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What is the Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education?

The Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education is the governing body for Japanese language schools.
The Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice in Japan approves entrance to Japan for foreign students with the objective of studying Japanese language ONLY TO institutes approved by the Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education. The student visa they enter on is called 'shugakusei'.

The Association was formed to remove poor quality Japanese language education providers and to promote higher standards. Since the founding of the Association the number of accredited institutes has steadily dropped from over 600 to under 280. This process is continuing. The Yamasa Institute was a founding member and has been consistently one of the strongest supporters of higher standards in this field and a pace setter in improvements.

The following information was provided by the Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education.

"Along with the development of international relations between Japan and other countries, the number of foreigners desiring to learn Japanese is increasing. In Japan, the increase in the number of Japanese language education institutions aimed at these foreigners has been of particular note in the last few years. There are institutions that offer high quality education with clear education objectives, but there are also institutions that offer inferior conditions in regards to Japanese language education. These inferior education institutions have problems in management etc., which are an inconvenience for the student, and in general, have become a social problem.

In response to these problems the "Standard for Management of Japanese Language Education Institutions" was developed in December of 1988 by the Cooperative Research Council of the Ministry of Education, along with cooperation from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The purpose of this "Standard" was to remove problem institutions, improve the quality of Japanese language education, and to ensure that all areas of Japanese language education were worry-free and of a high quality.

The Japanese Language Education Promotion Association is an organization with the objective of improving the quality of Japanese language education institutions by granting approval to those conforming to the "Standard," and by providing training for school personnel. The Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education was formed in May 1989 as a result of hard work and effort by volunteers and specialists from Japanese language education institutions. The Association received approval as a juridical foundation from the Education Minister and the Justice Minister in February of 1990.

Presently institutions in Japan that specialize in Japanese language education for matriculation must receive an investigation by this Association to check for compliance with the "Standard for Management of Japanese Language Education Institutions". This approval of compliance with the "Standard" is a prerequisite. Along with the inspection/approval function, the Association publishes an outline of Approved Japanese language institutions. The Association also participates in information exchanges with related institutions inside the country and throughout the world. Research in the development of Japanese language education material, promotion of continued training for Japanese language teachers, guidance for new students concerning living conditions in Japan and holding Japanese speech contests, are also part of the well-rounded operation of the Association.

The association, along with the direction, leadership, and assistance of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is expected to be effective in the maintenance and improvement of the standard of Japanese language education institutions in the future."

(by The Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education)

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If any of the information in this file is unclear, or if you need more detailed information, please click here and read the study/applications section of the FAQ before contacting us. Best regards, Declan Murphy.

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