Career Formation for Learners of Japanese Abroad

For the Fostering of Global Citizens

Abstract

Learners of Japanese abroad are not limited to adults who are learning Japanese as a foreign language in institutions that provide Japanese language instruction. In this era of increasing personal mobility, factors such as immigration and international marriage mean that learning Japanese must be seen in the context of people whose lives span the globe, transcending distinctions of Japan/abroad or Japanese/foreigner. In order to foster such global citizens, one must not compartmentalize people and their lives between Japan and abroad, but view their lives as a single continuum, and find ways to support the significance of each individualʼs life. For this purpose, professionals in teaching foreign languages, teaching Japanese as a foreign language, teaching Japanese as a native language, and in teaching non-language subjects, must coordinate their activities and develop a plurilingual education framework that will enable people to find their place in society.