MAY 2024 | VOL. 13 | NO. 2

AATJ NEWSLETTER
全米日本語教育学会 American Association of Teachers of Japanese

Messagefrom thePresident

YOSHIKO MORI

In this issue...

OFFICERMESSAGESJNHS SPOTLIGHT
NATIONAL
JAPANESE EXAMJLL JOURNALSPRING 2024
FALL
CONFERENCEINFORMATIONJUNIOR JAPANBOWL REPORTAND MORE!

Greetings, everyone! As we transition from spring to summer, thebeautiful cherry blossoms have faded, and the season of fresh greenery
has arrived. May tends to be the busiest time for many of us, especiallyas we wrap up the academic year. I hope you all find moments to enjoy
amidst the hustle.
We have already had and are looking forward to numerous engaging
events and activities. In February, as the AATJ President, I participatedin the Virtual Language Advocacy Day 2024 of the Joint National
Committee for Languages-National Council for Languages andInternational Studies (JNCL-NCLIS). Alongside representatives fromnational and regional organizations of language professionals, AATJ
advocated for the importance of language education to legislators (areport is included in this issue).
Speaking of the recognition of the importance of language education,
there have been two significant political developments for our community.
One is the release of the United States-Japan Joint Leaders’sStatement, “Global Partners for the Future” by President Biden andPrime Minister Kishida on April 10, 2024, which explicitly underscores theimportance of supporting Japanese language education in the UnitedStates:We acknowledge the importance of language study, particularly inperson, to develop long-term ties and announce a new
Memorandum of Cooperation to increase opportunities for thenumber of exchange visitors from Japan to share their specialized
knowledge of Japanese language and culture in the United States,
as well as welcome efforts to expand the Japanese Language
Education Assistant Program (J-LEAP).

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To address this issue, AATJ hosted a webinar titled “Confronting the Japanese Language
Teacher Shortage: Government Developments Concerning Japanese Language Educationin the United States” on April 28, led byProfessional Development Director Yoshiko Saito-Abbott sensei. We had over 180
participants engaged in lively discussions, with numerous questions and comments
extending beyond the scheduled hours. AATJ would like to express gratitude to Tomoko
Marshall sensei from Mid-Atlantic Association of Teachers of Japanese and EducationCounsellor Taichi Kaneshiro sanjikan from the Embassy of Japan for their interesting andinsightful presentations, as well as to the webinar participants for their keen interest. For
more information, please refer to the articles by Kaneshiro sanjikan and Saito-Abbott sensei
in this issue, and visit the AATJ webinar page.

米国における日本語教育を巡る政府の動向について

Another exciting news is that the JNCL has announced the relaunch of the America’s
Languages Caucus, with Representative Jen Kiggans (R-VA-2) as the new House CoChair to support multilingualism across the United States. Representative Kiggans is aformer JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching Program) participant who taught English in
Japan. Her experience gives her a profound understanding of the U.S.-Japan alliance,
which is incredibly beneficial for our community. Please refer to former AATJ President Ann
Jordan sensei’s article in this issue for more information.
Despite these significant developments, we still face the challenges of maintaining ourJapanese language programs due to the national trend of decreasing world language
programs and teacher shortage. Since January, AATJ has received many reports andrequests to support programs in danger, and we have sent numerous support letters toschool administrators, school district board members, and other officials. Additionally, tosupport and assist teachers of Japanese who are advocating for their students andprograms, we have created a guide manual titled “AATJ Japanese Program S.O.S.,”
crafted by Ann Jordan sensei, available on our advocacy page. Let us share andexchange our innovative ideas for maintaining Japanese programs, as described in a reportin this issue by Yukino Tanaka sensei, President of Delaware Valley Teachers of Japanese.
In February, there was a Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) site director meeting,co-hosted by the Japan Foundation Los Angeles (JFLA) and AATJ, in Los Angeles, CA, forthe first time since the pandemic. JLPT is one of the major revenue-generating events for
AATJ, and currently there are 18 JLPT test sites across the United States. As the site
director of Washington DC, I participated in the meeting and learned a lot about thelogistics and test procedures of other JLPT sites in the United States, as well as at theheadquarters in Tokyo. The next JLPT is scheduled for Sunday, December 1, 2024, duringThanksgiving week. For information about the JLPT and registration, please visit the AATJJLPT page.

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AATJ offers the National Japanese Exam (NJE), an online proficiency-oriented assessment
tool that is standards-based and culture-related, aligned with ACTFL Guidelines. Thanks to
the dedicated efforts of NJE Director Tomomi Sato sensei and her NJE team, over 1,000
middle school, high school, and college students of Japanese as a second language fromacross the United States successfully completed the NJE during the exam period fromMarch 1 through April 15 this year. AATJ has sent the test results and awards to theteachers of the NJE awardees at the end of April.
In February and April, two AATJ Local Affiliates meetings were held under AATJ Vice
President Mieko Avello sensei’s leadership, where leaders from various local affiliates had
the opportunity to exchange information and interact with each other. I would like toparticularly thank Kumi Kobayashi sensei, Vice President of the California Association ofJapanese Language Teachers (CAJLT) and also serving as AATJ JNHS Co-director, forsharing the findings of the recent CAJLT survey aimed at identifying burning issues inJapanese language and culture programs in California. Given that many other schools andlocal affiliates are facing similar challenges in maintaining their programs, it is important tocontinue learning together and connecting with teachers from other regions of the UnitedStates.
Japanese Language and Literature (JLL), Vol. 58 No. 1 (2024), was published in April. I
want to express my gratitude to the editors, Hiroshi Nara sensei, Anne Sokolsky sensei,
Yumiko Nishi sensei, Janice Brown sensei, and Suwako Watanabe sensei, as well as to thecontributors. JLL, which publishes two issues annually, serves as the primary platform forintellectual exchange among AATJ members, providing a scholarly forum for discussions on
Japanese literature, linguistics, teaching Japanese as a second or foreign language, andJapanese culture. I was thrilled to see that the titles of the articles for this issue feature theworks of my favorite novelists, Murakami Haruki and Ogawa Yoko, even though Japanese
literature is not my specialty.
As the President of AATJ, I have had the privilege of participating in several national andregional Japan-related events. These include a luncheon meeting with Mrs. Yuko
Kishida and Japanese language educators in April, a networking event at the Embassy in
February, and various activities related to the National Cherry Blossom Festival. I would
like to thank the organizers of the 30th Central Association of Teachers of Japanese (CATJ
30) held on April 20, AATJ President-Elect Nobuko Chikamatsu sensei and Mariko Wei
sensei, for providing me with the opportunity to deliver the keynote speech titled “Beyond
Borders: Shaping the Future of Japanese Language Education in the Era of Diversity andCollaboration.” Additionally, I find joy in being involved in the National Japan Bowl and theJunior Japan Bowl as a staff member. With the motto of “think globally, act locally,” I plan
to continue engaging in various Japanese language and culture-related events andactivities in and outside my campus.

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May is the season for AP exams for high school students. This year the AP Japanese
Language and Culture Exam will be held on May 16. Immediately following the exam, theAP Japanese Reading, which involves scoring the free response questions, will take placein Tampa, Florida, from June 1 through 7. Many AATJ members, officers, and directors will
participate in the AP Japanese Reading. I will also be involved as the Chief Reader. AATJ
offers support and assistance to current and prospective AP Japanese teachers through the
AP Japanese Special Interest Group (SIG). I would like to thank Mieko Avello sensei, who
serves as the AP Japanese SIG Coordinator and also as the AATJ Vice President, fororganizing monthly AP Japanese SIG meetings aimed at facilitating connections andexchanging information among AP teachers.
In August, the International Conference on Japanese Language Education (ICJLE) with thetheme “Exploring Issues of Diversity and Expertise in Japanese Language Education” willtake place at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The conference, co-hosted by theAmerican Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ) and the Canadian Association forJapanese Language Education (CAJLE), welcomes Japanese language professionals fromaround the world who would like to connect and engage in discussions on current issues inworld language education. The ICJLE program is now available, and registration is open
until July 15. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the organizing committee led by Junko Morisensei, over 550 people have registered so far, and we are expecting more! I look forward
to seeing you in Madison, Wisconsin, in August!
Finally, I want to acknowledge that AATJ events and activities are made possible by the
dedicated efforts of directors, staff members, and officers. In particular, theannouncement of the retirement of Executive Director Susan Schmidt at the end of this year
will have a significant impact on the AATJ structure. For over three decades, Susan has
made immense contributions not only to AATJ but also to the Japanese language andculture community in the United States,and I cannot thank her enough for that. I wish her happiness and well-being in the future, as
well as a smooth transition for AATJ.
I also wish you all a good, stress-free end of the academic year and a relaxing summer!

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Message from theVice Presidents

MIEKO AVELLOSTEPHEN LUFT

K-12

POST-SECONDARY

新緑が輝く五月に心がわくわくする季節がやってきました。2024年度から副会長が2人体制となって皆様のご支援と共に更なる飛躍を目指していきたいと思います。全米の地域教師会のつながりをより強固にすることを目的とし、第2弾として4月20日にズームにてアフィリ
エイトMEET & GREETミーティングを開催いたしました。多くの教師会役員の方々が集まり、日本語教師老齢化や不足、そして、教師会運営の強化、改善につながるアイディアや事例について有意義な意見交換が行われました。秋に開催されるAATJの学会（ACTFL）では、フィラデルフィアで多くの先生方とお会いできることを楽しみにしています。
TEACHER AWARDも引き続き実施しておりますので、自薦他薦問わずぜひご応募ください。また、新人教師の皆様には、CHENG & TSUI プロフェッショナル・デベロップメン
ト・グラントが提供されています。詳細については、AATJのホームページをご覧いただけ
れば幸いです。
We hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful Spring weather. In 2024 AATJ implemented asystem of having two Vice Presidents, and as co-Vice Presidents we hope to provide
effective support as we work to continue to further Japanese language education. As partof our efforts to promote stronger connections between affiliate teacher organizations inNorth America, we held our second Affiliate Meet & Greet meeting on April 20th on Zoom.
Many officers from various Japanese teacher organizations attended, and we were able todiscuss a variety of issues, including the aging of the Japanese language teacher
population, the shortage of Japanese language teachers, and ideas and examples of how
to strengthen and improve administration of teacher organizations. This coming Fall we arelooking forward to meeting many of you at the ACTFL conference in Philadelphia. Also, we
continue to hold the annual AATJ Teacher Awards, and we encourage both selfnominations and nominations of other teachers. Lastly, for new teachers the Cheng & Tsui
Professional Development Grant is currently accepting proposals. Details can be found on
the AATJ homepage.

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Meet & Greet participants on April 20th6

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この春はアメリカも日本も天候が目まぐるしく変わる毎日が続き健康な体調を維持するのに苦労していらっしゃる先
生方も多いのではないでしょうか。春休みに学生16人を引率して京都に行きましたが、予定では桜満開のはずがやや遅れたようで三分咲きの頃にシカゴに帰ってくることにな
り、少し残念でした。円安ドル高のせいでしょうか、外国人観光客の数が随分増えたように感じました。

Message fromthe Immediate
Past President

SHINGOSATSUTANIThe weather in both the U.S. and Japan has beenchanging rapidly this spring, and many teachers may behaving a hard time maintaining their health. I led a groupof 16 students to Kyoto during spring break, and although
the cherry blossoms were supposed to be in full bloom,
we had to return to Chicago before the blossoms were in
full bloom, which was a bit disappointing. I felt that the
number of foreign tourists had increased considerably,probably due to the weak yen and the strong U.S. dollar.

年賀状コンテスト、全米日本語試験(NJE)、全米日本語優等生協会(JNHS)、アドバンスドプ
レースメントテスト(AP EXAM)などが次々とやってくる忙しい毎日を懸命にこなしていらっ
しゃる先生方も多いことでしょう。春学期を終える時期に当たり仲間の教師のTEACHER
AWARDへの推薦をよろしくお願いします。それに加えて、この秋の選挙では副会長（K-12
教員）と次期会長の２名の選挙が予定されています。この秋の選挙への推薦もよろしくお願いします。
We are sure that many of you were busy with the Nengajo Contest, and now with the
National Japanese Examination (NJE), the Japanese National Honors Society (JNHS), and
the Advanced Placement Exam (AP Exam). As we wrap up the spring semester, pleasetake a moment to nominate a fellow teacher for the Teacher Award. In addition, there will
be elections this fall for the vice president (K-12 teacher) and the president-elect. Please be
sure to send in your nominations for this fall's elections.
今年は春の学会はありませんでしたが、月初めにウィスコンシン大学マジソン校にて日本語
教育国際研究大会（テーマ:多様性と専門性）をカナダ日本語教育振興会（CAJLE）と共催します。すでに500名以上の方々が参加登録を完了し、全世界から日本語関係者が一堂に会す
る大きな大会となりそうです。世界中の日本語教師仲間とつながってみませんか。出版社の展示会なども予定されていますので、ぜひご参加下さい。
Although there was no spring conference this year, we will be co-hosting the International
Conference on Japanese Language Education (theme: Diversity and Expertise) with theCanadian Association for Japanese Language Education (CAJLE) at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison at the beginning of March. More than 500 people have alreadyregistered, and the conference is expected to be a great gathering of Japanese language
professionals from all over the world. Why not connect with fellow Japanese language
teachers from around the world? There will also be exhibitions of publishing companies, so
please join us.
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４ 月 に は 第 30 回 中 部 日 本 語 教 育 学 会(CATJ)がシカゴ市内の近松AATJ次期会長のお膝元、ディポール大学で盛大に開催されました。僕も研究仲間に入れて頂き、「学習習慣に関する初級学習者の自己認識」について発表しました。この学会は発表原稿録（PROCEEDINGS）が今秋出版されます。

左から、岩本先生、ナン先生、札谷

この学会は発表原稿録（PROCEEDINGS）が今秋出版されます。この学会と同時開催となっ た の で す が 地 元 シ カ ゴ 郊 外 で は NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LESS COMMONLYTAUGHT LANGUAGES (NCOLCTL)年次大会にはNCOLCTL傘下としては大きな組織のであるAATJを代表して出席しました。今人気急上昇中の韓国語関係のセッションが多かったのですがインディアナ大学の博士課程在籍中の岩本先生やカリフォルニアのレッドランズ大
学からはナン先生が発表されました。この学会では多くの大学院生や教師歴の浅い若い先生方も多く参加されているので、日本語関係の大学院生や大学のジュニアファカルティにもお勧めです。
2025年4月24日-27日の春もシカゴ郊外での開催予定なので日本語関係の発表が増えることを期待しています。
In April, the 30th Annual Conference of the Central Association of Teachers of Japanese(CATJ) was held in Chicago at DePaul University, the home of AATJ President-electChikamatsu. I was invited to participate in the conference as a fellow researcher and gavea presentation on "Self-perception of beginner-level learners regarding their study habits."
The proceedings of this conference will be published this fall. Concurrently with theconference, I attended the National Council Of Less Commonly Taught Languages(NCOLCTL) annual conference in the suburbs of Chicago, representing AATJ, a largeorganization under the NCOLCTL umbrella. Many of the sessions were related to the
Korean language, which is rapidly gaining popularity, and there were also presentations by
Iwamoto-sensei, a doctoral student at Indiana University, and Dr. Nunn from the Universityof Redlands in California. Many graduate students and young teachers also attended thisconference, so I recommend it to graduate students and university junior faculty in theJapanese language field. We hope to see more Japanese language-related presentationsin the spring of 2025, April 24-27, as the conference is scheduled to be held outside ofChicago again.
5月に入ってAP試験を受けた生徒から色々お聞きになった先生方も多いのではないでしょう
か。AATJのAP SIGに参加されていない高校の先生方は是非ご参加ください。AP SIGは月
例オンラインワークショップを実施し、意見交換、試験対策、アイデア共有など活発に活動しています。AP SIG参加ご希望の方はSIG代表のアベロ先生
AVELLOSENSEI@GMAIL.COMまでご連絡ください。なお、月例オンラインワークショッ
プ参加者へはPD CERTIFICATE(プロフェッショナルディベロップメント参加証明書)もAATJから発行しています。
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If you are a high school teacher who has not joined AATJ's AP SIG, please do so. The AP
SIG holds monthly online workshops to share ideas and prepare for exams. The AATJ also
issues a PD Certificate (Professional Development Certificate) to those who participate in
the monthly online workshops.
夏期講座、生徒学生訪日引率、秋学期プランなど様々な準備をなさっていると思いますが、「ワークライフバランス」をモットーに乗り切りましょう。個人的には学生引率を兼ねて６月初旬から７月末まで京都にいますので、京都にお越しの際は是非、SATSUTAN@COD.EDU までご連絡ください。また、８月初めにはウィスコンシン大学でお会いしましょう。
I am sure you are busy preparing for summer courses, student trips to Japan, and the fallsemester, but let's not forget the motto "work-life balance." Personally, I will be in Kyoto
from the beginning of June to the end of July with student groups, so please contact me atsatsutan@cod.edu if you are coming to Kyoto. Also, I hope to see you at the University of
Wisconsin in early August.

Japanese Language and Literature

Spring 2024 Issue of the Journal is Published
The April 2024 issue of AATJ’s journal Japanese Language and Literature (Volume 58,
Number 1), has been published. The journal is published online by University ofPittsburgh Libraries and is available freely under an Open Access agreement.
You can read this issue, as well as past issues, online at http://jll.pitt.edu/ojs/JLL.
The content of the new issue is as follows:
Articles:“Murakami Haruki’s America: Talk, Taste, and the Specter of the Untranslatable” (Brian
Hurley)“The Encoding of Emotions in Ogawa Yōko’s Works: Sensory Narration and Mood Tableaux”(Elena Giannoulis)
Reviews:
Mayumi Oka, Junko Kondo, et al. — Tobira: Beginning Japanese — reviewed by
JunkoTokuda Simpson
Kazumi Hatasa and Nami Fukutome — Meshiagare: Culinary Journey through Advanced
Japanese — reviewed by Mayumi Ajioka

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Japanese National Honor Society
ELENA YOOHAWAII BAPTIST ACADEMY

Establishment and Growth
The Japanese National Honor Society at Hawaii Baptist Academy was established in the school calendar
year 2017-2018 with an initial cohort of 35 students. Since then, the organization has consistently inducted20-25 incoming junior/senior class students annually, showcasing growth and interest in Japanese culture
and language within the school community.

Activities and Initiatives
As the advisor for the organization, various enriching activities have been organized to engage
members and promote Japanese culture. These activities include Ikebana lessons, calligraphy
sessions, and career talks, all aimed at providing students with a deeper understanding of Japanesetraditions and practices. Additionally, the students initiated an annual school-wide event known as
Onigiri Action in the fall of 2018. This charity event, held every October, has become a signature
event, even adapting to Covid restrictions in subsequent years. Students also hosted the Edamame
Challenge sponsored by the same organization for Onigiri Action in2021 as seen in theannouncement video.

Achievements and Recognition
The promotional video created for Onigiri Action was exceptionally well-received and was featured on
the YouTube channel of the event organizer, Table for Two. This recognition not only highlights thecreativity and dedication of JNHS members but also amplifies the impact of their charitable endeavors.
Furthermore, the design of a club T-shirt by a founding member serves as a tangible representation of
the organization's commitment to promoting Japanese culture and identity.

Academic Recognition and Future Prospects
New inductees into the Japanese National Honor Society are honored during the annual academic
award ceremony in May, where they receive certificates acknowledging their achievements anddedication. Beyond the academic realm, participation in JNHS provides students with valuable
experiences that can enhance their college applications and brag sheets, showcasing theircommitment to cultural understanding and community service.

Conclusion
The Hawaii Baptist Academy's Japanese National Honor Society plays a crucial role in advocating forJapanese language classes on campus, fostering a sense of cultural appreciation, and rewarding
students for their hard work and dedication. Through a range of activities, initiatives, and recognitions,the organization continues to thrive and make a meaningful impact within the school community.

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T-shirt designed by Hawaii Baptist
Academy JNHS students

Students learn about Ikebana from acommunity member

JNHS Career Talk photo with plans for future
meetings“ONIGIRI ACTION” was a popular activity at the school11

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Japanese National Honor Society

BY JAPANESE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY MEMBERS AT PARKDALE
HIGH SCHOOL, RIVERDALE PARK, MD

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MAY 2024 | VOL. 13 | NO.2

Confronting the Japanese Language Teacher Shortage: Government Developments
Concerning Japanese Language Education in the United States
YOSHIKO SAITO-ABBOTTPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
2024年4月28日、「米国における日本語教育を巡る政府の動向について」在アメリカ合衆国
日本国大使館、金城太一参事官、中部大西洋岸日本語教師会 (MAATJ）2022 - 2023年度会長を務められたバージニア大学のマーシャルともこ先生をスピーカーとしてお招きし、およ
そ一時間半のウェビナーが行われました。日本語教育関係者、全米の総領事館の日本語教育
担当の方々、そしてメディアの方々も含めて、約180名が参加しました。
マーシャル先生の米国における日本語教師高齢化と教師不足に関するアンケート調査結果の報告後、金城参事官が2023年5月に行われたG7広島サミットに合わせ、永岡文部科学大臣（当時）とアントニー・ブリンケン国務長官の両者が署名した日米間の教育における協力覚書について説明してくださいました。文部科学省と国務省の間出始めて交わされたこの覚書には、両国の中等教育、高等教育及び研究分野における協力活動を強化するとともに、両省の政策対話が定期的に開催されることが明記されています。
５月に署名された教育における上述の協力覚書を踏まえ、昨年10月に第１回日米教育ハイレ
ベル政策対話が開催され、（１）高校から大学までの学生交流 （２）、教職員交流（３）、大学院生交流、（４）大学間・産学間連携、について日米の近年の政策・取組の紹介・意見交換が実施されました。さらに本年4月、米国・ワシントンDCを公式訪問中の岸田文雄内閣総理大臣が、ジョセフ・バイデン米国大統領と日米首脳会談を行い、その成果として、共同声明を発出しその覚書の概要が説明されました。このウェビナーではこれに関して金城参事官がさらに詳細な説明を加えて下さいました。
発表後活発な質疑応答、意見の交換がなされ、ウェビナー終了後も90人以上の参加者が残り、更なる質疑応答が続いたことは今回の話題についての関心の高さを示しています。ウェ
ビナーの録画とスライドはAATJのホームページからご視聴可能ですのでご利用ください。

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Updates for ICJLE 2024
JUNKO MORIGLOBAL NETWORK DIRECTOR
ICJLE 2024 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE CHAIR
ICJLE 2024 (August 1-3, 2024, Madison, WI) is less than three months away! We are happy toreport that approximately 500 people registered to attend the conference in person by the early bird
registration deadline of April 30. We have also released the conference program, where you canbrowse through the list of presentations and search for information regarding specific presenters or
topics.
If you are planning your trip to Madison, please refer to the Lodging & Transportation page.
Rooms blocked for the ICJLE attendees at Madison Concourse Hotel are filling up, so we urge you
to make a reservation sooner rather than later if you are considering this option. Madison Concourse
Hotel has a shuttle service between the hotel and Madison’s Dane County Airport.
If you are looking for a more budget-friendly, uniqueaccommodation experience, we recommend considering
Sellery Hall. This newly renovated UW-Madison dorm isconveniently located near the conference venue, offering
you a taste of campus life. Plus, the Coach USA (Van
Galder) bus from Chicago O’Hare Airport stops just a
block away from Sellery Hall.

If you are flying into Chicago, you may also want to checkout the direct bus service offered by Kintetsu
International. The details are available on the Lodging &Transportation page as well.
If you haven’t registered for the conference yet, it isstill not too late! We will accept registration until July15.
The conference also offers a Remote Access Registration option, which allows you a) access torecordings of the three keynote speeches, b) accessto recordings of two symposiums, c) access to presentation materials provided by the presenters,d)participation in post-conference online events held on August 17 (19:00-22:15 Central DaylightTime). The post-conference online events have been organized by the Canadian Association forJapanese Language Education (CAJLE), AATJ’s counterpart in Canada, with which AATJ co-hostthis conference.
AATJ members of the ICJLE Organizing Committee are deeply in debt to the CAJLE members who
have done an enormous amount of work behind the scenes. Without their contributions, thepreparation for this conference would not have been possible.
Looking forward to seeing many of you in Madison in August!
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Annual Fall Conference ACTFL 2024 in Philadelphia

YUKO PREFUME, NOBUAKI TAKAHASHI & JAIMELYNN TATEYAMAFALL CONFERENCE CO-DIRECTORSThe AATJ Fall Conference will be held during the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign
Languages (ACTFL) Annual Convention and World Languages Expo from Friday, November 22nd
through Sunday, November 24th, 2024 in Philadelphia. On the ACTFL website, you will find theschedule at a glance for the ACTFL convention and expo.
The goal of the ACTFL Annual Convention and World Languages Expo is to provide acomprehensive professional development experience that will have an impact on language educators
at all levels of teaching and in turn enable their students to succeed in their language learning
process. The ACTFL Annual Convention and World Languages Expo is where language educatorsfrom around the world come to meet! This global event can bring language educators from distinct
languages, levels, and assignments together, and learn from each other!

AATJ 2023 Fall Conference Affiliate Meeting

AATJ Members at the AATJ Booth (2023)

During the 2024 ACTFL Annual Convention, AATJ will be having their Affiliate Meeting,Award Luncheon (which must be paid at the time of registration), AATJ General Meeting(free for all for AATJ members and guests) where you can connect with other teachers andhave a chance to receive door prizes. Also, AATJ Co-director meeting will be held so weencourage all of the AATJ directors to attend.

AATJ 2023 Fall Conference Luncheon in Chicago
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In the exhibition area, AATJ will also be in the Japan Pavilion with other vendor booths where you
can participate in cultural activities provided by various AATJ teachers and AATJ Affiliate groups.
Vendors such as Kinokuniya, JPT America and The Japan Foundation Los Angeles are a few that will
be in the Japan Pavilion. Please come to the conference to learn, bond and experience all that the
ACTFL Convention and AATJ has to offer.

DEI Discussion at AATJ Booth (2023)

Edamame Champ Activity at AATJ Booth (2023)

Registration
Registration is already open! Please check the ACTFL site for further details. AATJ is a
Convention Partner Organization and you can register at a member rate.

To register for the ACTFL Convention, please go to the ACTFL website and click on the“Register Now” button. If you are a current AATJ member, be sure to scroll down the ACTFL
2024 Registration page and use “Convention Partner Organization Registration” under
Option 2 in order to register at the lower member rate.

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Stipend Award Program
To apply, please go visit the ACTFL Stipend Award Program. ACTFL sponsors thisStipend Award Program to provide financial assistance in the amount of $500 to registrants
for the Full Convention in the following categories to help offset ACTFL 2024 Convention
expenses.
Housing
For details regarding hotel reservations, please go to the ACTFL housing information
page.

Philadelphia Marriott Downtown(Headquarter Hotel)$259 single/$289 double

The Notary Hotel$249 single/$279 double

Residence Inn Philadelphia Center City
$229 single/double

Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown$259single/double

Hampton Inn Philadelphia Center City
$189 single/double

Aloft Philadelphia Downtown$219 single/double

Home2Suites$219 single/double

Hilton Garden Inn Philadelphia Center City
$189 single/double

For best availability and immediate confirmation, makeyour reservation online. Requests received via fax or mailmay take longer to process. All hotel requests areprocessed on an availability basis. Please note that the
Maritz is ACTFL’s official housing company. Also, please
note that no one will contact you directly via phone/email
to book your hotel room(s) or offer you a “special
discounted conference rate.” There are multiple scammingcompanies that call and/or email exhibitors claiming torepresent ACTFL housing. To be clear, these companies arein no way affiliated with ACTFL. Please disregard any calls
or emails you may receive.
AATJ Presentation Sessions for the 2024 AATJ Fall
Conference will be announced in the next AATJ newsletter.
Please stay tuned and come and join us in Philadelphia fora wonderful experience of connecting and learning!
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Japanese Leveled Readers Project: Bridging the Gap
in Early Literacy Education

MASAKO DOUGLAS, CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY LONG BEACH

AATJ’s Special Interest Group on Japanese as a Heritage Language (JHL SIG) is thrilled toannounce the successful completion of the Japanese Leveled Readers project! This initiative aims
to provide free Japanese leveled readers for young children at an early literacy developmental
stage, from Kindergarten through Grade 1. As educators, we recognize the importance of fostering
reading skills in our students, and this project addresses a critical need in Japanese language
education.
Purpose of the Project
The Japanese Leveled Readers project was born out of a pressing issue: the scarcity of resources
for systematic reading instruction in Japanese. While English has an abundance of leveled readerswith clear level assignments and criteria, the situation is quite different for Japanese. Our young
learners, whether in heritage language programs, second language classes, or foreign language
contexts, deserve access to quality reading materials that align with their developmental needs.
The Current Problem
When searching for Japanese reading resources, we encounter limitations. Existing online platforms
often align their book levels with the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), resulting in only
five or six levels overall. Furthermore, the criteria used to determine text difficulty primarily focus ongrammar and vocabulary. While this approach may suffice for proficient readers transitioning fromtheir first language, in which they have already acquired reading skills, it falls short for emergent
readers who learn how to read for the first time.
Addressing the Gap
To address this gap, the Japanese Leveled Readers project takes a comprehensive approach. We
searched for English books with Creative Commons licenses and translated them into Japanese.
Our team has meticulously curated a diverse collection of leveled readers, ensuring that each textaligns with the developmental stages of young learners. We consider not only grammar andvocabulary but also other critical factors such as text structure, topic complexity, and culturalcontext.
Online Distribution
AATJ is grateful to have received a generous grant from the Japan Foundation–Los Angeles, which
supported the SIG’s work on this project. We are excited to announce that, thanks to this funding,the Japanese Leveled Readers are now available for online distribution.
Teachers and parents can access these resources free of charge, making them accessible to a wide
audience. Whether you’re teaching in a classroom, supporting heritage language learners, or
fostering biliteracy in two-way immersion programs, we hope these leveled readers will be
invaluable tools.
For the Japanese Leveled Readers website, please visit this website.

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AATJ Seeks Candidates for Executive Director Position
AATJ’s current Executive Director, Susan Schmidt, plans to step down from the position and retire at
the end of this year. AATJ will hire a new Executive Director to begin work at the beginning of 2025.
Susan has served as Executive Director since 1999, when the position was created. Under theleadership of Professor Laurel Rasplica Rodd, and with the support of AATJ’s elected Board of
Directors and the help of grant funding, an administrative office was established as part of the Center
for Asian Studies.
AATJ serves and represents Japanese language educators in the United States: together with a small
group of dedicated staff members, and working with AATJ’s officers, the Executive Director manages
activities that include conferences, publications, and membership services. The AATJ officeadministers the Japanese Language Proficiency Test in the United States, at 18 locations; an online
National Japanese Exam for language learners at all levels; and a scholarship program that awards
scholarships to undergraduate students studying abroad in Japan.
Applications will open this summer for the Executive Director position. We seek a leader who ishighly skilled in both English and Japanese languages, is familiar with both US and Japaneseorganizational cultures, has administrative and financial skills, and has experience managing anonprofit or educational organization. The position will be based at the University of Colorado, in theCenter for Asian Studies.
Please look for an official announcement and opening of applications in August, and circulate theinformation widely.

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AATJ Teacher Awards – Nominations Are Open
The AATJ Teacher Awards recognize outstanding teachers who demonstrate
excellence in teaching, advocacy, and leadership in Japanese education both
locally and regionally. AATJ customarily presents the awards to the recipients during
the ACTFL Annual Convention each November.
Awards are given annually in two categories:
K-12 Level Teacher Award
Community College/College and University Level Teacher Award.

The deadline for nominations is June 30. For information on past awards, andabout the procedure for nominating a colleague for a 2024 award, please see thispage on the AATJ website:
https://www.aatj.org/professional-development/aatj-teacher-awards/
Please consider nominating a colleague; we look forward to receiving yournominations.

Cheng & Tsui Professional Development Grants
The Cheng & Tsui Professional Development Grant offers financial assistance toJapanese language teachers in grades K-16, especially those new to the field, for the
purpose of attending training workshops, seminars, conferences, and other local,
national, or international in-service learning experiences. The grant may also be used tocollaborate with a mentor teacher. The grant may NOT be used to purchase textbooks.
Teacher training workshops and seminars attended by the applicant should befocused on pedagogy and issues of teaching and learning.
Cheng & Tsui Publishers, the sponsor of the grant, will award $500 to the grantrecipient(s).
To apply for a grant, please see the instructions at https://www.aatj.org/prodevcheng-and-tsui/.

The deadline to apply for a 2024 grant is September 1, 2024.

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AATJ Lifetime Achievement Awards
The AATJ Lifetime Achievement Awards were created in 2015 to honor
members of AATJ who have demonstrated a lifetime of achievement inJapanese education at the national and international level. The award ispresented at the AATJ Annual Spring Conference, but it is intended to beawarded only when there is a deserving candidate who meets the following
criteria:
Years of distinguished service: The award is for lifetime achievement
rather than for a one-time contribution, no matter how substantial.
Nominees should have a minimum of 25 years of distinguished service toJapanese education.
Areas of Distinction: The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented forachievement in leadership, service, teaching, and research (in the case of
a nominee who holds a position in higher education). Distinction can bedemonstrated through:service to AATJ such as: offices held, committee memberships, special
projects, meetings, publications;service beyond the requirements of the nominee’s job at the state, andnational/international level;
creation of scholarly publications, textbooks, and other relevantmaterials and programs that have made significant impact on Japanese
education at the national/international level.
Nominators may be anyone familiar with the nominee’s career. Nominators
must be current members of AATJ. Current members of the AATJ board
are not eligible to be nominated for this award. Nominations should be kept
confidential.
You can see the previous five recipients of the Lifetime Achievement
Award, and read about the most recent recipient, Kazuo Tsuda, who wasawarded in 2022.
The same page describes the process of nominating a candidate for thisaward. The next nomination deadline is November 30, 2024.

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Fall 2024 AATJ Officer Election
ANN JORDANThis October, AATJ will hold the election for the following two positions:
President-elect: Higher Ed or K12 teacher
Vice-president: K12 teacher
Nomination committee members are AATJ Past-presidents Motoko Tabuse, Suwako
Watanabe, and Ann Jordan. If you would like to suggest an AATJ member for theirconsideration, please email your suggestions to chair of the committee, Ann Jordan,
teiann@gmail.com by August 1, 20204 with the following information:
Name, institution, email address of the person you are suggesting
Office for which you are suggesting this person (President-elect or Vice-president)
Brief statement explaining why this person would be a good candidate (very brief is fine)
For description of duties, please refer to Article IV of the AATJ Bylaws.

2025 AATJ Annual Spring Conference
Call for Proposals to Open in September!
JAE DIBELLO TAKEUCHIYOSHIHIRO MOCHIZUKI
AATJ SPRING CONFERENCE CO-DIRECTORSThe 2025 AATJ Annual Spring Conference will be held in person on Thursday, March
13th, 2025, in conjunction with the Association for Asian Studies, which will take place inColumbus, OH. The call for proposals will open on September 1 and the deadline forsubmission will be October 31, 2024.
Proposals will be invited for individual papers and panels. Stay tuned for more details, and
we look forward to seeing you in Columbus, OH next year!

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CULTR Workshops Summer 2024
CULTR is thrilled to welcome teachers in person for the Summer 2024 Teacher
Professional Development Workshops at Georgia State’s Downtown campus! Comeconnect for face-to-face learning and sharing with your peers to exchange insights, gain
new skills, and recharge your outlook and career. We have three engaging and impactful
workshops this year, starting June 20. Lunch will be included in your registration.
The Workshops will be held on June 20, July 16, and July 18. All the workshops will be from
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Each workshop will have its own topic and focus. Lunch will be provided
for the registrants.
The workshops will cover the following:
Project Based Learning (PBL)
Chinese Total Physical Response and Storytelling (TPRS)Drama-Based Pedagogy in Lesson Planning and Language Instruction
For more information on the workshops and to register, please visit the CULTUR website.
If you have any questions, contact us at cultr@gsu.edu. We look forward to seeing you
there!

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Japanese Government Developments Concerning Japanese
Language Education in the United States

米国における日本語教育を巡る政府の動向について

在米国日本大使館参事官 金城 太一

KANESHIRO TAICHI , EDUCATION COUNSELLOR, EMBASSY OF JAPAN , WASHINGTON D.C.
日本語教師の皆様におかれては日ごろより全米各地で日本語教育を推進いただいていることに心より感謝をいたします。
昨年来、日本語教育を巡り日米両政府レベルでも大きなイシューとして取り上げられてきたことから
今回、AATJのニュースレターにご寄稿させていただく機会をいただきました。
まず、２０２３年５月、G７広島サミットの開催中に文部科学省と国務省の間で初となる覚書（教育における協力覚書）が署名されました（※１）。本覚書の中で中等教育・高等教育や研究分野における協力を強化するとともに、両省の政策対話を定期的に開催することが明記されました。
そして、この覚書に基づく初めての「日米教育ハイレベル政策対話」（※２）が昨年１０月、ワシント
ンDCにて開催されることとなりました。在米日本大使館では日ごろから中部大西洋岸日本語教師会（MAATJ）の先生方と密に連携させていただいており、日本語教師不足を含む諸課題につき常々伺っておりました。そこで、千載一遇ともいえるこの機会を捉え、当館から「米国における日本語教育の課題」をアジェンダに加えるよう文部科学省及び国務省に働きかけ、受け入れていただくことができました。次に重要なのは我々の主張に説得力を持たせるためのエビデンスを示すことです。そこで
MAATJと調整し、日本語教師が高齢化していること等の調査結果を示し日本語教師不足を巡る課題と考えられる解決策を提起いたしました。その結果、国務省の幹部にも危機感を共有することができ、その後、とりまとめられた共同声明（※２）では米国における日本語教育の支援策について取り組みを強化することが明記されました。
さらに、同共同声明の段階で言及できなかったビザの問題について、その後国務省と協議を重ね、去る４月の岸田総理の米国公式訪問に合わせ成案を得ることができました。４月１０日に在米日本大使
館と国務省の間で「日本専門家のための教育文化交流機会創出のための協力覚書」（※３）が署名され、また同日発表された「日米首脳共同声明」（※４）にも盛り込まれることとなりました。
この覚書により、①J-1スペシャリストビザを取得し、日本語の授業で日本語教師を補佐する日本語指導助手として米国の教育現場に参画する人の門戸を広げ、②研修プログラムを提供する団体の拡大を可能とし、③参加者の滞在期間を最長３年に延長する、ことが明記されました。この覚書を契機として、米国の学校で日本語指導助手として活動する若者が増加し、また、その中から米国において教員免許を取得し、日本語教師としてのキャリアを選択する者が増えることが期待されます。
もっとも上記のみで日本語教育の課題が解決できるとは思っておりません。先生方もご案内のとおり、日本語教育を巡る課題は複雑であり、地域によって、また、日本語教師を目指す方の状況によっても区々だからです。我々としては教師会の皆様と課題を共有し解決策を議論しつつ、米国内の日本語教育がさらに発展するために政府レベルで対応できることに引き続き邁進してまいる所存です。

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Memorandum of Cooperation in Education Between the Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan and the Department of State of theUnited States of America, Links to both Japanese and English.

（※２）日米教育ハイレベル政策対話・共同声明
1st U.S.-Japan High Level Policy Dialogue on Education and Joint Statement（※３）日本専門家のための教育文化交流機会創出のための協力覚書
Memorandum of Cooperation Upon Creation of an Educational and Cultural Exchange
Opportunity For Japanese Specialists（※４）日米首脳共同声明（「未来のためのグローバル・パートナー」）

日米首脳共同声明（「未来のためのグローバル・パートナー」）（日本語）Japan-U.S. Joint Leaders’ Statement: (“Global Partners for the Future”) (English)28

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Mrs. Kishida’s Visit to the United States:
Luncheon with Japanese Language Educators
YOSHIKO MORI
Mrs. Yuko Kishida, the First Lady of Japan, hosted a luncheon meeting on April 9th at theresidence of the Japanese Ambassador in the DC Metropolitan area. The gathering brought
together Japanese language educators from various sectors, including representatives fromhoshuko, secondary schools, immersion programs, higher education institutions, teacher
associations, community schools, and Japan culture organizations. Many attendees weremembers of AATJ.
During the meeting, participants engaged in candid discussions on topics such as current
trends in Japanese language learning in the U.S., student motivation, and challenges insustaining Japanese language studies. Mrs. Kishida expressed her enthusiastic support forJapanese language education in the U.S., stating, “I express my sincere respect for yourdaily efforts in Japanese language education, and I hope that as many people as possible
will gain a deeper understanding of Japan through language learning and education.”
Press release, in English / in Japanese

Luncheon with Mrs. Kishida at Residence of Japanese Ambassador

Mori sensei with Mrs. Kishida

Kimura sensei with Mrs. Kishida29

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岸田文雄内閣総理大臣歓迎式典に参加してThe White House Welcome Ceremony for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida

ワシントン日本語学校、校長 三原 洋一

PRINCIPAL, WASHINGTON JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL, YOICHI MIHARA
本校は、日本の文部科学省より認定されたワシントンD.C.地域の園児・児童・生徒が通う補習授業校です。1958年9月に開校された66年の歴史をもつ世界で一番古い補習授業校としてもよく知られています。「国際感覚を身に付けた人間性豊かな児童・生徒の育成」を教育目標に、幼稚部1学級、小学部
21学級 中学部6学級、高等部2学級の524名（4月20日現在）が、日本の学習指導要領に準じた学びを行っています。
さて、令和６年4月10日、本校生徒が岸田文雄内閣総理大臣歓迎式典に招待され、希望する生徒が式典に参加してきました。当初、100人程度の招待ということでしたが、米国政府と日本国大使館の特別なご配慮により、希望する250人以上の生徒全員の参加を許可していただきました。
当日は、早朝から、保護者の皆様に連れられて正装した生徒達がホワイトハウスの近くに集合し、引率の教員や管理運営委員とともに、厳しい警備体制のもと、全員が無事に式典会場に入ることができました。多くの日本人がDCに集合することで、不審者対策など生徒の安全管理に不安がありましたが、事前に日本国大使館や文部科学省と安全対策について協議するとともに、当日は、DCの警察や日本国大使館のご協力を得ることで、事故なく式典参加を終えることができました。
日本の総理大臣の国賓待遇での公式訪米は2015年の安倍晋三元首相以来９年ぶりという中、目の前で体験した式典は大変荘厳なものでした。岸田総理大臣夫妻が、ジョー・バイデン米国大統領夫妻の出迎えを受け、19発の礼砲の下、両国の国歌が演奏されました。その後、岸田総理大臣はバイデン大統領と共に儀仗兵の閲兵を行われ、バイデン米国大統領と岸田総理大臣がそれぞれスピーチをされました。
初めてホワイトハウス内に入った生徒も多く、初めて体験する式典の厳粛な雰囲気に目を光らせていました。日本の総理大臣がこのように米国の国賓として歓迎された姿を目の当たりにして、岸田首相の「日米の友好は、両国の人々の友情と尊敬、信頼を糧に、更に発展し、世界に咲き誇っていくだろう。」という言葉は、米国で学び、将来、世界で活躍を期待されている本校の生徒たちの心に響いたのではないかと感じています。
このような大変貴重な体験をさせていただいたことに、米国政府、在アメリカ合衆国日本国大使館はじめ関係の皆様に心から感謝を申し上げます。

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Report on Lower Merion, PA Japanese Program
YUKINO TANAKA, URSINUS COLLEGE

4月28日に行われたAATJウェビナーで話し合われたように、近年の米国における日本語教師の不足は深刻化しており、その影響はK-16の教育レベルでの日本語プログラムの縮小や廃止という形で顕著になっています。その一例として、ペンシルベニア州フィラデルフィア郊外に位置するローア
ン・メリオン学区 (LMSD)における日本語プログラムの存続運動についてご報告します。
LMSDにはHARRITON HIGH SCHOOLとLOWER MERION HIGH SCHOOLの2つの高校があり、20年以上前から3年生と4年生のHONORSの生徒を対象に2年間の日本語クラスがオファーされています。現在、PA州の緊急認定（EMERGENCY PERMITS = EP）を持つ教師が両校で授業を担当し、約90名の生徒が日本語を学んでいます。しかし、今年1月に学区から「正式なPA州教員免許を持つ教師が不在である」という理由で、突然日本語プログラムの廃止が決定され、生徒や保護者、LMSDの住民、日本人コミュニティに大きな動揺を引き起こしました。まず、生徒たちが先頭に立ち、この一方的な決定に対して抗議の意を表し、日本語プログラムの継続を求めるオンライン
嘆願運動が始まりました。この運動はさまざまなネットワーキングを通じて全米や世界中に広がり、2300以上の署名が集まりました。これを受けて、AATJやJFLA、DVTJなどの日本語教育関連団体や、フィラデルフィアの日本人会、日米協会、日本語補習校、ニューヨークの日本領事館、LMSDの住民や保護者からもサポートが寄せられました。また、生徒や地元住民のグループは学区の理事会 (BOARD MEETING) にも参加し、日本語プログラム継続の重要性を訴え続けました。多
大な時間と協力を経て、4月には学区が再検討を行い、「適任の教師が見つかれば、日本語プログラ
ムを継続する」との結論を出し、現在は教師の公募を行っています。

今回の一連の出来事から、現在の問題点と今後の課題を挙げてみました。
1. 今回の日本語プログラム廃止の発端となったのは、学区側と現職の教師間で、PA緊急認定
免許(EP)の更新が2年間という規約が明確でなかったことです。学区は、教師のEPの再更新が不可能となることを理由に、公募を行わずに一方的にプログラムの廃止を決定しました。
今後、日本語教師は自身の職とプログラムを守るために、各州の教員免許取得法や更新、EPに関する正確な知識が必要です。また、現職の教師が退職や辞職を考える場合は、次の後任者をネットワーキングを通じて早期に見つけ、スムーズな引継ぎを行うことが重要です。
2. K-12の日本語プログラムの継続には、学生だけでなく、保護者やコミュニティー、地域および国レベルでの広範な支援とネットワーキングが不可欠です。PA州での日本語教員の探索には、AATJと地元教師会の連携が欠かせません。教師間の協力を強化するためにも、日頃からイベントや勉強会、ネットワーキングの場に積極的に参加することが重要です。さらに、
PA州および周辺州（NY、NJ、DE）で、日本語の免許を持った教員のデータベースを作成
し、地域の日本語教師不足に対応できるようなネットワークの構築も必要です。

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3. 今後、教師不在を理由にした日本語プログラムの廃止を防ぐために、各州での日本語教員免許の取得方法や可能性についてのセミナーや説明会を開くことも考えられます。PA州では、近年、K-12の外国語教員免許をオンラインで取得できる大学があり、時間的、地理的な制約なく免許を取得することが可能です。また、免許を取得すれば、近年増加しているK-12のサイバースクールでも正式な教員免許を持った日本語教師としてオンラインで日本語を教えることもできます。
この一連の活動を通じて、日本人コミュニティーと日本語教育界の強い結束力と支援に大いに励まされ、希望を見出すことができました。この場をお借りして、ご支援とご協力をいた
だいた皆様に心から感謝申し上げます。

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Conference Report: The 30th Central Association ofTeachers of Japanese Conference

MARIKO M. WEI, PURDUE UNIVERSITY

The 30th Central Association of Teachers of Japanese (CATJ 30), co-hosted by DePaul University
and Purdue University, was held at DePaul's Lincoln Park Campus on April 20th, 2024. Dr. Nobuko
Chikamatsu from DePaul University and I had the pleasure of organizing this exciting event, which
served as another milestone in uniting language professionals from the Midwest and beyond toadvance Japanese language education.
This year's conference theme, "Collaboration Across Interdisciplinary Communities, Borders, andLanguages," highlighted the transformative shifts in language instruction since the onset of thepandemic. It facilitated exchanges of insights and discussions aimed at promoting inclusive andcollaborative pedagogy. The conference attracted 71 attendees, including Japanese instructors from
K-16 education levels and researchers in Japanese linguistics, literature, and pedagogy, andfeatured twenty-seven thought-provoking presentations that provided inspiration and fresh ideas toparticipants.
Our keynote speaker, Dr. Yoshiko Mori, Professor of Japanese at Georgetown University and the2024 President of AATJ, delivered an inspiring plenary talk titled "Beyond Borders: Shaping the
Future of Japanese Language Education in the Era of Diversity and Collaboration." She examined
the major theoretical frameworks of second language acquisition developed over the past three
decades and discussed the future trajectory of Japanese language education. She also highlighted
the essential qualities required of Japanese language teachers in response to the changing
educational landscape.
As CATJ 30 concludes, Dr. Chikamatsu and I are filled with profound gratitude for everyone who
contributed to making this conference a tremendous success. Firstly, we extend heartfelt thanks toall our presenters and attendees. The discussions and exchanges have not only enriched ourcollective knowledge but have also sparked innovative ideas that will undoubtedly influence
Japanese language education for years to come. Secondly, we are grateful for the support from theConsulate-General of Japan in Chicago, the Japan Information Center, and the Illinois Associationof Teachers of Japanese (ISTJ), which strengthened and enriched resources and networking
opportunities for the participants. Lastly, we extend our immense gratitude to our sponsors—DePaul
University Research Council, Purdue University School of Languages and Cultures, and the JapanFoundation Los Angeles—which enabled us to provide financial aids to eleven presenters, including
graduate students, K-12 educators, and college junior faculty.

We look forward to seeing many of you again at ICJLE 2024!
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Virtual Language Advocacy Days 2024

YOSHIKO MORI

Virtual Language Advocacy Days 2024, Empowering Multilingualism & Global Engagement, a twoday world language education advocacy and networking event organized by the Joint National
Committee for Languages and the National Council for Languages and International Studies (JNCLNCLIS), took place online on February 27-28, 2024.
This was an opportunity for language educators and advocates to meet with federal legislators on
Capitol Hill to request sponsorships for important language-related bills and support for full fundingfor crucial language education programs. The focal advocacy points for this year are outlined asfollows:
1. Co-sponsor the World Language Education Assistance Program (World LEAP) ACT (H.R. 5603).
World LEAP creates a multi-year, competitive grant program open to all K-12 school districts toestablish, improve, and carry out world language dual language programs.
2. Co-sponsor the Biliteracy Education Seal and Teaching (BEST) ACT (H.R. 700/S.3595). This is
the revised Biliteracy Educational Seal and Teaching (BEST) ACT, which would provide funding
to states to establish, improve, and implement Seal of Biliteracy programs.
3. Co-sponsor the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad ACT (H.R. 4588/S. 2261). This helps higher
education institutions sustainably expand study abroad opportunities for undergraduate students
in the United States.
4. Support retaining the language attainment research provision in the Advancing Research in
Education ACT (AREA) (S. 3392). This mandates that the Department’s Statistics Center“collect, report, analyze and disseminate statistical data…” related to K-12 and higher education
on “the availability of, and access to, foreign language coursework.”
5. Support full funding for key language education programs, including the World Language
Advancement and Readiness Act (WLARA) programs, Title III grants, Title VI grants including
Fulbright-Hays and STARTALK, a federal grant initiative funded by the National Security
Agency, and the Native American Language Resource Center (NALRC) programs.
As a resident of Virginia, I, along with representatives from regional organizations of language
professionals, met with the representatives of Senator Tim Kaine, Senator Mark Warner, andRepresentative Gerry Connolly, to garner support for and advance language education legislation.
You can find more information about the event and legislation at the following link: JNCL-NCLIS
Virtual Language Advocacy Days 2024: Empowering Multilingualism & Global Engagement.
As a member organization of JNCL-NCLIS, AATJ continues to advocate for world language
education in alignment with JNCL-NCLIS. Additionally, resources for advocacy of Japanese
language education can be found on the AATJ website, AATJ Advocacy.

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America's Languages Caucus 2024
ANN JORDAN
Language education is facing many challenges currently. Japanese language teachers are
fortunate to have organizations such as AATJ, local affiliates, government entities such as the
Embassy of Japan, various regional consulate offices, and the Japan Foundation, as well as
various other critically important supporters. But did you know that there are also U.S.
government lawmakers who support and share our mission?
The America’s Languages Caucus is a bipartisan caucus founded in 2019 by Representatives
David Price (D-NC) and Don Young (R-AK) in the US Congress. In 2021, the Senate version of
the caucus was established by Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).
The caucus recognizes the cultural, economic, and national security benefits of language
proficiency and supports policies that advance language learning opportunities at all levels, K12
through Higher Ed as well as funding that supports language education.
The congressional co-chair of the America’s Languages Caucus is Congressman Jimmy Panetta(D-19), who recently received the California Language Teachers Association President’s Award,
given to individuals outside of the teaching profession who have demonstrated extraordinary
support for language education. Rep. Panetta is also the sponsor of the World Language
Education Assistance Program (World LEAP) Act, to establish a first-of-its-kind world languageand dual language education grants program for K-12 schools.
JNCL-NCLIS (Joint National Committee for Languages and the National Committee for
Languages and International Studies) recently announced some exciting news, particularly
for Japanese language teachers. Joining Democratic Congressman Panetta as co-chair of
the America’s Languages Caucus is Republican Congresswoman Jen Kiggans of Virginia.
Not only is leadership of the caucus now bipartisan, it includes someone with a directconnection to Japan. Rep. Kiggans is a naval aviator who first went to Japan as a highschool student with Youth for Understanding, taught English as a JET, and later lived forthree years at Atsugi Naval Air Station in Kanagawa-ken.
She said, “As someone who taught English in Japan as a part of the Japan Exchange andTeaching Program and later lived there as a Navy spouse, I have a deep understanding andgreat appreciation for the critical role language education plays in the lives of countless
Americans and our friends across the globe. I am excited to work alongside my colleague
Congressman Panetta to advocate for legislation that will help American students learn
additional languages and allow them to thrive in our increasingly connected world!”
And we are excited to have an advocate on the America’s Languages Caucus with a Japan
connection!
For more details on the caucus’s work, please take a look at their website. And while you’re onthat page, check to see which congresspersons and senators for your affiliate state(s) aremembers of the caucus. If so, the local affiliate officers can send an email or letter thanking thelegislator for being a member of the America’s Languages Caucus. And if not, encourage themto join. It’s a good way to share our voices with the people who make decisions that affectlanguage programs.
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Working Local, Thinking Global:
Networking Night with Japanese Companies in the United States

YOSHIKO MORIOn February 27th, the Embassy of Japan hosted a networking event in the DC area, which brought
together businesspersons, undergraduate and graduate students, and JET alumni. The event
commenced with a panel discussion titled “Working Local, Thinking Global: Networking Night withJapanese Companies in the United States,” featuring insights from four prominent businesspersons
from across the United States. During the discussion, panelists and attendees shared theirperspectives on career development.
Following the panel discussion, I, in my capacity as the AATJ President, delivered a speech aimed at
inspiring young attendees to consider teaching as a viable career path. I emphasized threecompelling aspects of the teaching profession: abundant opportunities for personal and professional
growth, a high degree of autonomy and trust, and a favorable work-life balance. My intention was tounderscore the fulfilling nature of teaching and convey the AATJ’s belief in the profession’s rewarding
potential.

Networking event at the Japanese Embassy

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MAY 2024

2024 Junior Japan Bowl Report

SCHOOLS

文責：フォックスミル小学校 大塚紀子

Asahi Gakuen, CA (NEW 2024!)

全米の小中学生による日本語と日本文化の知識・理解を競うナショナル・ジュニアジャパン
ボウル(J2B)が４月２６日（金）にオンラインで開催されました。第８回目の開催となる
今年は、昨年の大会から３割以上参加者が増え、全米十州より２６校、５１7名の生徒が参加しました。大会では二人～三人のチームを組みKahootというゲームで競います。今年のトピックは、日本語（挨拶・教室で使う表現・擬音語・擬態語・ことわざ・漢字）、地理、歴史（室町、安土桃山、江戸）、伝統文化（歌舞伎・能・和菓子）でした。

Bunsold Middle School, OH (NEW 2024!)

ジュニアジャパンボウルは、MAATJ地域のK-16の日本語教師と保護者が構成する日本語教育
アドボカシーネットワーク(J-LEARN)のボランティアが１年がかりで企画運営するプロジェ
クトです。大会開催の主旨は、全米で日本語を学ぶ小中学生が安心して楽しく参加できる
日本語・日本文化のイベントを提供することにより、１）日本語学習者の裾野を広げること、２）学校のカリキュラムでは学べないであろう日本語・日本文化学習の機会を提供し熱烈な日本ファン・理解者を育成すること、３）各地の日本語プログラムのアドボカシー活動の一翼となること、などが挙げられます。また、大会を通じて、アメリカの保護者の皆さんに日本大使館や商工会をはじめとする米国における日本関係の産官学の支援や存在に親しんでいただくことも意識しております。これらの目標実現のため、J-LEARNはDEIへの配慮も含め、参加費無料・学校ごとの参加チーム数の制限も設定しない方針の開かれた大会を目指しております。また、Google SlideのスタディーガイドやトピックごとのQuizletやKahoot等の全教材を公開提供することで、先生方の負担を最小限にしつつ生徒が楽しく自主学習できるようにし、大会前には無料の勉強会やソフトウェア練習会を通じて参加者のサポートを行っております。

Brown-Barge Middle School, FL (NEW 2024!)
Dunsmore Elementary School, CA (NEW 2024!)
Elkins Pointe Middle School, GA
Fox Mill Elementary School, VA
Great Falls Elementary School, VA
Hayfield Secondary School, VA
Intercultural Montessori Language School, IL
International Charter Academy of Georgia, GA
James Cooper Middle School, VA
Jane Addams Junior High School, IL
Kelly Middle School, OR
Langston Hughes Middle School, VA (NEW 2024!)
Liberty Middle School, VA (Team with LHMS,
NEW 2024!)
Larkspur Middle School, VA (NEW 2024!)
Milwaukee Doyoukai Japanese Saturday School,
WI
Omni International School, GA
Presidio Middle School, CA
Rachel Carson Middle School, VA
Richmond Elementary School, OR
Rosemont Middle School, CA (NEW 2024!)
South Academy of International Languages, NC

さいごに、大会の開催に際し、在米日本大使館、ワシントン商工会、ワシントン日米協会、
国際交流基金ロサンゼルス日本文化センター、ジョージワシントン大学東アジア国立リソー
スセンター、及びブルボンUSAをはじめとする多数の日系団体・企業の皆様のご支援に主催者一同心より感謝申し上げます。また、生徒が参加できるようご協力くださった先生方にもお礼申し上げます。今後とも皆様のお声を聞きながらよりよい大会になるよう工夫を重ねて参りますので、ボランティアによる手作りの大会、そして日本が大好きな小中学生を応援してくださいますよう、お願いいたします。

Thomas Dooley Elementary School, IL
Verdugo Woodlands Elementary School, CA(NEW 2024!)
Washington Japanese Heritage Center, MD

2024 NATIONAL JUNIOR JAPAN BOWL REPORTJ-LEARN Website

MAY 2024

2024 Program

2024 Junior Japan Bowl Reportby Noriko Otsuka, Fox Mill ES, VA

The 8th National Junior Japan Bowl, a quiz bowl-style Japanese language and culture competition, was held online on Friday, April 26,
2024. This year's event witnessed spirited participation from elementary and middle school students across the United States.
This year’s event welcomed 517 students representing 26 schools spanning 10 states. The competition delves into diverse topics
encompassing Japanese language, geography and transportation, history from the 14th - 19th centuries, performing arts, andtraditional sweets. Students compete in teams of two to three players. The game is facilitated via Kahoot digital games, and thequestions are designed to test the participants' knowledge and understanding of these subjects.
The Junior Japan Bowl (J2B) is a project planned and operated over the course of one year by volunteers from J-LEARN (Japanese
Language Education Advocacy & Resource Network), comprised of K-16 Japanese language teachers and parents in the MAATJ region.
The main purpose of holding the J2B is to provide a reassuring and enjoyable event on Japanese language and culture for elementaryand middle school students learning Japanese nationwide, with objectives including 1) broadening the base of Japanese language
learners, 2) fostering enthusiastic Japan fans by providing opportunities for learning Japanese language and culture not covered inschool curricula, 3) contributing to advocacy efforts for Japanese language programs in various regions. Additionally, through thetournament, we aim to familiarize American parents with the support and presence of Japan-related industry, government, andacademia in the United States, including the Japanese Embassy and chambers of commerce. In pursuit of these goals, J-LEARN aims tohold an open tournament with consideration for DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), offering free participation and no limit on thenumber of teams per school. Furthermore, we provide all teaching materials, including Google Slides study guides and topic-specific
Quizlet and Kahoot, to minimize the burden on teachers while allowing students to enjoy self-directed learning. Prior to the tournament,
we also offer free study sessions and software practice sessions to support participants.
Finally, J-Learn would like to sincerely thank all the teachers and parents who invested their time and efforts for the Junior Japan Bowl
participants. J-Learn will continue to strive to incorporate feedback to improve the Junior Japan Bowl. The 8th National Junior Japan
Bowl stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of educators, parents, and students in fostering cultural understanding andlinguistic proficiency—the achievements of the students who invested in learning about the Jr. Japan Bowl topics fill us with immense
pride. Reflecting on this enriching experience, we anticipate continued engagement and growth of the Japan Bowl in the Japanese
Language education community in the U.S.

WINNING TEAMSLEVEL 1

1

（GR.1-3）

SACHI POTLURI, ELLIE ZHAO, ZAC SUNGGREAT FALLS ES, VA

LEVEL 2

（GR.4-6）

LEVEL3（GR.7-8)

CHRISTOPHER KIM, VIVIENNE SUNG, RINAPOTLURI, GREAT FALLS ES, VA

JAMIE SCHEID & SANA RODRIGUEZ
COOPER MS, VA

HIBIKI MIRABLE, RIHO HARADAWILLIAM DALTON, VIR NAKRA, SIMON PYLE
FOX MILL ES, VA

EMMA JANIN & MAGNOLIA THOMPSONMILLY TRAN, RACHEL CARSON MS, VA

3AVE BALLA & EDEN BALLAOMNI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, GA

NOAH DELMANZO & ROCCO SMITH
GREAT FALLS ES, VA

WINTER CHUANG & MARLEY MAGSAYSAYPRESIDIO MS, CA

4

DANIEL SANTOS, MONA ZADA, VERONIKA
SANTOS, FOX MILL ES, VA

EMMA TRAN, MIKA TOSCANO, YUKI MEEHANFOX MILL ES, VA

LYNKA BACHER, OLIVIA LAI, MIKA BUSH
ROSEMONT MS, CA

KYOTO HAMPSON & HARUKI IKEDA
THOMAS DOOLEY ES, IL

LUKE MALLETT & CHRISTPHER MALLETT
KEISHO CENTER, MD

2 INTERNATIONAL CHARTER ACADEMY OF GA

CAROLYN MCVAY, KALIZE MUNAKATA, MAI
5 HAGIWARA,
VERDUGO WOODLANDS ES, CA

VOICES FROM STUDENTS

I learned that the Jr. Japan Bowl was a journey. You II prepared by doing the Kahoots on the website andmust work hard, practice, and do your best. It’s not studying on the study guide packet. I also preparedJapan’s geography and everything about it justeasy, but that’s the leap you got to take. I prepared by studying the study guide every day with my little
makes me want to go there more, and when I do, it
by working with my peers, doing manybrother. The best part of the experience was bookwill probably be the best thing in my life. I will bepresentations, and quizzing myself afterward. The buddies! At first, my book buddy was really shy, butable to help my family around, and I will get tomost rewarding thing about the Junior Japan Bowl is now whenever I see her she gives me a hug. I also had
witness Japan with my own eyes, which will be an
the self-pride you get after all the work and effort fun creating and presenting the presentations to myamazing sight. (Kara A., Level 2 student)
you put into it. (Ambry H., Level 2 student)
first-grade book buddy. (Sutton H., Level 2)2024 NATIONAL JUNIOR JAPAN BOWL REPORTMAY 2024

VOICES FROM AUDIENCE AND STUDENTS
It was a great opportunity for my students tolearn about topics not covered in our
immersion school. The students enjoyedworking and studying with their teammates.
(Teacher, Verdugo Woodlands Elementary)
My daughter loved her team and enjoyedstudying and preparing with her team! She
loved getting to compete and getting to workwith her teammates to answer questions!
Seeing the girls' faces when they answered aquestion right was priceless! (Level 1 parent)

問題を見ると、ほとんど分からないものばかりでした。特に歴史の問題が難しくて、私が理解できる問題はほとんどなかったです。外国の小学校でこんなにも難しいことを学んでいるな
んて思ってもいなかったので、おどろきました。外国の小学生
が、日本のことを学んでいるなんて思いもしませんでした。
日本に興味を持ったり、日本について調べたりしてくれてうれしかったし、感動しました。
私も、もっと日本のことを勉強して、みんなにたくさんのことを教えることができる身になりたいと思いました。
これからも日本に興味を持ち続けてもらいたいと思いました。
反対に、私も英語やアメリカについての勉強を頑張りたいと思いました。(New student from Japan )INDIVIDUAL WINNERS
LEVEL 1

（GR.1-3）

LEVEL 2

（GR.4-6）

I prepared for the Japan Bowl by making
presentations, doing the Kahoots assigned as
homework, and reviewing the study guide as much as
possible. I also had a couple of study sessions with myteammate. I also “studied” castella up close andtasted it. Honestly, this whole competition was agreat experience while I was teaching my peers andyounger kids about this great country. My favorite
part might be making the presentations. I like that
because I can be creative, work on somethinginteractive, learn, and teach others at the same time.
I also liked competing against my peers from otherparts of America. I loved this competition so much,and I will definitely do this again.
(Claire G., Level 2)

LEVEL3（GR.7-8)

1

ELLIE ZHAOGREAT FALLS ES, VA

VIVIENNE SUNGGREAT FALLS ES, VA

LUCIA ISHIIHAYFIELD SS, VA

2EDEN BALLAOMNI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, GA

CHRISTOPHER KIM
GREAT FALLS ES, VA

SANA RODRIGUEZ
COOPER MS, VA

3 INTERNATIONAL CHARTER ACADEMY OF GA

RINA POTLURIGREAT FALLS ES, VA

JAMIE SCHEID
COOPER MS, VA

HIBIKI, MARABLE
4 INTERNATIONAL
CHARTER ACADEMY OF GASAKURA KANEKOASAHI GAKUEN, CA

EMMA JANINRACHEAL CARSON MS, VA

5

WILLIAM DALTON
FOX MILL ES, VA

MAGNOLIA THOMPSONRACHEAL CARSON MS, VA

KOICHI WARABE,

KANAHDE MARABLE INTERNATIONAL
CHARTER ACADEMY OF GA

J-LEARN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEESUPPORTERS

Dr. Lisa Lackney
George Washington
University East Asia
National Resource Center
Title VI Grant support

Owen Wang
George Washington
University East Asia
National Resource Center
Study Material Support

Maya Rodriguez
Langley High School, VA
Study Material Support
Video Editing

Kioko Letteney
South Lakes HighSchool, VA
Study Material Support

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AATJ Officers, Directors and Staff
Officers
President: Yoshiko Mori (Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.)
President Elect: Nobuko Chikamatsu (DePaul University, IL)
Immediate Past President: Shingo Satsutani (College of DuPage, IL)
Vice Presidents: Mieko Avello (Miami Palmetto Senior High School, FL), Stephen Luft (Univ. of
Pittsburgh, PA)

Directors
Global Network: Junko Mori (University of Wisconsin, Madison)
Newsletter: Ellen Bearn (World of Learning, IU 8, PA)
Professional Development: Yoshiko Saito-Abbott (California State University, Monterey Bay)
Advocacy Co-directors: Junko Tokuda Simpson (University of California, San Diego), Patricia
Breun (Madison Country Day School, WI)
Diversity and Inclusion Co-directors: Will Matsuzaki (All Saints Episcopal School, TX), Yasuko
Takata Rallings (Wake Forest University, NC)
Nengajo Contest: Andy Scott (Kamehameha High School, HI), Mako Nozu (University of South
Florida, Tampa)
Japanese National Honor Society: Kumi Kobayashi (Los Gatos High School, CA), Yayoi Takeuchi,(University of North Texas, Denton)
National Japanese Exam: Tomomi Sato (University of Virginia)
Fall Conference (ACTFL-affiliated): Nobuaki Takahashi (Elizabethtown College, PA), Yuko Prefume(Baylor University, TX), Jaime Tateyama Gusman (Moanalua High School, HI)
Spring Conference (AAS-affiliated): Jae DiBello Takeuchi (Indiana University), Yoshihiro Mochizuki(University of Michigan)

Staff
JLPT Assistant: Yoshie Arima
Membership Assistant: Maiko T. Bacha
JLPT Coordinator: Michiyo Colclasure
Executive Director: Susan Schmidt

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Contact social media director Junko Tokuda Simpson HERE!

American Association ofTeachers of Japanese, Inc.
Campus Box 366
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309-0366