Japanese from Scratch: Shodo – An Introduction to Japanese Calligraphy

13 March 2013 from 6.30pm

The Japan Foundation, London

 

Learn the basics of Japanese writing while creating your own calligraphy…

Japanese from Scratch is a Japanese language and culture workshop from the Japan Foundation London, suitable for those who are interested in learning Japanese but haven’t started yet, or those who have just started learning.

This month’s workshop theme is Shodō: An Introduction to Japanese Calligraphy

The course will teach you to:

• Uncover the basics of Japanese writing
• Learn the techniques of Japanese calligraphy
• Create your own beautiful piece of calligraphy

The course will be led by Hiroko Tanaka, Japanese Language Advisor at the Japan Foundation London. Instructions and explanations will be in English.

The course fee is £5.00, which includes all necessary calligraphy materials. This must be paid in cash on the day of the event – we regret that we are unable to accept credit cards or cheques.

Advance booking is essential. This workshop is limited to 20 people.

The deadline to apply is Friday, March 8th 2013.

 

Japanese from Scratch

 

29 August 2012 from 6.30pm

The Japan Foundation, London

Japanese from Scratch is a new series of Japanese language and culture workshops from the Japan Foundation London, suitable for those who are interested in learning Japanese but haven’t started yet, or those who have just started learning.

:: This evening’s theme: Travel in Japan

Learn how to make the most of your experience in Japan,including:

– Professional advice & tips for travellers
– Essential Japanese language, including greetings, dining and etiquette
– Access to information from travel companies

Date & Time: August 29th 2012, 18:30 – 21:00 (Registration from 18:00)

This workshop is for those intersted in travelling to Japan, Japanese culture or learning Japanese. Instructions and explanations will be in English.

:: Speakers

Yumi Takakubo  Trade Partnerships & Marketing Manager
Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO)

Seiji Fukushima  Chief Japanese Language Advisor
Japan Foundation London

:: Fee and Booking

Fee: Only £5.00 – Includes Japanese food and drink taster, and a small Japanese gift. The fee must be paid in cash only on arrival. We cannot accept cheques or credit cards.

Booking: Please click here to book online
*The registration form uses Google Forms and is subject to Google’s standard terms and conditions of use. Alternatively, you may register by downloading and printing the PDF application form below, completing it by hand and sending it to the Japan Foundation.

Advance booking is essential. This workshop is limited to 100 – strictly first come, first served.

This is event is co-organised by the Japan Foundation London and the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO).

*The registration form uses Google Forms and is subject to Google’s standard terms and conditions of use. Alternatively, you may register by downloading and printing the PDF application form below, completing it by hand and sending it to the Japan Foundation.The registration form uses Google Forms and is subject to Google’s standard terms and conditions of use. Alternatively, you may register by downloading and printing the PDF application form below, completing it by hand and sending it to the Japan Foundation.

*The registration form uses Google Forms and is subject to Google’s standard terms and conditions of use. Alternatively, you may register by downloading and printing the PDF application form below, completing it by hand and sending it to the Japan Foundation.The registration form uses Google Forms and is subject to Google’s standard terms and conditions of use. Alternatively, you may register by downloading and printing the PDF application form below, completing it by hand and sending it to the Japan Foundation

 

Motto Yomu Chikara: Bridging the gap from GCSE to AS Level Japanese

13 July 2012 from 10.30am

he Japan Foundation, London

“Motto Yomu Chikara” is a brand new resource, funded by the Japan Foundation’sJapanese Language Local Project Support Programme. Designed to complement the Japan Foundation’s successful Chikara resources for GCSE Japanese, the trial version ofMotto Yomu Chikara consists of three units of reading texts and grammar exercises along with cultural information to help students bridge the gap between GCSE and AS level. The trial version of this resource has been completed and over 60 CDs have seen sent out to teachers of AS Japanese. The trial version can now also be downloaded here.

This workshop will open with an introduction to the Japan Foundation’s Chikara resource. The authors of Motto Yomu Chikara will then explain how this new resource works, and how to use it within the classroom. Finally, participants will have the opportunity to discuss how best to utilise Motto Yomu Chikara for effective teaching of GCSE and AS Level Japanese.

Speakers (authors of Motto Yomu Chikara):

• Michiyo Kato Freelance Japanese Teacher
• Shoko Middleton Japanese Teacher, Greenford High School
• Sachiko Yamaguchi Japanese Teacher, King Edward VII School

For more information and an event schedule, please click here.

 Download MYCWorkshopFlyer

Developing Intercultural Competence through Language Education

30 June 2012 from 12.00am

Japan Foundation, London

Intercultural competence is embedded into most national language education curricula and into trans-national policies such as the CEFR. However, the role of teachers in facilitating the development of intercultural competence among their students is still evolving, with many areas for further research. In this seminar, we will examine some of the main frameworks of intercultural competence in language education and analyse their usefulness in language education. Next, we will look at links to the CEFR and will introduce the Autobiography of Intercultural Encounters, also produced by the Council of Europe. Finally, we will then hold a discussion on the ways in which teachers can incorporate intercultural learning into their own classroom practice within ever-present time and curriculum constraints.

Entry:     £3.00 for both BATJ members and non-members

 

Speakers:  Lynne Parmenter and Yuichi Tomita  Please note the seminar will be held partly in Japanese, and partly in English.

 

Entry:     £3.00 for both BATJ members and non-members
Speakers:  Lynne Parmenter and Yuichi Tomita
Please note the seminar will be held partly in Japanese, and partly in English.

For further information click here.

Japanese Cinema for Busy People – Part 3

 

13 June 2012 – 11 July 2012

The Japan Foundation, London

Looking to expand your knowledge on Japanese cinema? The Japan Foundation is inviting those fascinated by all things cinema, or all things Japanese, to join the third series of Japanese Cinema for Busy People.

Whether you are a dedicated cineaste or a casual moviegoer, all are welcome to join and enjoy! Experts in the field will hold lectures assessing significant topics in Japanese cinema, past and present. As a complement to the BFI and Japan Foundation season Two Masters of Japanese Cinema: Kaneto Shindo & Kozaburo Yoshimura, fill your Wednesday evening with a cinema lecture – without having to do any of the homework!

Dates: 13th, 20th, 27th June, 4th, 11th July – Every Wednesday

 

Week 1 – Wednesday 13 June 2012 – 6.30pm

Beyond Rashomon: A Golden Age of Japanese Cinema, but for Whom?
by Jasper Sharp (Writer and Film Curator)

Jasper Sharp will look beyond the Japanese filmmakers of the 1950s championed in the West to focus on the technological and industrial developments of the era considered the ‘Golden Age’ of Japanese cinema.

 

Week 2 – Wednesday 20 June 2012 – 6.30pm

Fidelity, High and Low: Japanese Cinema and Literary Adaptation
by Lauri Kitsnik (University of Cambridge) 

Lauri Kitsnik will consider how the relationship between literature and film has developed through various periods of Japanese cinema and the way literary classics have been reinterpreted for the screen.

 

Week 3 – Wednesday 27 June 2012 – 6.30pm

The Meaning of Independence in Japanese Cinema: Production, Distribution and Exhibition
by Julian Ross (University of Leeds)

Julian Ross will discuss the meaning of independence in the context of Japan’s film history, and examine the alternatives in distribution, production and exhibition whilst investigating what exactly is gained and lost with the decision to turn independent.

 

Week 4 – Wednesday 4 July 2012 – 6.30pm

Collaboration or Exploitation? The Relationship Between Japanese Directors and their Stars
by Tony Rayns (Writer, Film Critic and Programmer)

Tony Rayns will explore the creative relationships between Japanese directors and their stars, many of which instigated by contractual bounds under the Studio system, and how recurring actors can be both fruitful and restraining in film production.

 

Week 5 – Wednesday 11 July 2012 – 6.30pm

What’s Happening Now in Japanese Cinema?
by Dr Rayna Denison (University of East Anglia)

Dr Rayna Denison will investigate the history behind the rise of thenew “big hit” cycle of Japanese filmmaking and ask why these films are so successful and why, despite their domestic success, they often remain hidden from (English) view.

To register, please e-mail event@jpf.org.uk with your name and the session you would like to attend.

Japanese from Scratch: Let’s Eat Japanese Food!

28 March 2012 from 6.00pm

The Japan Foundation London (later moving on to a local Japanese restaurant)

Get a flavour of the Japanese language while enjoying authentic Japanese food!

Japanese from Scratch is a new Japanese language and culture workshop from the Japan Foundation London, suitable for those who are interested in learning Japanese but haven’t started yet, or those who have just started learning.

This month’s workshop theme is “Let’s Eat Japanese Food!”

The course will teach you to:

:: Identify different kinds of Japanese food, by their correct Japanese name

:: Exchange simple greetings in Japanese and say basic phrases with appropriate manners

:: Use chopsticks correctly and elegantly

:: Eat Japanese food like a connoisseur

In this workshop, you can learn how to:

• Identify different kinds of Japanese food, by their correct Japanese name
• Exchange simple greetings in Japanese and say basic phrases with appropriate manners
• Use chopsticks correctly and elegantly
• Eat Japanese food like a connoisseur

The course will be led by Seiji Fukushima, Chief Japanese Language Advisor at the Japan Foundation London. Instructions and explanations will be in English. Please click here for more information, including the timetable.

The course fee is £20.00, which includes an authentic Japanese meal at a London restaurant. This must be paid in cash on the day of the event. Please note that the dishes served at this event are representative of typical Japanese cuisine, and vegetarian options are limited.

Advance booking is essential. This workshop is limited to 25 people – first come, first served.

The deadline to apply is March 21st.

For more information click here.

Japan Foundation at the 2011 Language Show Live

21 October 2011 – 23 October 2011 from 10.00am

National Hall
Olympia Exhibition Centre
Hammersmith
London
W14 8UK

Come and see the Japan Foundation at the 2011 Language Show Live – the UK’s largest language event.

We welcome all Japanese learners, teachers, and anyone else with an interest in sharing or learning about Japanese language and culture.

The Japan Foundation exhibit will feature:

:: Fun Japanese language games and quizzes, including the chance to win a Japan Foundation goodie bag!
:: A name-writing corner – learn how to write your name in Japanese
:: Origami – learn how to make Japanese kabuto (samurai’s helmet) simply from folding paper
:: The chance to practice Japanese with native Japanese speakers
:: Stacks of information about learning and teaching Japanese language, and advice from Japan Foundation staff

Additionally, we will be holding a FREE Japanese language taster session on Friday October 21st, from 15:00 to 15:30.  Tickets will be issued by Language Show organisers on the day and will be given out based on a first come first served basis, so we recommend that you get to the show early to avoid disappointment. Class tickets are available to collect from the ‘Taster Class Ticket Desk’.

The Japan Foundation will also be sharing the stand with JP-Books, who offer a large range of Japanese language learning materials.

Click here to read about Japan Foundation’s activities at last year’s Language Show.

Register in advance for the language here for FREE entry!  We look forward to meeting you!

Ho deciso!

Inizio un’altra volta a studiare Giapponese. Lo so, non e’ la prima volta che scrivo su questo Blog che riprendo a studiare Giapponese pero’ questa volta sono determinato . Da domani??? un’ ora di studio al giorno. Vediamo come va a finire questo piano poco realistico. A presto un aggiornamento dei miei progressi.

I’ve taken a very important decision! From tomorrow I’ll start again to study Japanese. I know… it is not the first time that I mention on this Blog that I want to start again Japanese but this time I’m very determined. To start, 1 hour per day of revision. I’ll soon inform you on my progress.

Japanese language

The post on the Japanese Language Proficiency Test published few days ago reminded me of what I had planned before the beginning of the year as part of my New Year’s Resolution, learn Japanese. Well… let me tell you that, as usual, after a good start I kind of stopped studying the language. The Japanese girl I’ve been dating is trying to push me to study and is happy to help me but I think that it wouldn’t work, I want a girlfriend not a teacher. I need to find a way of keeping myself motivated. Any ideas?

Japanese Language Proficiency Test

For the first time ever, the Japanese Language Proficiency Test will now be held twice a year in the UK.

The first test will be held on Sunday, July 3rd 2011.  It will be held at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

Applications are now open!  You can now apply online through the SOAS website here.

Click here for more information about the JLPT.

School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG

Penpals

Se stai cercando amici Giapponesi o di altri paesi ti consiglio di controllare alcuni dei siti che ho messo qui sotto. Avere Penpals e’ un ottimo modo per fare conoscenza con persone di culture diverse ed e’ anche un modo molto efficace per migliorare la conoscenza di una lingua straniera. Spero che i link qui sotto possano esservi utili.

If you are looking for new friends from Japan or other countries you should consider to join a Penpals website. Having a Penpal/s is a good way of learning from a person or people of different cultures but it also is a very useful way to practice a foreign language. I hope you find the links I published on this post useful.

Interpals

Penpalworld

Japan-Guide

TomoBook

Il Circolo Italiano-Giapponese

Nihongo

Questo pomeriggio ho finalmente iniziato ripreso a studiare Giapponese. Causa lavoro ed impegni vari 3.5 anni fa’, con grande rimpianto,  avevo smesso di studiare la mia lingua preferita (Giapponese) dopo un periodo di studio durato quasi 4 anni. In quel periodo avevo provato, qualche volta senza grosso successo, diversi metodi di apprendimento, usato vari libri e flash cards (Kanji cards) fino a raggiungere un discreto livello, anche se, base. Tra i vari metodi provati ci sono stati corsi in college (i migliori tenuti da Soas, University of London), lezioni private (Alpha) e language exchange con studenti Giapponese che volevano studiare Italiano o praticare l’Inglese. Molti i libri utilizzati nei 4 anni di studio, da quelli troppo semplici ad alcuni veramente complicati. Da consigliare:

• Minna no Nihongo (vari livelli)
• Japanese for Everyone
• Hyakuman nin no Nihongo (vari livelli)
• Genki (vari livelli)

Oggi ho preso in mano Minna no Nihongo I ed ho studiato/ripassato le prime due lezione. Devo dire che mi ricordo molto, ed ho trovato lesson 1 e 2 piuttosto semplici anche se immagino appena il livello aumenta avro’ piu’ difficolta’. Domani ripassero Hiragana sperando di non aver dimenticato tutto.

Obbiettivo? Beh, senza obbiettivo no penso di andare lontano anche perche’ al momento voglio ripassare/studiare da solo senza sprecare soldi per lezioni varie cosi ho deciso di dare  a fine anno il JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) per tenermi motivato. Quale livello? Vediamo piu’ avanti.