Online Workshop for Japanese Language Teachers – 21st Feb 2025

JALSTA (Japanese Language School Teachers Association), in collaboration with the Japan

Foundation, organized an online workshop on February 21, 2025. The workshop aimed to provide teachers with an opportunity to explore 21st-century skills and their integration into the CBSE syllabus. Hosted by Chiaki Suzuki, Japanese Language Advisor at JFND, the session offered valuable insights into modern teaching methodologies and skill development for educators.

Workshop Details:

しゃかいのへんかとにほんごきょういく 21st century skills

Ms. Nitasha Sharma, Japanese Language Lecturer at the Japan Foundation, conducted an

insightful session on 21st-century skills. She highlighted the need to evolve teaching

methodologies in response to advancements in AI, technology, globalization, and information technology. Emphasizing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, she underscored the importance of cultivating critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and digital literacy among students. She provided a brief overview of the KSAVE framework (Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes, Values, and Ethics) as a comprehensive approach to 21st-century education.

Towards the end of the session, teachers engaged in a discussion on integrating 21st-

century skills into Japanese language teaching. They shared various classroom activities, such as creating an Ikebana Garden to explore Japanese culture, using dumb charades for

vocabulary learning, practicing conversations and conducting group activities. The

participants unanimously agreed on the significance of encouraging students to converse in

Japanese as much as possible to enhance language proficiency.

Participation in teacher training program in Japan

Shristi Sachar who participated in the teacher training program conducted in Japan shared her valuable experience. The Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa organizes training programs for those currently working as Japanese-language teachers teaching outside of Japan. The training programs are

• Basic Training Program [Six Months]

• Japanese Language Program [Seven Weeks]

• Comprehensive Teaching Methods Program [Four to Six Weeks]

  
  

Teachers with a minimum of two years of experience are eligible to apply for this program. She shared various activities conducted during the training and reflected on her experience of living in Japan. She emphasized that participating in the program significantly enhanced her Japanese language teaching skills, leading to an increase in students this year.

Insta chat

Jaspreet Sensei and Vandana Sensei conducted a session on writing Instagram post, which is

part of the 10th-grade CBSE curriculum. They highlighted key points to consider while

teaching students how to write effective posts. For students unfamiliar with Instagram,

teachers may need to provide a brief introduction of the platform. They also emphasized that, since Instagram is primarily used to connect with close friends and family, posts should be written in casual Japanese. Additionally, the content should be concise, focused on the given topic.

Information about Olympiad 2025 will be shared in the next workshop.

Conclusion

The workshop was highly beneficial for teachers, who expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn from experienced educators and gain valuable insights. It also provided a platform for teachers to connect, exchange ideas, and share their knowledge. The event reflected JALSTA and JFND’s dedication to advancing Japanese language education in India.