Japan Foundation Training: Winter Advanced Training Course at the Urawa International Japanese Language Institute

            The Japan Foundation is the only specialized organization in Japan that promotes comprehensive international cultural exchange in all regions of the world.

            The International Japanese Language Institute Urawa (JLI) of the Japan Foundation (Urawa City, Saitama Prefecture) is a branch of the Japan Foundation (JF), one of whose main activities is to support and promote the study of the Japanese language and culture overseas. The needs of Japanese language learners abroad are increasingly diverse, and to meet the diverse requests for support from different countries, the Institute was opened on July 1, 1989, in Saitama City (then Urawa City), Saitama Prefecture. Since its founding, specialists from around the world have completed advanced training courses at the Institute, and their number has now exceeded 14,000.

            Yerlan AKHAPOV, Ph.D., Associate Professor of the Department of Far East, participated in a training course at the International Institute of the Japanese Language Urawa, entitled “Japanese Teaching Methods Program for Teachers of the Japanese Language (Winter Courses)” at the invitation of the Japan Foundation. The month-long intensive course was designed for Japanese language teachers from various countries with over 10 years of professional experience. The training was attended by 34 representatives of universities and language courses from various centers from 22 countries and three continents. This program, designed for experienced professionals, was piloted for the first time and is unique in the Institute's history.

            During their stay, the participants completed theoretical courses on Japanese language teaching methods and engaged in practical workshops. Cultural programs were also organized, including a visit to the Kabuki Theater and an intercultural exchange with high school students. The final part of the training, a lecture course with practical exercises on generative AI, also deeply impressed the participants. The skillful use of generative AI certainly expands the learning opportunities, and the participants also gained valuable time to reflect on their own lessons.