Language Policy in Asian Tertiary Institutions: Focus on Japan James W. Tollefson International Christian University

Indigenous Languages Okinawan (Ryukyuan): –1.3 million in the region Ainu: 25,000 –300,000 elsewhere in Japan –300,000 outside Japan

Changes in the number of registered foreign nationals by major nationality (place of origin) Changes in the number of registered foreign nationals by major nationality (place of origin) 607, , , ,394 Korea China Brazil Philippines Peru

Changes in the number of registered foreign nationals and their percentage of the total population in Japan Changes in the number of registered foreign nationals and their percentage of the total population in Japan Percentage of Population

Policy Changes: 1998 Foreign language classes required Higher proportion of total hours Shift to communication skills Extend to primary schools

“ Japanese with English Abilities ” Three levels of ability –Basic communication in elementary schools –Conversational ability in secondary schools – English for employment in tertiary education

Implementation Motivation for oral language “Super-English language high schools” Raise teachers’ English ability 1000 additional assistant teachers Promoting Japanese culture

Population Decline 2006: million 2040: million 2050: million

Population of 3 Major Age Groups: TOTAL

Sophia University: Faculty of Liberal Arts For many, those careers will involve working for international companies or companies with international business dealings, where postings away from the home country and interaction with colleagues of different nationalities will be daily occurrences. The university must prepare its students to live in this globalized world... (Sophia University, 2006).

Tama University: Faculty of Global Studies The goal of the Faculty of Global Studies is not to foster specialists who might make an immediate impact in their field, but rather to provide sound general education grounded in an interdisciplinary approach...Not only the classes but all announcements and paperwork will be in English...more than 60% [of the faculty] will be non-Japanese native speakers [of English]. All staff members will be bilingual. (Tama Univ., 2006)

Examples of code-switching among students (intrasentential) I just haven’t been full of genki-ness lately. [I just haven’t been full of energy lately.] What are we sawagi-ing about? [What are we all excited about?] (Source: Nakamura, 2004)

Examples of code-switching among students (affective) I have two midterms…Ita! (bumps into table) [I have two midterms…ouch!] He’s choo cool. [He’s so cool.] (Source: Nakamura, 2004)

Number of Japanese Students Studying Abroad USA 46,810 (59.9%)

Number of Foreign Students by Region and Country of Origin (2004) China 59, %