National Japanese Adviser
Kaori Fukazawa is the National Japanese Adviser at Future Learning Solutions - Centre for Languages (currently based in Saitama, Japan and working online).
She has been involved in language education in different contexts. She has taught English at secondary schools (Years 8 to 10) in Japan and then shifted to being a Japanese language teacher. Kaori completed a Masters of Japanese Language Teaching (Professional) at Akita International University. During her study at AIU, she was interested in the course design based on the learner-centred approach as well as the Japanese prosody. As a Japanese language teacher, she has worked for different learning purposes in Japan and in Egypt. She has studied both Egyptian Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic. In Romania, she has worked as a Japanese language education specialist, dispatched from the Japan Foundation.
Learning a language is challenging at times but Kaori believes that it enriches the learner's life and promotes intercultural awareness.
She is looking forward to working with teachers in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Teachers of Japanese in New Zealand may benefit from the professional support offered by the following organisations:
New Zealand Association of Japanese Language Teachers (NZAJLT)
A subject association supporting teachers and students of Japanese in New Zealand.
Find out more >
NZJ-Net list serve
This email group for teachers of Japanese is an excellent source of information and resources. It is also the primary medium through which organisations advertise opportunities, scholarships, grants and other important information for teachers and students. To register, send an email to nzjnet-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
New Zealand Association of Language Teachers (NZALT)
A professional network of language teachers with over 500 members. It runs a number of initiatives designed to support teachers in the classroom including competitions and professional development opportunities.
Find out more >
Embassy of Japan
Important information about Japanese culture and education can be found on the Embassy’s website. The website includes information about scholarships, education programmes and resources for students and teachers. Find out more >
Sasakawa Fellowship Fund for Japanese Language Education
This fund initiates and supports existing projects which enhance Japanese language learning and Japanese studies in New Zealand schools and tertiary institutions. Find out more >
Asia New Zealand Foundation
A leading non-government organisation on Asia-New Zealand relations, the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s education programme provides information, resources and professional development opportunities to help school leaders develop students with the skills and knowledge they will need to embrace future prospects in Asia. Visit www.asianz.org.nz
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Hai! An introduction to Japanese. TProvides multi-media materials designed for teachers and students who are new to language learning. The series is designed for year 7 and 8 students and supports Level 1 and 2 achievement objectives in Japanese.
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The Japan Foundation Sydney and London: classroom resources developed by the Japan Foundation.
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Erin’s Challenge: online support which supplements the teaching material on this popular DVD.
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NIHONGO eな Portal for Learning Japanese is a site dedicated to introducing all kinds of websites and online tools useful for studying Japanese.
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Ready Steady NihonGo! is an interactive language project designed by the Japan Foundation London office targeted at primary school students level.
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Japan Video Topics: offers a comprehensive view of Japanese culture such as nature, science and technology, and tourism.
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Kanji Cards for NCEA levels 1-3: how to download Motoya kyotai, Kanji Cards 1, Kanji Cards 2, Kanji Cards 3
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Japanese posters for expressions in classroom: Part one ; Part two.
TKI Learning Languages
The Learning Languages Community is a portal to professional learning opportunities, professional support for the New Zealand Curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, resources and key links for language teachers. Learning Languages publishes regular newsletters to keep language teachers informed about important deadlines and events. Find out more >
The Japan Information and Cultural Centre
Run by the Embassy of Japan and provides a variety of free informational services on Japan and offers opportunities to learn about Japanese culture through diverse programmes. Find out more >
The North Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence (CAPE)
The North Asia CAPE is funded by government to work in two priority areas: encouraging New Zealanders (especially school and university students) to learn Chinese, Japanese, or Korean and to enhance their understanding of North Asia's diverse cultures; and supporting kiwi businesses, particularly SMEs, seeking to internationalise.
Visit http://www.northasiacape.org.nz
