Recent reflections

Abstract

　I would like to address young Japanese language instructors who are teaching Japanese in Japan. If possible, you should at some point try teaching Japanese abroad, particularly in Europe, and inform Japanese language instructors there of new developments in the field. Abroad you will also be able to have experiences unavailable in Japan, which will allow you to re-examine your teaching methods and see Japan from a new perspective.

　It is said that Europe has only 3.4 percent of the learners of Japanese, but there is a great variety of types of learners, and they are all very serious in their own way. For example the learners in France have great respect for Japanese culture, and may even feel deeply attracted to kanji. By opening yourselves to such feelings, and helping them in their learning of Japanese, you would already be forming a vital locus for communication between France and Japan. Consequently I have recently strongly felt how learning of Japanese language in Europe is impossible to separate from knowledge of traditional and modern Japanese culture.