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The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles Newsletter
November, 2018: Breeze Issue #133
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Greetings!
Japanese language teachers, it is that time of the year again to get together at ACTFL World Languages Expo this year in New Orleans! It is not only a great opportunity to update your teaching skills but also to expand your network with fellow teachers in other states and even with those of other world languages. JFLA will host a spacious booth for you to hang out and chat with our staff as well as some J-LEAP participants. And if you have been too busy to answer our online JLE survey, we will have a station where you can complete the survey right on the spot!
At JFLA, we regularly welcome groups of students to enjoy Japan-related fun activities, and our most recent program was simply a blast! A group of high school students engaged in Sumo wrestling, not an actual bout, but with paper-crafted wrestlers. Prior to their visit, they learned about the history and culture of Sumo in class, along with some Japanese vocabulary associated with this traditional Japanese sport. Making a unique paper wrestler is a creative process that requires a lot of trial and error and communication among your team mates. And above all, it was totally safe and fun! I do recommend this activity for teachers who are always on the lookout for interesting cultural activities in your classroom.
Whether you are a teacher, an artist, or just a fun-loving soul, we always have something for you here at JFLA!
Sincerely,
Hideki Hara, Director
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Bilingual Yoga at Lunchtime
Wednesday, November 7
12:30PM & 1:00PM (20 Min Sessions)
Free Admission
Wellness Wednesdays: We offer Wellness programs on Wednesday at lunchtime!
November 7 is Yoga day! In this program, no need to change clothes or use a yoga mat; you will be seated in a chair receiving relaxing instruction from a bilingual (English and Japanese) instructor. Learn simple Japanese phrases during the instruction and stretch your mind as well as your body.
There will be two free sessions beginning at 12:30pm and 1:00pm. No reservation necessary, all are welcome.
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Wooden Chopsticks, Metal Chopsticks: Grab Japanese and Korean Culture Through the Languages
Wednesday, November 7 @7PM
Free Admission, RSVP Required
Japan and Korea are neighboring countries that share many similarities and contrasts in customs and language. For example, both countries use chopsticks but did you know that the types of chopstick are different? What other similarities or differences do these countries share?
In this lecture, by sampling video clips from various Korean and Japanese programs, we will explore some unique aspects of the two cultures, especially as it connects to how people communicate with one another. After the lecture, you will enjoy a tasting of Korean and Japanese food and beverages and be able to "grab" an understanding of the two cultures! No language knowledge is required.
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Free Japanese Cinema Screening
Let's Go, JETS! (121mins, 2017)
Directed by Hayato Kawai
Wednesday, November 14 @7PM
Free Admission, No RSVP Required
Hikari (Suzu Hirose) joins high school cheer dance club for the sole reason of cheering on a boy she has known from their junior high days. However, the club's coach, Saotome (Yuki Amami), is a harsh and no-nonsense task master who suddenly declares: "Our aim is to become U.S. champions! No fringes or boyfriends allowed!"
Read More
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2018 ACTFL Annual Convention and World Languages Expo
November 16 - 18 (Ernest Morial Convention Center)
Booth: #1724, Part of the Japanese Pavilion
Visit our booth to meet our staff as well as select J-LEAP participants, who will be helping us promote Japanese language education. We will be giving away a wide range of goods and conducting our triennial survey of Japanese language education, so don't miss it!
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Lecture & Panel Discussion
Re-Imagining Kurosawa
Monday, November 26 @7PM (Japan House Los Angeles)
Free Admission, RSVP Required, Save the Date!
Academy Award winning Filmmaker, Film Producer and Screenwriter Akira Kurosawa (March 23, 1910 - Sept 6, 1998) was one of the greatest filmmakers of our time, who inspired many of the world's greatest filmmakers such as George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola. Kurosawa's ground-breaking masterpieces inspired such classic movies as Star Wars, The Magnificent Seven, and A Fistful of Dollars, to name just a few.
In this lecture, Dr. David Desser will help you "Re-Imagine Akira Kurosawa" as he provides you unique insight into Kurosawa and his classic film, High and Low(1963), which was adapted from Ed McBain's detective novel King's Ransom.
Panel
d
iscussion/Q&A
session follows the lecture (s
pecial
g
uest
p
anelists
:
TBA
).
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Free Japanese Cinema Screening
Tremble All You Want (117 mins, 2017)
Directed by Akiko Ooku
Wednesday, November 28 @7PM
Free Admission, No RSVP Required
24-year-old office employee Yoshika (Mayu Matsuoka) has a secret crush on her former junior high school classmate Ichi (Takumi Kitamura), but then her colleague Ni (Daichi Watanabe) asks her to be his girlfriend.
Read More
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Next Tea Time
Thursday, December 6 @7PM
Save the Date!
JFLA organized a special Halloween version of its popular
Tea Time event on Tuesday, October 23rd. There were a total of 70 participants including Japanese language learners and native Japanese speaker. Many came in costumes including a vampire and a bee and at the end of the event; we had a costume contest with 18 contestants. Six finalists were selected and through Janken (Rock, Paper, Scissors), "The Brawny Man" won.
Thanks to
JapanCrate.com for supporting this event by providing the winner of the contest with a limited edition premium Japan crate!
Thanks to everyone who attended and if you didn't get a chance this time, the next Tea Time will be on Thursday, December 6th at 7PM.
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FY2019-20 Program Guidelines Available NOW!
Arts and Culture Deadline: Multiple
Japanese Language Deadline: Monday, December 3rd, 2018
New for this year is the
Fellowship for Research on Japanese Art implemented by the Japan Foundation with the generous funding from the Ishibashi Foundation. This program aims to support the development of professionals specializing in the study of Japanese art by providing an opportunity for curators and researchers to conduct research in Japan, and promote the study of the field and the introduction of Japanese art outside of Japan.
For information on
Japanese Language Programs, please visit:
There are multiple Teacher Training Programs including Basic (long-term), Japanese Language, Japanese Teaching Methods (short-term), and training program on a Specific Theme.
For Specialists, there is a 2-month and 6-month program.
Your application must ARRIVE at JFLA on or before December 3, 2018 for Japanese Language Programs. Please also notify us of your intent to apply in advance.
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2019-2021 J-LEAP: Now Accepting Applications for Lead Teachers
Deadline: Thursday, January 17, 2019
Are you interested in inviting a Japanese Assistant Teacher (AT) to your K-12 classroom for up to two consecutive school years? Do you want to give your students an opportunity to learn and hear Japanese from a native speaker or an additional native speakers for some variation? If so, make sure you apply for J-LEAP, which was started in 2011 with the help of the Laurasian Institute (TLI). We will also be posting articles written by current J-LEAP participants starting with this issue. This month, we would like to welcome Ippei Watanabe who is currently at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, IL.
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2018-19 JAPANESE LANGUAGE GRANTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE
We still have one grant program remaining for the Fiscal Year 2018-19 to support Japanese-Language Education in the United States.
The
Japanese-Language Education Project Grant (Deadline: 2 months prior to project start date).
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Japanese Language Education Update 60:
Kamizumo, a fun class activity idea!
On Thursday, October 25 students from Don Bosco Technical Institute came to visit our Japan Foundation, Los Angeles for a class field trip! The class, led by Ritsuko Rowe, was treated to a full program of activities about various aspects of Japanese culture and language, such as encounters with the language and a shamisen performance by our grants specialist Mike Penny.
One of the activities that we provided was kamizumo (paper sumo), led by our PR and events coordinator Miyako Matsumura. Prior to the event, the students were introduced to the world of sumo in their classroom by their teacher (see links below), with an explanation of its rules, key Japanese vocabulary, and its culture, learning little-known tidbits in sumo such as common naming conventions among sumo wrestler rikishi and how judges officiate the matches.
Then, during the field trip program, students had the chance to create their own sumo wrestlers and challenge each other in a kamizumo tournament! This game is played on a "ring" on which competitors tap repeatedly in order to move their fighters that they created out of paper. Whoever steps out of the ring or falls down loses.
Thus, in addition to introducing a traditional Japanese pastime and sport, this activity pulls together several different skills. It was an exercise of creativity because students all designed their own personal sumo wrestler. It was an exercise of scientific trial-and-error to find the best "build" for our paper sumo wrestlers. Some went for large, imposing figures, while other chose to go smaller. One student, for example, mused that a solid base would offer the most stability. It was an exercise of communication, and giving each other ideas on what makes the "strongest" paper sumo wrestler. Needless to say, all students were able to create their own kamizumo with their own diverse characteristics, to express themselves through them, and of course to have fun!
You may be interested in changing things up for your own classroom; regardless of the variation, we hope this will help inspire you in your lesson planning!
Thank you very much Don Bosco, and best wishes in your studies!
Links about sumo culture:
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2018 Survey on Japanese Language Education
Want to help further support and learn more about Japanese language education in the US? Are you a Japanese teacher or administrative staff with a Japanese program at your school? Please make sure you complete our survey this month! Visit https://jpsurvey.net/jf2018/ to participate (contact [email protected] for your unique ID and PW). We will also be at ACTFL this November - please stop by!
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Columbia Heights Education Campus Receives Japan Foundation Grant
A Japan-themed afternoon at DC Public Schools' Columbia Heights Educational Campus, as DCM Kazutoshi Aikawa joined singer Ka-Na! DCM Aikawa also delivered The Japan Foundation 国際交流基金 grants to support Columbia Heights Educational Campus upcoming Japanese language classes, as well as Globalize DC's Japanese Plus program.
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Georgia Institute of Technology Receives Japan Foundation Grant
In a special event on September 13, the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Modern Languages welcomed the Japan Foundation to campus for the presentation of $30,000 in funding. Consul General Shinozuka of the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta presented a check for funds to School Chair Anna Westerstahl Stenport. The funds will support technology enhancements in the Modern Languages Japanese Program, including the development of more online courses.
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Washington State University and Sandpoint Waldorf School in Idaho Receives Japan Foundation Grant
The Japanese Language Program at Washington State University and Japanese Language Courses at Sandpoint Waldorf School in Idaho have been selected as the recipients of Japan Foundation's"Salary Assistance Grant for Japanese Language Courses" for 2018-2019. A Consulate staff member recently paid a visit to the two schools and hand-delivered the grant.
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Washington State University and Sandpoint Waldorf School in Idaho Receives Japan Foundation Grant
The Soga Japan Center had a ceremony to accept the Salary Assistance Grant for Japanese-Language Courses from the Japan Foundation Los Angels on September 21, 2018. The grant will support all Japanese language related programs which Soga Japan Center provides on campus and off campus. The Deputy Consul General of Japan, Ms Yuki Sakai, visited WMU for the first time to attend the ceremony.
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