The Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship 2023 for the teacher training category is now open. Applications close on Friday 17 February 2023.
Details and application forms are available on the Embassy of Japan in Canberra website. Please address any enquiries to the Embassy via email or phone (02) 62727252.

The Japan Foundation Sydney, is holding a summer seminar which enables teachers to develop language skills, gain confidence using Japanese, and to develop language teaching strategies and skills which they can apply in their own classrooms. Specific focuses include Australian Curriculum, brushing up Japanese language skills and culture workshops. Participants will be immersed in a Japanese language environment suited to their level and will have ample opportunity for networking.
 
Date: Monday 16-Thursday 19 January 2023
 
Venue: The Japan Foundation, Sydney 
 
Eligibility:
Teachers  must:
- be an Australian teacher of primary levels K-6 (teachers of Years 7-8 may apply) or a New Zealand teacher of primary levels Years 1-8 (teachers of Years 9-10 may apply)
- be currently teaching Japanese a minimum of 3 hours per week
- not be a native or near-native Japanese
- be able to read Hiragana and Katakana without any difficulty
- be at least JLPT N5 level of Japanese language proficiency
- be able to attend each day in full.

Pre-service teachers must:

• - be currently studying in the final year of their teaching course in university towards being a primary school level Japanese teacher in Australia, or have graduated from a teaching course on a primary school level in Australia within the past two years and be actively seeking teaching work
• - not be a native or near-native Japanese speaker
• - be able to read Hiragana and Katakana without any difficulty
• - be at least JLPT N5 level of Japanese language proficiency
• - be able to attend each day in full.

 
Fees: There will be NO participation fee.
All travel costs, flights, accommodation and transport, will be the responsibility of the participants.

Partial scholarships: The Languages and Culture team is offering partial scholarships of $300 for travel and/or accommodation expenses for teachers who live outside the Sydney metropolitan area.
Applicants must be a Stage 4 temporary or permanent teacher in a NSW DoE central or secondary school. For more information and to apply, please see attached document. 
　　　
Application closing date: Monday 28 November 2022 

Enquiries: For more information can be found visit the Japan Foundation website. 

The Japan Foundation, Sydney
Email: coordinators@jpf.org.au 
Phone: (02) 8239 0055 

AoYama Japanese Camp (AYJC) is planning a holiday camp which will be held 23-25 January 2023 at Baden Powell Activity Centre, Pennant Hills.
Registrations close 23 December.
Please visit the AYJC website for further information. 

Dear Japanese teachers,
​
We are excited to launch the Nihongo Tanken Centre's new 'survival' excursion – A day in Japan.
This excursion enables small groups of Year 10 students (12-15 students) to engage in real life scenarios, such as what it would be like when visiting Japan, and to explore the Japanese language and culture.

The day leads students through a simulated home stay, including:

• - meeting your host family at the airport
  • - settling in at your host family’s home
• - learning about your host family 
• - shopping
• - finding your way around
• - travelling by train
• - being interviewed by the local TV station.


• Throughout the day, students work in teams to complete tasks in which they showcase their ability to use Japanese in authentic situations.

This program is now open for bookings. For more information, and to help you select the best option for your class, see attached image.
To book an excursion for your class, visit the Tanken Centre website. 
 
Kind regards,
Mieko and Taka
Nihongo Tanken Centre
Email: nihongo.tanken@det.nsw.edu.au
T: 02 9542 5745

Members of JTAN, please note that the exam files will be made available from July, but orders must be made prior to the end of June to allow time for administrative checks to be completed. Note that the purchase and use of JTAN Exams is subject to specific terms and conditions in addition to our normal terms and conditions.

Year 11 Beginners $115
Year 11 Continuers $115
HSC Trial Beginners $115
HSC Trial Continuers $115
HSC Trial Extension $70

Please note in 2022 the Exam Declaration will be completed digitally. Please READ CAREFULLY prior to purchasing the exams, as you will be bound by the terms and conditions. 

We have just published new resources for Stage 5 Japanese, through which students develop the language skills and understanding for travelling in Japan – places of interest, travel etiquette, accommodation, travelling around and making comparisons to recommend best options.

You will find a sample unit of work (with embedded resources - both online and to print/share electronically), a sample assessment task (with marking guidelines) and an updated scope and sequence.

The resource set can be accessed from the Japanese Stages 4 and 5 section of our website, under the heading 'Stage 5 - Japanese'.

World Tour from Our Classroom (WTOC) connects Japanese and international schools and promotes communication between students. Seisa International High School in Kanagawa prefecture are seeking a partner school to conduct cross-cultural English/Japanese sessions.

2 session times are to be attended by the interested school from the dates below: 
- 10, 17 or 24 November (select one date) and
- 1 or 15 December (select one date).

There will be 2 x 1-hour sessions ideally conducted between 12-2:30 pm via Zoom. The sessions are facilitated by members of the WTOC program, based in Japan. Teachers who interested to contact Miki Kurogo Tran. 

More information about the program can be found at the WTOC website. ​

NSW public schools seeking to establish a sister school relationship need to refer to the Agreements with foreign entities (including sister schools) policy of the Department of Education. 

Mama Dojo is offering interactive incursions in 2021 for schools in NSW.

​Games Boy JP investigates aspects of Japanese culture through interactive theatre, with level appropriate Japanese language featured throughout. There is an optional workshop available after the performance in which students learn additional games and related vocabulary. There is currently availability for NSW schools from 3 May – 6 June.
​
Show information can be found online. To make a booking or find out further information please email Mama Dojo.

Teachers have been contacting us regarding Windows updates causing Japanese input to disappear on departmental devices. If this has happened at your school, ask your IT coordinator to organise a specialised installer that is independent from Windows. This can be deployed from the UDM Software Deployment Console.