Applications for 2021 September intensive seminar are now open.

The Japan Foundation is offering an intensive seminar for teachers in Sydney, from 27-30 September 2021. 

• The target group for the seminar is junior secondary teachers (Years 7-9). Teachers of Years 5-6 and Year 10 may apply, or a New Zealand junior secondary level teacher of Years 9-11 (teachers of Y7-8 and Y12 may apply). 

The seminar 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 the Australian Curriculum and ICT-based learning. Participants will be immersed in a Japanese language environment suited to their level and will have ample opportunity for networking. 

Date: Monday 27 to Thursday 30 September 2021
Venue: Japan Foundation, Sydney
Fees: No participation fee
Applications close 9 August 2021.

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 temporary or permanent language teacher 7-9 in a NSW public school, with a teaching load of at least 50% Japanese.

To apply for the partial scholarship, please complete the expression of interest form, and email it to Evia Kyriacou by 5pm on 4 August, with the subject line “Japanese scholarship”. Successful applicants will be notified by 6 August.

Participants will need to apply directly to the Japan Foundation to attend the seminar
https://jpf.org.au/language/for-teachers/professional-development/intensive-seminar/.

For further enquiries about the seminar and enrolment information, please contact the Japan Foundation via email or phone on 02 8239 0055.

Professional learning schedule
There are many JTAN professional learning events planned for 2021. All of the scheduled 2021 events can be viewed here.
 
Kimi no Na wa teacher and student online Extension workshop
This workshop is an opportunity for teachers of the Extension course and their students to gain a deeper understanding of the prescribed text Kimi no Na wa and the text analysis component of the course. (A separate workshop focusing on monologue and writing skills will be held later in the year.)

This workshop will be held online on Saturday 27 March 2021.
Cost: $25 per attendee (teachers and students)

There are two options for registration.
1) Teachers register on behalf of their students (schools collect money and pay JTAN in one transaction for the whole group) – register here
2) Students register and pay directly through JTAN as individuals – register here
 
High potential and gifted education in languages workshop
From 27 January 2021, all NSW public schools must implement the High Potential and Gifted Education Policy. For language teachers, this means ensuring that high potential and gifted students can be supported to aspire to and achieve personal excellence in the language classroom.

This workshop, opening with a presentation by Melissa Gould-Drakely (NESA Curriculum Reform Lead 7–10), aims to give teachers practical strategies and advice for how to support and extend our high potential students in the languages classroom. Collaboration time is included to discuss and unpack ideas presented in the morning and discuss how they can be implemented effectively in the classroom/share your strategies for supporting high potential and gifted students.

This workshop will be held online on Saturday 13 March.

Cost: $65 members, $100 non-members

Please register via the JTAN Website
 
Senior skill building workshop series
Throughout 2021, JTAN will be running a series of free, after-school 90 minute workshops to share expertise around our teaching community and add value to membership. In 2021 these workshops will focus on unpacking the skills required for success in Stage 6 Beginners and Continuers courses. Each workshop will be facilitated by an experienced teacher who will unpack the requirements of the specific skill (reading, writing, speaking, listening) and provide a range of techniques, strategies and approaches to assist  in developing  students' skills in those areas.
 
Cost: Free for members
Time: 3:30pm-5:00pm

Please register via the links below
Thursday 18 March – Reading and responding B-style questions
Thursday 22 April – Developing senior speaking skills (Continuers)
Thursday 22 July – Developing writing skills (Beginners)
Thursday 11 November – Developing writing skills (Extension)

 
2021 JTAN examinations
2021 JTAN examinations are now available for purchase. 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.

Year 11 Beginners $115
Year 11 Continuers $115
HSC Trial Beginners $115
HSC Trial Continuers $115
HSC Trial Extension $70
​
All terms and conditions regarding the purchase and use of JTAN exams together with information on how to purchase the examinations can be found on the JTAN website.

This year's JTAN AGM and conference will be held online on Saturday 14 November in a shortened format and will be free for all members. The schedule for the day involves a workshop on 'Differentiation and Engagement' by Trish MacDonald, TeachMeet sessions on various topics by NSW teachers, and the JTAN AGM.
 
Completing this workshop will contribute 3 hours of NESA registered professional development addressing 6.2.2 and 7.4.2 in the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining proficient teacher accreditation in NSW.
 
Members who are unable to attend the AGM may still participate in the decision-makings by completing the proxy form (click here to download).
 
Several committee positions will become available at this year’s AGM, including:
• Vice President
• Accounts & Admin Manager
• Secretary
• Communications Manager
• Workshop Coordinator

To find out more information or to register for the AGM and conference, please visit the JTAN website.

Video matsuri contest
A reminder to all teachers that entries for the annual short film contest for students close on 1 September 2020. Please find details on the Japan Foundation website.

Online professional learning 
The Japan Foundation will be running online professional learning sessions for Japanese teachers on 29-30 September. Three different sessions (A, B and C) will be held on both days for your convenience. There is no cost to participate in these sessions. Registrations are essential and there is a maximum of 50 participants per session. Registrations open on 7 September at 9pm AEST and close on 22 September at 10am AEST or once session capacity has been reached. 
 
Session A: Let’s apply video learning resources from “Erin’s Challenge! I Can Speak Japanese.” in class  
Target: Secondary
Presenter: Minako Kadoi, JPF Sydney Language Consultant
 
Session B: Activities for the Australian Curriculum: promoting intercultural understanding with Japanese patterns
Target: Primary/junior secondary
Presenter: Himiko Negishi-Wood, JPF Sydney Language Consultant 
 
Session C: How to have effective writing lessons
Target: Senior secondary
Presenter: Shunsuke Hirakawa, JPF Sydney Language Consultant
 
Dates and times are detailed below.

29 September 2020 (Tuesday)
Session A: 10am-11:10am AEST (70min)
Session B: 11:30am-12:40pm AEST (70min)
Session C: 1:30am-2:40pm AEST (70min)
 
30 September 2020 (Wednesday)
Session B: 10am-11:10am AEST (70min)
Session C: 11:30am-12:40pm AEST (70min)
Session A: 1:30am-2:40pm AEST (70min)
 
Further details and registration are available on the Japan Foundation website. 

The recording of this online professional learning session which was held on Friday 7 August by The Japan Foundation, Sydney will be available until 31 October 2020.
To access this video on demand please register at this link.
For further enquiries, please contact The Japan Foundation, Sydney.​

Please join us for an introductory workshop about the Japanese Extension course, on Tuesday 30 June. Participants will learn about course content, what is expected of the students, and explore various strategies to support student success and the prescribed text Kimi no Na wa (film). Insights into the analysis of the text, the prescribed issues and relating current issues will be discussed.

The webinar will be presented by Benjamin Gibb from Epping Boys High School who will share from his own experience of teaching Japanese Extension. There will be opportunities for feedback and questions from participants both prior to and during the workshop.
 
Please enrol via MyPL. 
Course code: NR28255
Date: Tuesday 30 June 2020
Time: 3:30-5:00pm
Venue: Zoom
 
Registrations close Friday 26 June. For further details, please contact Shanelle Ingram.

The Languages and Culture team is planning a session, led by Benjamin Gibb (Epping Boys HS), which aims to introduce the Japanese Extension course to anyone who's interested in teaching the course for the first time, or who is new to teaching the course.

Please register your interest via our short survey, so we can ascertain the number of interested teachers. The survey is open to teachers from NSW public schools only, however if the session runs, it will be open to all sectors. The survey closes Friday 19 June 2020.

The proposed session time is 3:45-5:15pm on Tuesday 30 June 2020.

The session will aim to show ways in which the course can be made more accessible (for both teachers and students), walk you through some ideas and resources, and provide a space to ask any questions.

This workshop will give teachers the chance to collaborate on updating assessment practices and tasks to align with the continued implementation of the 2017 Japanese K-10 syllabus.
When:
7 March 2020 (Saturday)
Time:
8:45am-3:15pm
(Please note the updated workshop times) 
Venue:
North Sydney Girls High School
365 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest
(No parking available at venue)
Cost:
$60.00 – member teacher
$35.00 – member university student
$100.00 – non-member
(Cost includes bento lunch)
Applications due:
1 March 2020

Completing this workshop will contribute to 5 hours of NESA-Registered PD addressing 6.2.2 in the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW. Please apply via the JTAN website.

​JTAN is holding a TeachMeet for teachers of primary and any interested Stage 4 teachers.

When: Saturday 15 February 2020, 12.30-5.30pm
Venue: Balgowlah Heights PS (library), 9B Lewis Street, Balgowlah Heights
Cost: $40.00 – member teacher
$25.00 –  member university student
$70.00 – non-member

Payment is due by 7 February 2020.

Key focus: The aim of this workshop is to assist teachers to plan for and implement effective teaching and learning strategies. Language is innately learned through repetition and active participation. Cultural crafts presented in the target language ensure a practical and fun way to acquire language. Participants will engage in a variety of cross-curricula activities which are transportable and simple to complete in a 30-50 minute lesson.

For more information or to apply, please visit http://www.jtan.org.au/eventsshow.php?id=131 

The Way Forward – Primary Japanese Conference
When: Saturday 10  August 2019, 9:30am - 3:30pm
Venue: Japan Foundation Sydney
Level 4, Central Park, 28 Broadway, Chippendale NSW (located in Central Park Mall)
Cost:
$55.00 member teacher
$35.00 member university student
​$95.00 non-JTAN member
Payment due date: 26 July 2019

Key focus
To provide the opportunity for teachers to further their knowledge, understanding and capabilities of future focused learning through presentations from highly-experienced teachers from NSW and Victoria.

Agenda
09:15 Registration
9:30 Welcome and introduction
9:45 Session 1 – advocacy  
Liberty Campbell will discuss how teachers can build the profile of languages within schools.
10:30 Morning tea (provided)
11:15 Session 2 – ICT tools
Jan Chalmer will demonstrate ICT tools to maximise engagement and learning outcomes.
12:00 Session 3 – sustainability
Yoko Nishimura-Parke will demonstrate how cross curricular capability of sustainability can be embedded into Japanese programs.
12:45 Lunch (provided)
13:45  Session 4 – shuwa (sign language)
Kathie Duquemin will introduce us to the Shuwa project.
14:30 Session 5 – CLIL
Junko Nichols will share the importance of a greater access and use of target language in learning.
15:15 Evaluation and closing
​
Please inform Sue Palmer if you have any special dietary request.
Apply online ​