2005 年 12 巻 2 号 p. 36-37
The number of foreign residents in Japan has been increasing nationwide. In Tokushima prefecture, too. This number has been increasing. More than 6000 foreign residents from over 60 nationalities live in Tokushima as of December 31, 2004. Along with increasing number of foreign residents in Tokushima, demand for Japanese classes has also been rising. However, the budget for the Japanese classes has decreased year by year due to a tight Prefectural budget. Because of this situation, the Tokushima Prefectural International Exchange Association (TOPIA) will open one volunteer class by non paid Japanese teachers in addition to existing classes. Furthermore, TOPIA will eventually change existing Japanese classes to volunteer classes, as well. To prepare for this, TOPIA has had cultivation classes on how to teach Japanese to foreign people for those who would like to support foreign people in Japanese.