Language Policy in Asian Tertiary Institutions: Focus on

Japan

James W. Tollefson James W. Tollefson

International Christian UniversityInternational Christian University

Indigenous Languages

• Okinawan (Ryukyuan):– 1.3 million in the region

• Ainu: 25,000– 300,000 elsewhere in Japan– 300,000 outside Japan

　　 Changes in the number of registered foreign Changes in the number of registered foreign nationals by major nationality (place of origin)nationals by major nationality (place of origin)

607,419607,419

487,570487,570

286,557286,557

199,394199,394

Korea

China

Brazil

Philippines

Peru

Changes in the number of registered foreign Changes in the number of registered foreign nationals and their percentage of the total nationals and their percentage of the total

population in Japanpopulation in JapanPercentage ofPopulation

Policy Changes: 1998

• Foreign language classes required

• Higher proportion of total hours

• Shift to communication skills

• Extend to primary schools

“Japanese with English Abilities”

• Three levels of ability– Basic communication in elementary schools– Conversational ability in secondary schools– English for employment in tertiary education

Implementation

• Motivation for oral language

• “Super-English language high schools”

• Raise teachers’ English ability

• 1000 additional assistant teachers

• Promoting Japanese culture

Population Decline

• 2006: 126.12 million

• 2040: 100.05 million

• 2050: 88.33 million

Population of 3 Major Age Groups: Population of 3 Major Age Groups: 1884-20501884-2050

TOTAL

15-64

65+

0-14

Sophia University: Faculty of Liberal ArtsSophia University: Faculty of Liberal Arts

For many, those careers will involve working for international companies or companies with international business dealings, where postings away from the home country and interaction with colleagues of different nationalities will be daily occurrences. The university must prepare its students to live in this globalized world. . . (Sophia University, 2006).

Tama University: Faculty of Global StudiesTama University: Faculty of Global Studies

The goal of the Faculty of Global Studies is not to foster specialists who might make an immediate impact in their field, but rather to provide sound general education grounded in an interdisciplinary approach. . .Not only the classes but all announcements and paperwork will be in English. . .more than 60% [of the faculty] will be non-Japanese native speakers [of English]. All staff members will be bilingual. (Tama Univ., 2006)

Examples of code-switching among stuExamples of code-switching among students (intrasentential)dents (intrasentential)

I just haven’t been full of genki-ness lately.

[I just haven’t been full of energy lately.]

What are we sawagi-ing about? [What are we all excited about?] (Source: Nakamura, 2004)

Examples of code-switching among Examples of code-switching among students (affective)students (affective)

I have two midterms…Ita!

(bumps into table)

[I have two midterms…ouch!]

He’s choo cool.

[He’s so cool.] (Source: Nakamura, 2004)

Number of Japanese Students Studying Number of Japanese Students Studying AbroadAbroad

USA46,810(59.9%)

Number of Foreign Students by Region and Number of Foreign Students by Region and Country of Origin (2004)Country of Origin (2004)

China59,40665.1%