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 ​

Calling all Japanese teachers K-6!

Applications are closing soon for the 2019 September Intensive Seminar, a 3.5 day seminar held at The Japan Foundation, Sydney. The seminar enables teachers to develop language skills, gain confidence using Japanese, and to develop language teaching strategies which can be applied in the classroom.

The focus of the seminar includes Australian Curriculum and ICT-based learning, and the opportunity to network.

Completing this seminar will contribute 19 hours of registered professional development.

Date: Monday 30 September – Thursday 3 October 2019
Venue: The Japan Foundation, Sydney
Fees: None, however all travel costs will be the responsibility of participants.
Application deadline: Wednesday 19 June 2019

To complete an application or for more information click here. For any enquires, please email ​coordinators@jpf.org.au or phone (02) 9239 0055 .

The latest edition of JTAN’s newsletter is now available. It includes information on:
- JTAN Culture Day (8 May) – an excellent excursion opportunity for students (please apply by 24 April)
- the winners of the 2018 JTAN Yokai Competition (winning entries will be displayed in Kinokuniya from 7             April)

• - MJS grant details​

- Noosa workshop flyers (registered professional learning).

The MJS Centre (Japanese Studies Centre for Teaching Development) would like to invite applicants to apply for a MJS grant for Japanese language teachers in Australia.

Departmental teachers: Applicants would need to discuss and obtain support for their project from their principal before submitting their application online and follow the relevant guidelines and policies. 

Grant applications need to be submitted online via https://mqedu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8css6ePZJXT2gw5 by 1 May 2019.
 
Grant description
The MJS Centre’s grant scheme is provided by the Nippon Foundation Fund for Japanese Language Education Program (NFJLEP). All grant recipients will also receive a lifetime membership of the NFJLEP Fellows.  
 
The grant scheme is designated to support the professional development of Japanese language teachers anywhere in Australia to enhance their aptitude to become leading exponents of the Japanese language in Australian schools. 
 
The grant may be used for example for language/cultural immersion and/or field work in Japan, enrolment in a formal Japanese language course, conference presentation and/or teaching relief for such activities. It may also be used collectively (such as by a group lead by a Japanese language teacher) for the development/establishment of a workshop, website or resources for the professional development of Japanese language teachers.  
 
Each grant, of the seven (7) available, will provide $3,000 to the successful applicant. The MJS Centre Committee will make the final decision regarding the allocation of each grant and no further correspondence or communication shall be entered into once a decision has been made.
 
Eligibility and conditions

• Applicants must be Japanese language teachers, currently working in a primary or secondary school (full-time or part-time) in Australia.


• The applicant must clearly articulate the aim, significance, benefit(s), justifiable budget and details of proposed activity. CV must be provided.


• Provision of supporting documents (for example confirmed acceptance of a conference presentation, agreement for a journal/book, book chapter publication, acceptance from a host Japanese organisation, receipt/enrolment record for a Japanese language course, supervisor’s agreement, a reference letter) will be beneficial.


• The applicant must only be one person even in the case of a collectively developed project.
• The grant must be fully spent by the end of 2019.


• Grant recipients will be required to submit a completion report via the MJS website, by 1 Feb 2020.

Please email arts.mjscentre@mq.edu.au and/or mio.bryce@mq.edu.au if you require any further information.