J., Marian, V., Shook, A., Skoe, E., & Kraus, N. (2012). Subcortical encoding of sound is enhanced in bilinguals and relates to executive function advantages. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 109(20), 7877–7881. doi: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1201575109.
Ministry of International Affairs and Communications. (2018). Daiyonkai senmoniinkainiokeru hiaringunshouchounitaisurutsuikashitumonoyobikaitou (keisatsucho). https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000582794.pdf.
Morales, J., Calvo, A., & Bialystok, E. (2013). Working memory development in monolingual and bilingual children. Journal of experimental child psychology, 114(2), 187–202. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2012.09.002.
Sebastián-Gallés, N., Albareda-Castellot, B., Weikum, W. M., & Werker, J. F. (2012). A bilingual advantage in visual language discrimination in infancy. Psychological science, 23(9), 994–999. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797612436817.
Statista research department. (2021, January). Total number of residents from Japan living in Australia from 2013 to 2019 (in 1,000s). https://www.statista.com/statistics/1080341/japan-number-japanese-residents-australia/.
Worldometer. (n.d.). Countries in the world by population (2021). https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/population-by-country/.
3. Advocacy Flyer on future opportunities for Japanese learners
This flyer outlines the benefits of learning Japanese language and culture. It includes profiles of young people who used their Japanese knowledge and skills to successfully build careers in various fields of endeavor.
This flyer has been designed for printing two pages on one sheet (A3), which is then folded in half.
This flyer has been created by The JPF, Sydney with references to the following:
Cohen, A. (2020, March 20). Surprising study reveals what makes a good coder, and it’s not math. Fast company. https://www.fastcompany.com/90470552/surprising-study-reveals-what-makes-a-good-coder-and-its-not-math.
Commonwealth of Australia. (2017). Japanese investment in Australia: A trusted partnership-celebrating the 60th anniversary of the 1957 Australia-Japan Agreement on Commerce. https://www.austrade.gov.au/international/invest/importance-of-foreign-direct-investment/japanese-investment-in-australia/report.
Walter, A. (2020, March 6). Learning to code? Strong language skills matter more than being good at math. Discover Magazine. https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/learning-to-code-strong-language-skills-matter-more-than-being-good-at-math
Where do Japanese Language Learners End Up?
Other stories available at Learn Japanese and a New World Opens Project – 日本語を知る。世界が広がる。
by Monash Japanese Language Education Centre
Other Resources for Advocacy
- Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO): Why Japanese? – Advocacy to promote learning
Resources from the Advocacy Seminar held in 2020 at The Japan Foundation, Sydney.
A representative from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) provided insight into trade and economic links between Japan and Australia. His talk focused on the concept of “Society 5.0,” Japanese tourism, and business culture. Participants learned many interesting aspects of Japan from a business perspective. This session was beneficial in advocating Japanese language study for all Japanese language teachers to promote learning Japanese language in their school.
- Sensei’s Voices
You can find articles contributed by teachers and educators on events and programs advocating Japanese language learning to the school community and beyond. Please share your experiences and any ideas with your colleagues! Here are some examples:- Advocacy: In Our Hands
- Parental Engagement In Japanese Language Learning At SCECGS Redlands
- 2018 Harmony Day Video, Alice Springs Language Centre
- Advocacy: In Our Hands
Below is a list of websites that you may find useful!
Program Resources and Support
- Embassy of Japan in Australia, Canberra
Embassy and school visits – staff introduce aspects of Japanese culture and society through DVDs, plastic food displays, traditional toys and clothing. Embassy visits include a tour of a Japanese garden. DVDs and cultural items are also available for loan. - Consulate-General of Japan in Sydney
School visit program – includes a calligraphy workshop and general presentation – introduction to Japan. - Consulate-General of Japan in Brisbane
School visit program – topics include Japanese food, children’s games and toys, traditional arts and crafts, traditional clothing and contemporary fashion, school life, and careers using Japanese language. DVDs and cultural items are also available for loan. - Consulate-General of Japan in Melbourne
Cultural seminars – topics include visual and performing arts, pop culture, school, leisure, food, customs, and tourist destinations. DVDs and cultural items are also available for loan. - Consulate-General of Japan in Perth
Organisers of events can apply for nominal support. - The Japan Foundation, Sydney
Center Visit Program
Japanese Classroom Resources
Information for teachers of Japanese - The Japan Foundation, London
Teaching and Learning Resources - The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles
Information for teachers - Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Australia
Brochures and maps of Japan
School Partnerships, Trips and Exchanges
- Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) Sydney
Information on International Exchange - Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Australia
Information on school trips to Japan - AFS Australia
Offers 1-2 month, 1-semester, and 1-year student exchange programs. - Southern Cross Cultural Exchange (SCCE)
Offers 2-month, 3-month, 1-semester, and 1-year student exchange programs. Students must have been studying Japanese for at least two years to be considered for the program. - Youth for Understanding (YFU) Student Exchange
Offers 2-month, 3-month, 1-semester, and 1-year student exchange programs. Students must have been studying Japanese for at least one year prior to departure.
Japanese at Tertiary Level
To find tertiary institutions offering Japanese language studies, please use the Japan Foundation’s search engine for institutions offering Japanese-language education.
*This data is based on the Japan Foundation’s Survey Report on Japanese-Language Education Abroad, conducted every three years.
Future Learning Opportunities and Careers
- Australian Embassy, Tokyo, Japan: Studying in Japan
Information about opportunities to study or research in Japan. - MEXT Scholarship
Various scholarships offered to Australian university students and school teachers to study in Japan. - JET Programme
An exchange program where participants work in local governments or private schools in Japan as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs), Sports Exchange Advisors (SEAs), or Coordinators for International Relations (CIR). - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Working Holiday Programmes in Japan
A program that provides opportunities for young people to engage in employment while on holiday in Japan. - Australia-Japan Youth Association
An organisation that provides a platform for young people from Australia and Japan to connect and discover professional opportunities that promote Australia-Japan relations. - JETRO Australia: business information
A Japanese government organisation that provides free business support services to companies expanding to Japan. - The Government of Japan: Open for business working in Japan
Stories of entrepreneurs who have forged successful careers in Japan.
The Advocacy kit was coordinated and produced by Minako Kadoi with assistance from Himiko Negishi-Wood. The advocacy brochure and flyer were designed by Kosaku Makino. We thank all the senpai for contributing their photos and stories. (April 2021)