Exploring the International Standardization of Japanese-Language Education - Lessons from the CEFR - Katsumi Kakazu

1. Trends in Japan’s Language Education Policy Meiji Restoration ( ) Emergence of “National Language” Focus on Western European languages Showa Restoration (1930s) Nationalism and hegemony “National Language” spreads overseas After 1945 Over emphasis on English education “National Language” education under democratic rule

2. Language Education in Elementary and Secondary Education Japanese-language education Foreign language education ⇒ Japanese-language education in democracy-based “National Language” ⇒ Over emphasis on English education ⇒ JET (The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme, 1987)

3. Globalization and Japanese-Language Education “2003 Survey of Overseas Organizations Involved in Japanese-Language Education”

4. Glocalization and Japanese-Language Education Relations between Japan and neighboring countries International economic relations (China, South Korea, ASEAN) Internationalization within Japan ◎ Expansion of employment of workers of Japanese descent (Amendment to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law, 1990) ◎ Employment of other foreign workers (Ex: Conclusion of Japan-Philippines EPA, 2006)

5. International Standardization of Japanese- Language Education Establishment of “Standards for Japanese- Language Education” (provisional title) Comprehensive Open-ended Flexible Creative A process, not a finished product Conducive to networking Non-binding Revision of the “Japanese-language Proficiency Test” ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓

6. Base for Overseas Operations Chinese-language education: ⇒ Confucius Institute Japanese-language education: ⇒ Lady Murasaki Institute? ⇒ Fukuzawa Yukichi Institute? ⇒ Murakami Haruki Institute?

The Japanese Language and its Policies: The 6 “!” Japan did not have a language policy! Japan is a monolingual society! Need Japanese language aimed at coexistence! World Englishes & World Japaneses! Language culture should be diverse! Japanese-language education has international widespread impact!