May 2016

AATJNEWSLETTER

VOL. 5
NO. 2

President’s Message

Yoshiko Saito-Abbott 齋藤アボット佳子
百花繚乱、美しい新緑の日々を満喫のことと思います。
先の３月にシアトルにて開催された学会は盛会のうちに閉会することができました。シアトルの学会では230人の参加者	
 が集いました。基調講演には2015年、秋季学会で	
 AATJで最初のLifetime	 Achievement	
 Awardを受賞された	
 Laurel	 Rasplica	
 Rodd	
 先生に基調講演をしていただきました。ロッド先生はATJの会長を務められこの教師会に多大なる貢献をな
さり今日の発展にご尽力されました。講演の中では先生がどのようなご縁で日本文学の道を歩むことになったか、また今日の世界における日本語教育のありかた等を熱心に話され、心打たれました。私達もロッ
ド先生が歩まれた道を手本に日本教育に尽くしていきたいと思います。
尚、この春季学会の開催に関しては、シアトル領事館の皆様、ワシントン教師会の皆様のご協力に心から感謝いたします。又、AATJの春季学会のCo-Directorを二年間勤めてくだ
さった、森美子先生、相川孝子先生に厚くお礼を申しあげます。来年度からはウェイ諸橋麻里子先生、並びに近松チャンドラー信子先生がCo-Directorをして下さいます。最後に
秋季学会のプログラムがこの新聞にも掲載されておりますが、ボストンで１１月に行われます。皆様とボストンでお目にかかれることを楽しみにしております。今回のインタビュー
コラムにはJapan	
 Foundation,	
 Los	
 Angeles	
 の原所長へのインタビューが載っております。
ご一読ください。それでは良い夏休みをお過ごしください。

I hope you are enjoying wonderful spring weather. It is the beautiful season to enjoy
colorful flowers and refreshing greenery. The AATJ Spring conference was held in Seattle
last March, and it was a great success. The Seattle conference hosted 230 participants and
110 presenters. Dr. Laurel Rasplica Rodd, our keynote speaker, was AATJ’s first Lifetime
Achievement Award recipient, in 2015. Laurel spoke about “A Lifetime in Languages.” Dr.
Rodd is a past president of AATJ, and one of the people who most helped the organization
develop into what it is today. She talked about her journey to her passion, Japanese
literature, and shared her vision for Japanese education in the world today. Thanks to Dr.
Rodd for her leadership and commitment to Japanese and language education today; wewill continue to pursue her vision.
Our thanks also go to the Consulate General of Japan in Seattle and WATJ. I want toexpress sincere appreciation to the Spring Conference co-directors Dr. Yoshiko Mori and
Dr. Takako Aikawa. And, of course, to Susan Schmidt and Kathy Ajisaka, our staff at the
AATJ office. From next year, Dr. Mariko Moroishi Wei and Dr. Nobuko ChikamatsuChandler will assume the spring conference co-chair responsibilities. Finally, the next Fall
Conference is going to be held in Boston in November, as you can see in the schedule inthis issue of the newsletter, and I hope many of you will be able to attend. Please also enjoy
our interview with Director Hideki Hara of the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles. Have agreat summer; hope to see you in Boston!

AATJNEWSLETTER May 2016

Table of Contents
Pages

1

President’s Message

3

Special Interview Series: Mr. Hideki Hara, Director of Japan Foundation, Los Angeles

5

AATJ Announcements
・2015 Annual Spring Conference Report

6・2016 Annual Fall Conference

10

・Teacher Awards

12

・JNCL-NCLIS’s 2016 Language Advocacy Day & Delegate Assembly

13

・Nengajo Project: Laredo’s Way

16

・First Homestay Program in Tokyo

17

・Materials for Advanced High School Students on the 3/11 Disasters

18

・AATJ Membership Information
・J. LIVE Talk 201620

Job Opening Announcements

22

AATJ Member Application Form

24

Support Our Sponsors

Check out AATJ’s Facebook page, and “Like” us to receive updates and the latest news.
Click the link on our home page (www.aatj.org), or search for “AATJ-American

Association of Teachers of Japanese” on Facebook.

2

Interview with Mr. Hideki Hara
Director of Japan Foundation, Los Angeles
by President Yoshiko Saito-Abbott

齋藤：原所長、この度はお忙しい中、お時間をさいて頂きありがとうございます。では早速ですが、Japan Foundation Los Angeles (JFLA) の活動を簡単に説明していただけますか。
原：全米における日本語教育の促進、西部１３州における文化芸術分野での日米交流事業の実施、その他日本に関する各種情報の提供が主な仕事です。日本語教育の分野では教材の購入費や先生のサラリーに至るまで大小様々な助成金を出しているほか、AATJと共同で人材育成事業などを行っています。
齋藤：そうですか。ではJFLAで今、一番力を入れていることは何ですか。どうして、それに力を注いているのですか。
原：「日本の新しい友人をつくる」ことに力を入れています。根っからの日本好きの人だけでなく、外国文化には関心はあるけれども日本にはこれまで興味を持ってこなかったという人々をいかに日本に振り向かせるか、特に将来の日米関係を背負って立つ若い世代にもっと日本を理解してもらうことに注力しています。
齋藤：確かに将来の日米関係を背負って立つ若い世代にもっと日本を理解してもらうことは大事ですね。ではJFLAではどのような事業をしていらっしゃいますか。いくつか例をあげてくださいますか。
原：高校生のグループを日本への研修旅行に派遣したり、各地の大学に出かけて行って学生向けに日本映画を上映したりしています。また先日「シネマ歌舞伎（歌舞伎の舞台を映像作品にしたもの）」を実施した際には、レセプションにDJを呼んだり、UNIQLOさんにご協力いただいて歌舞伎Tシャツを配ったりしたんですよ。
齋藤：JFLAとAATJとの連携を推進するため、これからどのようなことをしていきたいと思っていらっしゃいますか。
原：日本語に限らず教育の原点は人材育成。優秀な生徒だけでなく、輝いている先生方もいかに増やしていくか、それに尽きると思います。
齋藤：原所長は色々な所に行かれていると思いますが、 日本語教育は国によってどのように違いますか。またアメリカでの日本語教育を他の国とくらべてどのように思われますか。
原：会話を重視する国、試験を重視する国、その国の教育文化背景により日本語教育にも様々なかたちがあります。
米国の日本語教育は他のどの国とも違う独特な発展を遂げているように思います。
齋藤：日本語を勉強した学生にこれからどのような分野で活躍してもらいと思われますか。そのためにはどのようなサポートが必要だと思われますか。
原：最近は理系の学生さんも大勢日本語を勉強してくださっています。そういった学生さんに将来のキャリアパスを示していけるかが重要だと考えています。そのためにもっともっと民間との協力が必要になってくると思います。
齋藤：日本語を勉強している学生には日本語を専攻している
学生もいれば他の分野の専攻で日本語を副専攻として学んでいる学生もたくさんいます。そのような学生にどのような民間のサポートが必要だと思われますか。

Hideki Hara

Director of Japan Foundation LA

3

AATJNEWSLETTER May 2016

原：もちろん寄付や資金的援助もしていただけると嬉しいですが、学校訪問やインターンシップの機会の提供など、企業にとっては小さなことでも学生やその親御さん、ひいては学校には大きなインパ
クトが生まれます。民間企業にはもっともっと日本語教育に関心を持っていただきたいですね。
齋藤：ところで、JFLAの所長として、大変だと思うことは何ですか。やりがいを感じるのはどのような時ですか。	
 原：どの外国にいても思いますが、日本国内で報道されているほど世界の人は常に日本に関心をもっているわけではありません。だからこそそういった人たちに「こんな日本もあったのか」と言ってもらえるとやりがいを感じます。
齋藤：日本の色々な面をもっと理解してもらいたいということですね。そのためにどのような教材や情報を日本語の先生方にJFLAは提供なさっていますか。
原：”Speak Japan”という専用サイトから、「日本語を勉強することにどんなメリットがあるのか」という情報を各種データを含めて提供しています。またオンラインで使える日本語教
材や、教室やフィールドトリップで使える各種グッズなども取りそろえていますので、ぜひチェックしてみてください（http://speakjapan.jflalc.org/）
齋藤：毎日お忙しい日々を送っていらっしゃると思いますが原所長がリラックスするためにすることとは何でしょうか。
原：やはり音楽です。聴く方ももちろんですが、楽器の演奏と歌うことがなによりのリラック
ス策です。
齋藤：そうなんですか。私も音楽を聴くと確かにリラックスします。私は琴を小さい頃から弾いていましたが琴は持ち運びに不便でよくバイオリンも習いたいと思ったものです。ぜひ
今度原所長の演奏聞かせてください。ところで楽器は何を？どのような音楽がお好きなんですか？
原：ギター、ウクレレ、マンドリンなど、弦のあるものならなんでも。最近は歳のせいでしょうかアコースティックで静かな音楽が好みです。
齋藤：では最後にアメリカで日本語を教えているみなさんに何かメッセージをお願いいたします。
毎日生徒さんと向き合っておられる先生方には本当に頭が下がります。限界までお力になりますので、なんなりとご相談ください！
原所長：今日はお時間をとって頂き本当にありがとうございました。

Why speak Japanese? speakjapan.jflalc.org

4

AATJ 2016 Annual Spring Conference Report
AAS in Seattle, WA

The Annual Spring Conference took place Thursday, March 31, at the Seattle Sheraton Hotel in Seattle, WA,in conjunction with the annual conference of the Association for Asian Studies (AAS).
Two hundred thirty people attended the full-day conference, with panel and individual paper presentations on
topics in language pedagogy, linguistics, second language acquisition, and literature by more than 100
presenters.
A new feature this year was a room with coffee service, where publishers exhibited their books and othermaterials for Japanese language educators.
The evening session, which took place at the nearby ACT Theatre, featured a talk on a lifetime in Japanese
language education by Professor Laurel Rasplica Rodd, who received AATJ’s first Lifetime Achievement
Award, as well as a networking reception. The AATJ also sponsored a panel in honor of Professor Rodd at the
AAS Conference: “Scholar, Translator, Teacher, Leader”; the Classical Japanese SIG also conducted a session
on Approaches to Teaching Waka, at which she was one of the presenters.
The 2016 Spring Conference program can still be viewed and downloaded at http://www.aatj.org/conferencesspring .
The 2017 Annual Spring Conference will be held in Toronto on March 16, 2017. The Call for Proposals will
be posted at the end of the summer.

5

AATJNEWSLETTER May 2016

AATJ 2016 Annual Fall Conference
at ACTFL in Boston, MA

The AATJ Fall Conference will be held during the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages(ACTFL) Annual Convention and World Languages Expo!

The ACTFL Annual Convention and World Languages Expo will feature over 700 educational sessions
covering a wide spectrum of the language profession addressing the theme IMPACT. The ACTFL Convention
is an international event bringing together over 6,000 language educators from all languages, levels andassignments within the profession.

Online registration and housing is now open.
REGISTRATION:
To register for the ACTFL Convention, please go to the website http://
www.actfl.org/convention-expo/registration
You can register as a Convention Partner Organization Member (Option 2) if you have renewed yourmembership to AATJ for 2016. Please also purchase the luncheon ticket for $40 (before October 26) to join us
at the AATJ Membership Luncheon on Saturday, 11/19.

6

HOUSING: For details regarding hotel reservations, please look at the website http://www.actfl.org/
convention-expo/housing
Official Hotels:
Westin Boston Waterfront (ACTFL HQ Hotel) $236 Single/double
Element Boston Seaport$220 single/double
Renaissance Boston Waterfront$225 single/$245 double
Seaport Hotel$234 single/double
Boston Park Plaza Hotel *$209 single/double
Hilton Boston Downtown/Faneuil Hall *$209 single/double
Hyatt Regency Boston *$209 single/$234 double
Notes: *shuttle bus service. All rates are per room and are subject to 14.45% occupancy tax (subject
to change). The cutoff date for this rate is October 24, 2016.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: ACTFL is pleased to offer three different scholarship opportunities toassist world language teachers in attending the 2016 ACTFL Convention. Applications must be submitted nolater than Wednesday, July 13, 2016. To apply, go to http://www.actfl.org/convention-expo/2016-actflconvention-scholarships
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND RECEPTION: The AATJ General Membership Meeting
and Reception will be held from 6:30-9:00PM on Sat, November 19, 2016.
LUNCHEON: The AATJ Luncheon will be held from 12:30-1:45PM on Sat, November 19. The tickets are$40 in advance (before October 26); after that the cost will be higher (price TBA). Pleasepurchase the luncheon tickets when you register for the conference. AATJ will NOT sell tickets at ourbooth. If you have already registered but did not request a luncheon ticket, please contact ACTFL or purchaseyour luncheon ticket from on-site registration.
PRESENTATION SESSIONS: AATJ will sponsor two concurrent sessions including 15 research
paper presentations and 23 one-hour learning sessions (see schedule below).

2016 ACTFL-AATJ Schedule
FRIDAY, November 18
Meeting Room
8:30am -10:00am
10:00am-11:00am

11:00am-12:00pm

Adams

Douglass

Westin Waterfront Hotel

Westin Waterfront Hotel

Opening General Session
Exhibit Hall Opening/Welcome Coffee
Interactive Presentation Tech:
AATJ Research Paper Session I
Improving Student Engagement
Narrative Analysis on Cross-cultural& Performance
Identity of Japanese Heritage Learners
William Paris, New Providence HS
Noriko Gonzales, South Kitsap HS$NDQH6KLUDWD*HRUJH0DVRQ8QLYHUVLW\
Exploring Perceptions and Idealized
Definitions of a Native Speaker
Shinsuke Tsuchiya, Ohio State Univ.
Cultivating Japanese Writing Proficiency with
Enhanced Vertical Continuity
Masami Ikeda, MIT

7

AATJNEWSLETTER May 2016

12:00pm-1:00pm

Building AP Japanese Learner
Community: Impact Hub for
Lifting Motivation
1:15pm-2:15pm

Junko Hosoi, Aragon HS
Kyoko Shoji, Notre Dame HS
Susan Watson, Long Beach
Polytechnic HS

AATJ Local Affiliate Council Meeting
AATJ Research Paper Session II
Integrating Multiliteracies into Japanese
Honorifics (Keigo) Instruction
Mai Takeuchi, Purdue University

Is It Rude to Be Straightforward? Problems
in Japanese Learners' Requesting
Natalia Konstantinovskaia, UCLA

What Is the Effect of Digital Learning
Apps on Students' Writing Skills?
Machiko Romaine, Nishimachi Int’l School
Reiko Aya, The American School in Japan

Impact of J-GAP USA:
Expansion and Collaboration
Beyond Local Regions
2:30pm-3:30pm

Yasuo Uotate, Univ. of Florida
Minori Marken, Old Dominion Univ.
Yasuko Rallings, Wake Forest Univ.
Teppei Kiyosue, Ohio State Univ.
Mako Nozu, Univ. of South Florida

AATJ Research Paper Session III
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tutor: A
Preliminary Assessment Report
Takako Aikawa, Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology

Immersive Gaming: Creating StoryBased Games to Promote Language
Learning
Aya Okada, Washington and Lee Univ.

CALL Meets JFL: The Use of Interactive
Novels in a JFL Classroom
Kasumi Yamazaki, Univ. of Toledo

Are You a Single(ton)? Student
Learning Benefits of Teacher
Collaboration
3:45pm-4:45pm

Kumi Kobayashi, Lynbrook HS
Yukari Salazar, Cupertino HS

AATJ Research Paper Session IV
Impact and Effectiveness of Short Term
Abroad Experience through Projects
Noriko Fujioka-Ito, Univ. of Cincinnati

Connecting Language, Culture andEmotion through Audio-visual Materials
Sayaka Abe, Middlebury College

Enhancing Student Literacy through theUse of Manga in Extensive Reading
Junko Ueno, Union College

8Blended Learning Using
Schoology as LMS in Heritage
Language Classrooms
5:00pm – 6:00pm

Masayo Ohyama, Fordham Univ.
Kazuo Tsuda, United Nations Int’l
SchoolAATJ Research Paper Session V
Narrative as a Pedagogical Tool: Reportfrom a L2 Japanese Classroom
Chie Muramatsu, Stanford Univ.

An Analysis of Free Conversation
between Intermediate/advanced
Learners
Kiyomi Kawakami, Univ. of Iowa

Do you Have a Question? Giving Weight
to Q&A for in-class Presentations
Takae Tsujioka, The George Washington Univ.

6:30pm – 7:30pm

ACTFL Awards Ceremony

7:30pm – 9:30pm

AATJ Board Meeting

SATURDAY, November 19
Meeting RoomAdams (Westin Waterfront Hotel)

Douglass (Westin Waterfront Hotel)

8:00am – 9:00am

Beyond GPA: Valuable Learning
Experiences with the Japanese
Honor Society

Using Films and TV Dramas for
Authentic Learning of Culture andLanguage
Fukumi Matsubara, North Central College
Yukiko Schrock, Whitney Young Magnet
HS
Joanne Quimby, St. Olaf College

Yuko Prefume, Baylor Univ.
Yayoi Takeuchi, Univ. of North Texas
Yoshiko Gaines, Baylor Univ.

9:00am -10:00am
10:00am-11:00am

11:15am-12:15pm

Exhibit Hall Visit Free Time
Evaluation of Mobile-based Apps andWeb-resources for Learning Japanese
Yumiko Tashiro, Washington and Lee
Univ.
Shinji Shimoura, Purdue Univ.

The Six Core Practices of Effective
Japanese Teachers

Expanding a Japanese Extensive
Reading Course to an Online
Environment

Impact on the Global Citizen:
Language Learning Through Social
JusticeYuki Yoshimura, UMass. Amherst
Sharon Domier, Mass. Amherst
Atsuko Takahashi, Smith College

12:30pm-1:45pm

Iya Nemastil, Marysville HS
Yasuo Uotate, Univ. of Florida

Yo Azama, North Salinas HS
Yoshiko Saito-Abbott, California State
Univ. Monterey Bay

AATJ Luncheon

Convention Center Room 253
2:00pm – 3:00pm

Advocacy and Data from the Survey on
Japanese Language Education 2015
Amanda Rollins, Japan Foundation, Los
AngelesA Quick Daily Activity to Help Students
Observe, Think, Listen and Discuss
Michiko Homann, Boston Latin Academy
Yukiyo Iida, Independent Consultant
Tomoko Graham, Noble and Greenough
School9

AATJNEWSLETTER May 2016

Exhibit Hall Visit Free Time

3:00pm – 4:00pm
4:00pm – 5:00pm

5:15pm – 6:15pm

Development of Blended Language
Instruction for Japanese Language
Learners

Omotenashi: Impact of Japanese
Hospitality Spirit on Learners
Perspectives

Asako Takakura, UCLA

Mieko Avello, Miami Palmetto Senior HS
Kazue Masuyama, Cal. State Univ.
Sacramento

It is Personal: Individualized
Learning through Student-centered
Activities

70: 20: 10 - Shifting to Blended
Learning in Japanese language
classroom

Junko Tokuda, Univ. of California, San
Diego
6:30pm – 9:00pm(Tentative)

Noriko Gonzales, South Kitsap HS
Yasu-Hiko Tohsaku, U. of California, San
Diego

AATJ Membership Meeting andReception
Place: TBA* JNTO Breakfast (7am – 8am) is being planned.

SUNDAY, November 20
Meeting RoomAdams (Westin Waterfront Hotel)

Douglass (Westin Waterfront Hotel)

8:00am – 9:00am

The Can-Do Statements Articulation
Project and its Impact on JPN
Courses

Pronunciation Assessment ofJapanese Special Mora Using
Smartphone Apps

Shinji Shimoura, Purdue University
Yoko Sakurai, The Japan Foundation NewYork
Mako Nozu, Univ. of South Florida
Eiko Isogai-Williams, Univ. of Miami

9:00am –10:00am
10:00am-11:00am

11:15am-12:15pm

Jouji Miwa, Iwate University
Satoru Shinagawa, Univ. of Hawaii

Exhibit Hall Visit Free Time with Coffee
Teach the Japanese American
Internment in a Novice-level
Japanese ClassA New, Content-Based, ProficiencyOriented Japanese Textbook

Timothy Nagaoka, Boston Public Schools

Noriko Nagata, Univ. of San Francisco
Kyoko Suda, Univ. of San Francisco
Nobuko Takamatsu, Univ. of San
Francisco

Metacognitive Awareness as a Tool
for Assessing Culture Learning

Achieving ACTFL Goals: Utilizing
the Popularity of Pop Culture

Yoshihiro Yasuhara, Carnegie Mellon
Univ.
Keiko Koda, Carnegie Mellon Univ.
Yasufumi Iwasaki, Carnegie Mellon Univ.
Mamoru Hatakeyama, Williams College

Ken'ichi Miura, Franklin & MarshallCollege
Mayumi Ishida, Dartmouth College

Notes: These session proposals were submitted as AATJ sessions. For other sessions, please check ACTFL online schedule.

10

2016 Teacher Awards
by Eiko Ushida, UC San Diego

AATJ Teacher Awards recognize outstanding teachers who demonstrate excellence in teaching, advocacy,
and leadership in Japanese education both locally and nationally. AATJ presents the awards to the recipients at
the AATJ Awards Luncheon during the ACTFL Annual Convention. In addition to the award from AATJ andother prizes, the recipients will be interviewed and featured on TV JAPAN's Club program and receive a freesubscription to TV JAPAN.
Awards are given in two categories:• K-12 Level Teacher Award• Community College/College and University Level Teacher Award
Candidates must have a minimum of three years’ teaching experience at the level for which they arenominated and also must hold a current membership in AATJ. If the nominator teaches Japanese (language,
literature, culture, etc.) s/he must be a current member of AATJ as well. A non-member of AATJ (such as aprincipal, department chair, student or others) can also nominate a candidate.
For information on the nomination procedure, please go online to:http://www.aatj.org/prodev-awards-recipients11

AATJNEWSLETTER May 2016

JNCL-NCLIS’s 2016 Language Advocacy Day & Delegate Assembly
by Janet Ikeda, Washington and Lee University

JNCL-NCLIS’s 2016 Language Advocacy Day & Delegate Assembly
On February 25-26, 2016 AATJ President Yoshiko Saito-Abbott and AATJ Advocacy Co- Director Janet Ikeda
participated in JNCL-NCLIS’s 2016 Language Advocacy Day & Delegate Assembly on Capitol Hill. AATJ isa member of the Joint National Committee for Languages, which is a nonprofit education policy association
whose mission is “to ensure all Americans have the opportunity to learn and use English and at least one
other language.” Highlights included the keynote address by two speakers: Mohamed Abdel-Kader, Deputy
Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of International and Foreign Language
Education, and Sonia Zamborsky, Director, Digital Globalization, Marriott International. Mr. Abdel-Kaderexplained how the DOE is actively using Instagram and YouTube to reach young people. When asked what
they are looking for in exceptional job applicants, Ms. Zamborsky replied that students should show they havebeen out in the world, have engaged in meaningful study abroad and gone beyond the classroom, candemonstrate linguistic and cultural fluency and have had some project-based learning or internship. Simply
put, it is not just about grades or degrees. There were updates from Marty Abbott, Director of ACTFL, andDan Davidson, American Councils for International Education. ACTFL will be rolling out their “Lead with
Languages” campaign. Saito-Abbott and Ikeda met Edward Zarrow, an inspirational Latin high school
teacher who is ACTFL’s 2016 Language Teacher of the Year.
The focus of Language Advocacy Day is preparation about how to advocate for languages on Capitol Hill.
The Advocacy 101 Session was particularly important in preparing delegates with talking points, practical tips
about talking with legislative aides and reviewing the process of how bills are moved through Congress.
Joining delegates of California and Virginia, Abbott-Saito and Ikeda, walked the halls of the Senate and12Nengajo Project: Laredo’s Way
by Miwako Winters, Laredo Middle School“Sensei, we won the Nengajo Contest!!” One of my students sent me an email with the hyperlink to theresults of the 2016 AATJ National Nengajo Contest. When I clicked the link, I was surprised to learn thatthree of my students won first place in the categories of Artistic, Comical and Computer Graphics and afourth student took second place in Computer Graphics. In the past I’ve had one or two students place in the
top three, but never have had four. This is a great achievement for our school.

I teach at Laredo Middle School in Colorado. Our school is authorized by the International Baccalaureate toparticipate in its Middle Years Programme and all students are required to take a foreign language. Laredo
offers Spanish, French and Japanese with Japanese being the second largest program following Spanish.
Every year, there is a waiting list for Japanese classes with at least 30 students on it. More than 200 students
from the 6th to 8th grade are currently taking Japanese.
The nengajo contest is an annual project for 7th and 8th grade students and is part of the cultural curriculum tolearn about the Japanese New Year. It usually takes place at the beginning of December. When I assign a
project to my students, my endeavor as a teacher of young learners is to foster student autonomy. Many of
my students have not acquired the skills to independently complete their projects: hence, it is pivotal for me toprovide student-centered instruction without dependence on the teacher’s directions and lecture. For thisnengajo contest, the students are expected to take charge of their own learning process, to use critical thinking
skills such as analysis, reflection and creativity, and to be responsible for the quality of their work. In orderfor them to understand my expectations, keep engaged, and fulfill student autonomy, I use the following

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AATJNEWSLETTER May 2016

steps for the project. Each of the steps is depicted in detail below.

1) Pre-project activity2) Providing a checklist and rubric
3) Scaffolding4) Student-led contest
1) Pre-project activity
At the beginning of the project, working in pairs, students study authentic nengajo cards and examine what is
written on them and how messages are displayed. Then they will discuss what the important elements are tocreate a nengajo in class. In addition, they read articles about nengajo in order to compare and contrast themto holiday cards in the USA. In lieu of teacher-centered lecturing, I provide cooperative learning to help
students understand basic knowledge about nengajo and the Japanese New Year and to recognize thedifferences and similarities on seasonal card exchanges between Japan and the USA.
2) Providing a checklist and rubric
After assessing students’ basic understanding about nengajo, I introduce the nengajo contest to my students.
First, I will inform them that this project is actually a contest within Laredo’s Japanese program. Those who
win at Laredo will enter the AATJ National Nengajo Contest. Therefore, the requirements for this project areclosely linked to those of the National Nengajo Contest submission. The following is an example of thecontest (project) requirements for my 8th grade students. A check list is provided and students will check offeach item as it is complete to avoid any discrepancies.
Requirements;□1. Circle the category you choose.(comical originalartistic computer graphic)□2. Use a 4 X 6 inch white, unlined, index card provided by the teacher.
□3. You must write your name in katakana vertically on the left-hand side of thecard, relative to the direction of the design.
□4. Include the year 2016 in kanji 二○十六
□5. Include either 元旦 (gantan: New Year) or一日(1st) in kanji.
□6. Write the word monkey in kanji using the traditional zodiac symbol; either 猿or申.
□7. Write 明けまして おめでとう ございます。今年も よろしく おねがいします。 on your card.
□8. The card design should be related to the Year of the Monkey represented in asocially acceptable manner.
As well as the checklist, it is important to provide a rubric to clarify the standards for the quality of the project
and articulate the expectations for how the project is to be completed. The criterion for my rubric are: a) meet
all requirements, b) quality and effort, and c) creativity.
3) Scaffolding
To help facilitate students’ deeper understanding in the outcome of this project, my students examine
exemplars or models before they start working on it. They visit the AATJ website to read detailed
descriptions of Artistic, Comical, Original, and Computer Graphic and recognize what should be focused on
to enter each category. They also check each year’s winning cards very carefully to find common traits seenon them. Through observation and discussion, the students analyze and formulate opinions on what thejudges’ expectations and preferences are. Then, they develop meaningful ideas on their own in terms of what
it takes to create a contest winning card. Throughout the project, students are encouraged to take control of
their own learning and to use the strategies they previously identified to successfully complete their nengajo.

144) Student-Led Contest
After all of the projects are submitted, the in-school contest will begin. Students post all of the nengajo on awall in the classroom based on category. Each nengajo is numbered in kanji and the number is used for the
voting process. Students can only vote for one nengajo from each category and are required to write theirname in katakana and the kanji numbers of the cards they chose on their ballot. If a student doesn’t follow therules, his or her ballot is invalid. In addition to the above rules, students are not allowed to tell which card istheirs, nor can they vote for their own card. Two students who receive the most votes in each category willenter the AATJ National Nengajo Contest.

The voting day is the highlight for this project. Many students will gather in front of the nengajo wall to lookat and discuss the cards each time they attend my class and look forward to voting for their favorites. By far,this is one of my students’ most favorite projects and they put forth a lot of effort and creativity every year.
Using student-centered projects really allows students to get more involved in their learning, make reasonableassumptions and decisions, and take responsibility for their own work. This may be the reason that Laredo
has four wins this year.

15

AATJNEWSLETTER May 2016

First Homestay Program in Tokyo
by Rumiko Muneishi, Monte Vista Christian School16

Materials for Advanced High School Students
The Inter University Center in Yokohama has just made available new materials for high school advanced
Japanese language courses, themed around the Japanese response to the disasters of March 11, 2011. Here is
the URL: http://iucjapan.org/html/311_material_j.html
Some AATJ members may remember a presentation at our spring conference in 2013 by the IUC faculty
members who were working on the project.
In addition to covering the 3/11 disasters, these materials offer insights into common features of manga thatwill be of interest to many students and teachers of Japanese.

Type to enter text

URL: iucjapan.org/html/311_material_j.html

17

AATJNEWSLETTER May 2016

AATJ Membership Information
Have You Renewed Your AATJ Membership?
Please take a moment to renew your AATJ membership for 2016.
Renewing online is easy; go to http://www.aatj.org/membership .
Or use the membership form that is printed on page 22 of this newsletter.
If you are not sure whether you need to renew, please contact the office at membership@aatj.org,
and we will be happy to check for you.
Don’t miss the many benefits of membership: student participation in the National JapaneseExam, the Nengajo Contest, and the Japanese National Honor Society; conference attendance atmember rates; publications and professional development activities.

J. LIVE Talk 2016by Professor Takae Tsujioka, The George Washington University

The Japanese Program at the George Washington University will seek applications for J.LIVE Talk 2016
starting September 1. J.LIVE Talk (short for Japanese Learning Inspired Vision and Engagement Talk) is a
new brand of Japanese language competition for the 21st century, which emphasizes the comprehensive rangeof presentation skills necessary for achieving communication in today’s increasingly interactive andmultimedia world. Therefore, unlike a traditional speech contest, J.LIVE Talk evaluates not only oratorycompetence, but also the dynamism, vision and level of engagement of each participant's presentation, which
can include audio-visual materials, audience interaction, and other enhancement. Please see the website(JLIVEtalk.com) for more details, including the promotional video that shows clips from the last year.
The contest consists of two rounds. In the preliminary round (September 1-October 13), entrants send in a
2-3 minute video answering the question “How did learning Japanese inspire you?”. This is followed by the
final round, held at the George Washington University on November 13, 2016, in which each finalist gives alonger live presentation on a topic of his or her choice. The top awards include a chance to study abroad inJapan, as well as cash prizes.
Applicants must satisfy all of the following basic qualifications:• Studying Japanese as a foreign language, as of November 13, 2016 (J.LIVE Talk 2016 final rounddate), at the undergraduate or graduate level in a 2-year college or 4-year university• Has earned a minimum of six credits of college level Japanese as a foreign language or the equivalent(as determined by the student’s university and subject to review by the selection committee) by thetime of application• Has not attended a full-time, secondary-level (grades 7-12) Japanese educational institution
accredited by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, for 4 ormore years.
Heritage speakers who satisfy the basic qualifications are also encouraged to apply. Eligible applicants enterone of the three competition categories as determined by teacher recommendation (and subject to review by
the selection committee), based on “ACTFL oral proficiency guidelines 2012.”
•
•
•

18

Category I (Intermediate Low-Intermediate Mid)
Category II (Intermediate High- Advanced Low)
Category III (Advanced Mid-Advanced High)The Japanese Program at
the George Washington University
Presents:
A Japanese language competition
for the 21st Century

JAPANESELEARNING
INSPIREDVISIONENGAGEMENT

Here is yourchance to study
in Japan!

JLIVEtalk.com 

for details!















 
 

 

 







Generous support provided by:

Preliminary Round: 9/1-10/13
Final Round: 11/13

All Nippon Airways
Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures, GW
The Embassyof Japan in the United States of America

The George Washington University
Japan Commerce Association of Washington, DC
Japan Commerce Association of Washington, DC, Foundation
Japan Foundation Los Angeles
The Naganuma SchoolNanzan University
The Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA
The Sigur Center for Asian Studies
Sojitz Foundation
Washington Japanese Heritage Center

19

AATJNEWSLETTER May 2016

Job Opening Announcements
University of Arkansas
The Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the University of Arkansas seeks applicantsfor the position of Full-time Instructor in Japanese. Japanese Program Web site: http://www.uark.edu/misc/japanlg/.
Duties: This non-tenure track position will teach four classes per semester of Japanese language courses at alllevels (true beginners to advanced learners), with the possibility of additional teaching appointments insummer. Instructors are also expected to assist in curriculum development in the basic language component of
the Japanese Program and in administering the official Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT; an
international certification examination of Japanese language proficiency) on campus. Duties also involve
teaching in close collaboration with other instructors teaching the same class. Openness to different teaching
methods is essential. Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability
to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.
Qualifications: M.A. degree in Japanese Linguistics, Curriculum & Instruction, or a related field; native ornear-native proficiency in both Japanese and English; experience in teaching to English-speaking students;
and a vibrant and outgoing teaching style. Demonstrated experience in preparing students to reach JLPT N4
proficiency or higher will be considered favorably.
Applicants must submit a cover letter, CV, a statement on philosophy of foreign/second language teaching(two pages maximum), a sample course syllabus and unofficial/official transcripts and a link to a video
recording of a regular class meeting together with the lesson plan used for the recorded class. A list of three
to five professional references (name, title, email address and contact number) willing to provide letters ofreference will be requested during the application process. Please apply at http://jobs.uark.edu/postings/
13343 . Completed applications received by May 9, 2016 will receive full consideration. Late materials will
be reviewed as necessary to fill the position.
The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution.  The University welcomesapplications without regard to age, race, gender (including  pregnancy), national origin, disability, religion,
marital or parental status, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sexual orientation orgender identity.   Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of
employment. All applicant information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom ofInformation Act.
Colgate University
The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures invites applications for a one-year position in
Japanese at the level of visiting assistant professor, beginning August, 2016. A Ph.D. in hand or nearcompletion and native or near native command of both Japanese and English are required. The area ofspecialization is open. The successful candidate will be prepared to teach language at any level, as well as
courses in Japanese literature and film and courses in Colgate's Liberal Arts Core Curriculum. The teachingload is five courses for the year.
Please submit a letter of application, CV, and three letters of reference through https://academicjobsonline.org/
ajo/jobs/7226. Review of applications will begin May 2, 2016, and continue until the position is filled.
Developing and sustaining a diverse faculty, student body, and staff further the University's educational
mission. Colgate strives to be a community supportive of diverse perspectives and identities. Candidates
should describe in their cover letter their approach to teaching and/or scholarship in a diverse and inclusive
educational environment. Salary and benefits are competitive. Applicants with dual-career considerations canfind postings of other employment opportunities at Colgate and at other institutions of higher education in
upstate New York at www.upstatenyherc.org. Colgate is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action employer;
women and candidates from historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply.

20

Franklin & Marshall College
Franklin & Marshall College invites applications for an adjunct leave-replacement instructor in its
Japanese Language Program for the spring semester, 2017. M.A. in Japanese pedagogy or a related field,
and Japanese teaching experience are required. The successful candidate will instruct two sections of Japanese102.
Candidates should submit the following materials electronically via Interfolio (http://apply.interfolio.com/
34300): letter of application, curriculum vitae, graduate transcript, two letters of recommendation, and asampling of teaching evaluations. We will begin reviewing application materials immediately and willcontinue the search until the position is filled.
Pursuant to cultivating an inclusive college community, the search committee will holistically assess thequalifications of each applicant. We will consider an individual’s record working with students andcolleagues with diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds. We will also consider experience
overcoming or helping others overcome barriers to academic success.
Franklin & Marshall College is committed to having an inclusive campus community where all members aretreated with dignity and respect. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, the College does not discriminate in its
hiring or employment practices on the basis of gender, sex, race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, age,disability, family or marital status, sexual orientation, or any protected characteristic.
University of Minnesota
The Department of Asian Languages and Literatures in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of
Minnesota seeks to fill full time appointments to teach Japanese starting fall semester 2016. The positions
will be full-time for fall semester 2016 (08/29/16 - 01/11/17) and spring semester 2017 (01/12/17 - 05/28/17).
There is an option for teaching summer courses. The positions are for day, evening, or a combination of day/evening courses, taught on a semester basis. Full-time appointments are eligible for benefits. Salary range iscompetitive based upon qualifications. The positions may be annually renewable depending on departmental
need, funding and performance.
Review of applications will continue until the positions are filled. Full description and application proceduresare found at: www.umn.edu/ohr/employment. Search for Job Opening ID 308295 and follow the instructions.
Applicants are required to submit the following materials (a) - (e) electronically to the above site.
a) letter of applicationb) current curriculum vitaec) names and contact information of three referencesd) description of your teaching philosophye) samples of teaching materials (e.g. syllabus, teaching plan, exams, handouts, handouts of ppt slides, etc.)
In addition, please mail (f) to the following address or send a link of it to buch0119@umn.edu:f) DVD of you teaching a class in JapaneseJapanese Teaching Specialist/Lecturer Search Committee
Department of Asian Languages and Literatures, U of MN
220 Folwell Hall
9 Pleasant St. S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455(a) - (f) are all required. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The University of Minnesota is anequal opportunity educator and employer. Questions regarding this position should be directed to: Michiko
Todokoro Buchanan at buch0119@umn.edu.

21

AATJNEWSLETTER May 2016

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF JAPANESE
1424 BroadwayUCB 366Boulder, CO 80309-0366
303-492-5487/Fax 303-492-5856 aatj@aatj.orgwww.aatj.org

Membership Application/Renewal
Membership in AATJ is on a calendar-year basis and entitles you to:• receive four issues annually of the AATJ Newsletter and other publications• present research at and attend the annual AATJ Conferences in conjunction with AAS and ACTFL• nominate students for induction into the Japanese National Honor Society• read and post job opening announcements and other information on AATJ website• participate in activities of regional/state affiliates and Special Interest Groups• benefit from the Association's ongoing efforts to promote Japanese studies and enhance the quality ofeducation in Japanese language, literature, linguistics, and culture.
The categories of membership and the corresponding dues are indicated below. Please return the form with yourcheck (US dollars) or VISA/MasterCard number to the address above. Online registration is also available atwww.aatj.org/membership.html.
Name (print):

Date:

Address:Tel:
E-mail (personal, to avoid institutional blocking of messages):
School/Organization where you work:

Area of specialization:! Language Teaching! Linguistics! Literature
Membership Category (check):

Special Interest Groups:

Regular Member:!

$40

Student Member:! $20
Optional: Japanese Language & Literature (2 issues):! $15
Institution:(includes all publications)
!

$60

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$20

Shipping & handling (outside of U.S.)
Total Payment (U.S. Dollars)!

Check Enclosed!

MasterCard/VISA___________#___________________________________Exp. ____/__________________________________________________
Signature

22

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AP JapaneseClassical Japanese
Heritage Language
Japanese for Specific Purposes
Language & Culture
Professional Development
Proficiency Assessment
Study Abroad

Affiliate (Choose one)
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Alaska (AKATJ)
Arizona (AATJ)
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Colorado (CJLEA)
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Guam (JALTA)
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Indiana (AITJ)Inter-mtn (IMATJ)
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Wisconsin (WiATJ)!

I live outside of the U.S.

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23

AATJNEWSLETTER May 2016

American Association of Teachers of Japanese, Inc.
1424 Broadway, Campus Box 366
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309-0366Support Our Sponsors
The ALLEX Foundation is proud to be a sponsor of AATJ. ALLEX provides professionally trained Chinese,
Korean and Japanese instructors, sabbatical replacements, and teaching assistants to language programs atover 200 universities. Learn more at www.allex.org
Nippon Express Travel USA is a corporate sponsor of AATJ. Nittsu Travel wants to help teachers takestudents to Japan. Find out more about their services at http://www.nittsutravel.com/e_index.php .
JTB USA is a sponsor of AATJ’s annual conferences. Visit http://www.jtsusa.com to find out about thecompany’s travel services focusing on travel to and within Japan.
NHK Cosmomedia America, Inc., broadcaster of the TV JAPAN Channel in the USA and Canada, is a
corporate sponsor of AATJ. Visit www.tvjapan.net to find out how to subscribe to TV JAPAN at home orcontact scott@nhkcma.com to find out how to add TV JAPAN to a Campus CableTV system.