日本語教師のキャリア形成――日本語教育機関の教師へのインタビューを手がかりに――

抄録

This study focuses on teachers at a Japanese language school in order to explore the process of the language teachers’ own self-realization, taking the viewpoint of career development. Interviews with three teachers form the basis of the study.

The senior teacher places great value on the fact that she is recognized by her students and colleagues as being able to provide education that can produce results. However, this education is not simply instruction in language skills. Since it involves understanding of the various difficulties students experience in transferring to a new culture and helping them to participate in society, it is also education that mediates between the students and Japanese society. As this teacher is responsible for Japanese language education, her work is appreciated and she is recognized as a useful person. As such, she is steadily pursuing this course; aware that this is a way of life that suits her well.

The veteran teacher understands the role of the Japanese language teacher to be one of helping students develop the foundations that enable them to think and act freely without adhering to their own culture and values. He believes that, if he can be present as students realize their own themselves and he can feel that he has assisted them, that in itself is his reward and therein lies the value of the teacher’s work. His ideal is to be a teacher who can feel this value, which is reflected in his self-realization.

The moderately experienced teacher responds that working as a Japanese language teacher gives her the opportunity to encounter diverse cultures and values. As well as enriching her own perspectives and promoting her growth, she feels that this gives the teacher’s work value and is a way of life that suits her well.

Up to now, studies and practice on intercultural education have focused on people transferring to a new culture. However, in the present age of multicultural societies, it has become even more important to clarify the development and psychological processes of those who deal with people transferring to a new culture. In the future, we hope that many studies and practice of this kind will arise in the field of intercultural education.