Australian Olympic Connect Tomodachi 2021 Program
The Tomodachi 2021 Program is structured to promote international connections between young people in 2 countries, fostering a learning environment which provides a unique insight into each country’s customs, lifestyle and activities in the lead up to and during the Olympic Games.
 
Australian/Japanese schools and their respective language educators will be invited to participate through a registration process. Classes will be matched according to age or year level, and the program is available for students aged between 10-16 years old. Educators will be introduced, and contact details shared. A communication guide will be provided, with suggested themes to assist in meaningful collaboration. Educators are encouraged to engage in regular communication from the commencement of the program.

Important dates:
22 February – registrations open
19 April – registrations close
1-19 April – classes connected and educators introduced
19 April-23 July – program active

Further details about the program, including registration details, can be found online. 
 
Online seminar – Marugoto textbooks

The Japan Foundation is conducting a series of seminars for Japanese teachers introducing the Marugoto Japanese language and culture textbooks.

"Japanese Learning For Communication -A Marugoto Approach" is a series of 2 seminars in April and May. With a focus on the Elementary (A2) level, participants will learn about a teaching method based on audio input. Both sessions are conducted in Japanese.
 
Audio Input For Communication
April 18 2021, 1-3:30 pm AEST
Registrations open: 19 March 2021  
Registrations close: 13 April 2021 

Cost: The cost is free but registrations are essential.

Please note that this seminar covers the same content as the Marugoto seminar held in March and November 2020.
 
Understanding Grammar For Communication
May 16 2021, 1-3:30 pm AEST
Registrations open: 19 April 2021
Registrations close: 11 May 2021 

Cost: The cost is free but registrations are essential.

Please not that this seminar covers the same content as the Marugoto seminar held in December 2020.
 
Further details and registration information can be found online.
 
Japanese cooking workshops with Chef Dekura 🍣
Chef Dekura is continuing his popular school incursions in 2021. Participants have the opportunity to learn the values, traditions and history of Japan through hands-on cooking lessons with Chef Dekura. The workshops include a wide variety of maki-sushi styles, tea ceremony, shojin ryori, and cha-kaiseki ryori. Booking information and 2021 workshop details can be found on the information sheet.
 
Employment opportunities
Japanese teacher – Caringbah High School
A position is available at Caringbah High School to cover for a teacher on leave from 11 May to 4 June 2021. Please contact Richard Riley  for further information.
 
Japanese speaker – Australian Olympic Committee
The Australian Olympic Committee is seeking a Japanese speaker to travel to Japan during the Olympics to take on the role of a language translator. Please contact Hee-Kyung Lee for further information.

​The Nihongo Tanken Centre (located on the grounds of Kirrawee HS) is seeking a Japanese teacher to fill a full-time temporary position for Terms 2-4 2021.
 
Start date: 19 April 2021
Finish date: 17 December 2021
 
The Nihongo Tanken Centre provides an authentic Japanese immersion environment where students can use and further develop their Japanese language skills. From the initial welcome to the last goodbye, all communication is in Japanese, with centre staff experienced in communicating effectively with both Japanese and non-Japanese speakers from Kindergarten to Year 12. The centre offers 4-hour excursions for students K-12 from all educational sectors, online speaking sessions for Stage 6, as well as April and July holiday workshops for HSC students.
 
The successful applicant will support the development and implementation of innovative and effective Japanese language programs at the Tanken Centre.
 
Selection criteria:

• 1. Native speaker or near native speaker proficiency in Japanese.
• 2. Demonstrated ability to develop and implement engaging Japanese language programs for students within the K-12 range, including support materials.
• 3. Demonstrated ability to integrate ICTs into language programs.
• 4. Ability to work as a team member, working collaboratively with the Tanken Centre staff.

 
Please complete the attached expression of interest (EOI) and the attached application form, including the names and contact details of 2 referees. Your EOI should address the selection criteria and be no more than no more than 3 pages in length
 
Applications close 5 pm on Tuesday 30 March 2021.
 
Please email your application with the subject line ‘Tanken Centre EOI’ to Elisabeth.robertson@det.nsw.edu.au
 
Applicants must have DoE approval to teach.

Bookings
Please note that the Tanken Centre visits are fully booked for Terms 1-3 2021.

April online holiday workshop for Year 12
The Tanken Centre is facilitating Year 12 holiday workshop for Continuers on Thursday 8 April 2021.

Further details and the application form are available in the attached file. Please send the application form (page 2 only) at your earliest convenience to secure a place.

Please kindly note that these workshops are offered to the NSW public schools only.
Students who attend the April online holiday workshop are ineligible to attend the July workshop.
 
Kind regards,
​Nihongo Tanken Japanese Language Centre
nihongo.tanken@det.nsw.edu.au   

Dear Japanese teachers,
Thank you very much for your continued support. We appreciate your cooperation with our new online booking system.
 
Excursion bookings
Please kindly note that the Tanken Centre visits are fully booked for Semester 1 and we have only these dates available in Term 3:
- 16 July
- 1 September.
 
We have some dates available in Term 4.
​
If you are planning to the excursion to the centre, please send us the initial booking form at your earliest convenience.
 
Before the visit

1. Please read the attached the COVID safety plan carefully and be mindful of following points.
2. Visiting groups must minimise contact with Kirrawee High School students and staff when entering/leaving the centre. Groups enter and exit via school gate 9 (Kirk Crescent) as quickly as possible.
3. Please do not use any other gates but gate 9 to access the center.
4. On your arrival, please call the centre (9542 5975) and we will come to open the gate. If you arrive early, please wait outside the gate, not within the Kirrawee HS premises.

 
Morning tea (packaged rice cracker and individually packed fruit drink) is provided. If students have any dietary requirement, please ask them to bring their own morning tea.
 
Thank you very much for your attention in this matter.
We are looking forward to your visit to the centre.
 
Kind regards,
Nihongo Tanken Japanese Language Centre
Languages and Culture | Curriculum Secondary Learners
21 Hunter St, Kirrawee NSW 2232
T: (02) 9542 5745 F: (02) 9542 5749 | education.nsw.gov.au/languages
E: nihongo.tanken@det.nsw.edu.au   

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.

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.

​The Tanken Centre is offering online group speaking sessions for Year 12 students in early Term 1 2021.

We have the following dates available: 4, 8, 10, 12, 15 February

Each session runs for 40 minutes, through Zoom.

Students will be divided into 3 breakout rooms and the Tanken Centre staff and class teacher will spend 10 minutes with a set of questions in each room. Staff will rotate through the rooms to ensure students have the opportunity to practise with 3 different speakers.

After the speaking rotations are complete, the groups will come back together in the main room and students will be given feedback.

​These sessions are free of charge and available only to NSW public schools.
​
If you are interested in booking a session for your students, please email the Tanken Centre with the following details:
- the course (Beginners or Continuers)
- preferred dates and times (please provide at least 3 options)
- name list of attending students.
 
Bookings will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. As there is a high chance that you will not be able to get your first preference, please send several preferred dates with times. Please note that your session is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email.
​
Nihongo Tanken Japanese Language Centre
Languages and Culture | Curriculum Secondary Learners
T: (02) 9542 5745 F: (02) 9542 5749
E: nihongo.tanken@det.nsw.edu.au   

Dear Japanese teachers,

We are excited to announce that we have made some changes to our booking system. To arrange a visit:
- please complete the initial booking request form
- once we receive your booking request, we will email you to confirm the date of your visit
- approximately 3 weeks prior to your visit, you will be emailed a Google Form, asking you to confirm final details of your excursion, including student names and groups.

​For teachers bringing Stage 4 students, you now have the option of selecting some of your own activities for your school's program, or allowing the Tanken Centre officers to fully design your program.

We have also aligned all of our activities to syllabus outcomes for Stage 4, and are currently working on Stage 5. Download our Stage 4 outcomes document to learn more.

We look forward to seeing you in 2021,
Mieko and Taka

Mount Annan High School is seeking a Japanese teacher for 2021 for 2 days/week.

The teaching load includes Year 8, Year 11 Beginners and some sport.

For more information, please contact  Sharon Murphy (Head Teacher, Administration).