A New Title for JATJ

At the fall meeting of the ATJ Board of Directors in Boulder on September 23, the Board voted to change the title of the Association's journal to Japanese Language and Literature: Journal of the Association of Teachers of Japanese. The change will take effect with Volume 35, Number 1 (spring 2001). There has been strong sentiment in favor of a title change for several years. The crux of the matter is that the journal's present title does not accurately reflect its content and therefore misleads tenure-and-promotion committees. This problem has been particularly serious for our colleagues who specialize in Japanese literature.

The first formal title change proposal came from Haruo Shirane of Columbia University when he was a member of the Board, but concerns about continuity in library cataloging persuaded the Board to delay action. Those concerns have since been addressed, and when I raised the issue again in Boulder, the Board acted with dispatch. As a matter of fact, this is technically the second title change in the journal's history. In ATJ's early years there was no separate newsletter, and the first several volumes of the journal bore the title Journal - Newsletter of the Association of Teachers of Japanese. This is why JATJ has a double ISSN: 0885-9884 0004-5810. When I notify the Library of Congress National Serials Data Program of the new title change, we will see our ISSN extended by yet another eight digits.

Timothy J. Vance , Coordinating Editor

Bridging Project News

The Bridging Project to promote study abroad in Japan will be awarding scholarships to the fourth group of Bridging Scholars this month. The awardees will study in Japan beginning in Spring 2001. New contributors to the scholarship fund this year include Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Merrill Lynch, Weyerhauser, Lockheed Martin, AIG, and IMCA. Funds for the scholarships are raised by the United States-Japan Bridging Foundation, which is administered by the Japan-US Friendship Commission. Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, in addition to contributing to the Bridging Scholarship fund, sponsored an essay contest for students attending study-abroad programs in Japan for the full 2000-2001 academic year. More than thirty of last spring's Bridging applicants submitted essays to the contest, and two scholarships worth $10,000 were awarded, to Ya-Wen Hsu (University of Washington) and Kathy Wei-Ya Lu (Harvard University). MSDW sponsored the contest as part of a program commemorating its thirtieth anniversary in Japan.

Of Interest at ACTFL 2000

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign languages (ACTFL), in affiliation with American Association of Teachers of German, American Association of Teachers of Italian, Chinese Language Teachers Association, National Council of Japanese Language Teachers, and Massachusetts Foreign Language Association, will hold its 34th Annual Meeting and Exposition November 17-19, 2000, in Boston, Massachusetts. More than 500 sessions will be offered at ACTFL 2000. Following are some sessions that may be of interest to ATJ members, including more than 20 sponsored by NCJLT. For further information, please contact ACTFL by e-mail at actflhq@aol.com or by phone at (914)963-8830.

THURSDAY, 11/16

"What Makes Japanese Language Education in Australia a Success" (5:00-6:15 p.m., Berkeley A&B). Conducted in Japanese. Presenters compare current state of Japanese language education in Australia and that of the U.S. based on fieldwork study in Australia and focuses on Japanese language policy and teacher education programs.

FRIDAY, 11/17

"Connecting the 5 C's in a Thematic Unit" (9:30-10:45 a.m., Berkeley A&B). Focuses on the process of developing a thematic unit and ways of assessing students' learning processes and outcomes.

"Internet Activities for Dummies: Japanese Standards-based Instruction for Everyone" (9:30-10:45 a.m., Clarendon A&B). The Internet can be a powerful tool for implementing Standards-based instruction at all levels. Presenters introduce two sample Standards-based curricula and sample activities for FLES and college-level programs which illustrate the feasibility of Internet use.

"Japan Foundation Luncheon" (12:30-2:30 p.m., Boylston Park Rm.). Tickets may be purchased on site on a space-available basis.

"Avoiding the Middleman: How to Take Students to Japan on Your Own" (2:45-4:00 p.m., Clarendon A&B). Commercial tours and exchanges are not always appropriate for every group of students that want to visit Japan. Do's and don'ts for successful "do-it-yourself" exchange visits to Japan are shared by those who have experience with customized, affordable trips.

"Completing the Picture: Japanese K-12 Program Oral Proficiency Video Assessment" (2:45-4:00 p.m., Berkeley A&B). The process and products for developing a K-12 Japanese partial immersion program oral proficiency videotaped interview assessment tool are presented along with its effect on student performance and classroom instruction.

"What is Language Education for ALL Students?" (2:45-4:00 p.m., Convention Center #207). In keeping with our National Standards that language study is for everyone, the panelists discuss the challenges of how and what to teach while holding and expressing high expectations as educators are confronted with learners with a broad range of abilities.

"Japanese Language Promotion in High Schools" (4:15-5:30 p.m., Berkeley A&B). Presentation of a project to increase enrollments in Japanese programs by using specific actions/activities that motivate students and parents for Japanese study.

"Professional Development in Japan: Fellowships and Opportunities" (4:15-5:30 p.m., Clarendon A& B). This session focuses on opportunities for professional development in Japan that are currently available to non-native teachers of Japanese and prospective teachers. Past participants will also present their experiences and discuss the programs from a teacher's perspective.

"A New Photo-Based Approach to Culture and Foreign Language Education" (5:45-7:00 p.m., Berkeley A&B) Introduction of methods for creating simulated encounters with Japanese students to teach language and culture using new material entitled "Deai: The Daily Lives of Seven Japanese High School Students."

"Japanese as a Heritage Language for the 21st Century: A Students' Perspective" (5:45-7:00 p.m., Clarendon A&B). Conducted in Japanese. Discussion of "nikkei" college students' motivation to learn Japanese, attitudes and feelings toward Japanese as a heritage language and culture.

"Japanese Close-Up: Award-Winning Distance Learning Curriculum for Japanese 1, 2 and 3" (5:45-7:00 p.m., Convention Center #107). Presentation and discussion of a curriculum for Japanese 1, 2 and 3 including pedagogy and curriculum content for distance teaching.

SATURDAY, 11/18

"Measuring Standards: The Oregon Model" 8:30-9:45 a.m., Berkeley A&B). Outline of standards-based and proficiency-based assessment developed in Oregon.

"Summer Intensive Study Abroad Programs in Japan: Challenges and Solutions" (8:30-9:45 a.m., Clarendon A&B). Some solutions to problems of intensive study abroad language program such as diverse background and proficiency of students and their lack of study time due to spending time with their host families are presented.

"2000 Solutions: Expanding the Community of Learners" (10:00-11:45 a.m., Convention Center #203). Offers a forum on language learners of the 21st Century. Will address the diverse needs of heritage and adult learners, as well as implementation of the Standards and the importance of critical thinking in a multicultural world.

"Integrating Language, Learning Strategies, and Content into Elementary Immersion" (10:00-11:45 A, Independence West). Presenters describe and model the National Capital Language Resource Center's elementary foreign language curriculum, which focuses on integrating learning strategies into the language and content curriculum. Strategies to teach at each grade level, a curriculum framework, and sample lessons are provided also for Japanese.

"Student Beliefs/Attitudes about Language Learning" (10:00-11:15 a.m., Independence East). Presentation of the results of questionnaires distributed to students of 12 languages during the first semester of a new curriculum at Duke University. Student beliefs and changes in attitudes during the semester are compared across levels and languages.

"NCJLT General Membership Meeting" (1:30-2:45 p.m., Independence East). Annual meeting of the National Council of Japanese Language Teachers which serves K-16 Japanese language teachers nationwide.

"Preparing 21st Century Language Learners Through Stereotype Awareness and Reduction" (1:30-2:45 p.m., Convention Center #204). Stereotypes that students have can affect their language learning. Presenters explore how stereotypes can be recognized and reduced through language teaching and learning strategies.

"Asian Languages at the Elementary Schools" (4:30-5:45 p.m., Independence East). This session focuses on how and what to teach elementary school children learning Asian languages and cultures while reflecting on materials and methods already being used by teachers of ESL, Spanish, French, German, etc.

"Teachers and Learners' Perceptions of Gendered Language in Japanese" (4:30-5:45 p.m., Clarendon A&B). Presentation of results of a survey study conducted in Australia regarding teaching and learning gendered language in Japanese and its implications for pedagogical policy development in teaching.

"Research SIG Poster Session and Business Meeting" (4:30-5:45 p.m., Convention Center #111). Included are poster presentations on "Effect of Negative Feedback in a Collaborative Task"; "Learning Styles and Epistemological Beliefs of Learners of Japanese as a Foreign Language"; "College Language Learners' Anxiety and their Use of Learning Strategies"; "Teaching Japanese Culture in California's Public High Schools: A Case Study"; "The Acquisition of the Japanese Place Marker Particle O"; "Do Learners of Japanese Read Differently for Different Purposes?"

"Tired of Teaching English Grammar in Your Foreign Language Class?" (4:30-5:45 p.m., Convention Center#204). Participants learn how to give students the grammatical background they need to learn a foreign language so that class time can be devoted to the learning of the target language.

"Developing Applied Learning Skills through Projects" (6:00-7:45 p.m., Clarendon A&B). Conducted in Japanese. Improving students' Applied Learning skills through projects and the re-examination of lesson plan with National Standards and Applied Learning skills to improve students' content knowledge and their critical thinking skills.

"Japanese Evening Japanese Students Taiko Performance" (7:30-8:30 p.m., Sheraton: Back Bay Ballroom). A performance of Taiko by Nosaka Taiko group consisting of 17 Japanese middle school students and students from a local middle school. Tickets will be given out at the NCJLT meeting and at their booth.

SUNDAY, 11/19

"Chinese Characters: Teaching and Learning in American Universities" (8:30-9:45 a.m., Gardner A&B). Three papers will be presented: "The Teaching of Chinese Characters at the Entry Level"; "Characteristics of Teaching Chinese Characters to Chinese Heritage Learners"; "Study Methods Employed by American Students in Memorizing Chinese Characters."

"Teaching Japanese with On-line Technologies" (8:30-9:45 a.m., Berkeley A&B). Three papers will be presented: "An Overview: On-line Technologies for YOU"; "Improving Reading Skills with Web Materials"; "Teaching an On-line Japanese Class."

"K-12 Articulation, Curriculum Development and Advocacy in Glastonbury, CT" (8:30-9:45 a.m., Convention Center #112). Presentation of standards-based K-12 curriculum scope and sequence in Chinese, French, Japanese, Spanish, and Russian.

"Creating Materials and Courses on the Web for Beginners" (10:00-11:45 a.m., Berkeley A&B). How to create teaching materials or a course on the Web is introduced as well as their pros and cons.

"Developing Presentational Skills of Communication in Oral Production, Text Handling and Writing Production at the Beginner and Intermediate Levels" (10:00-11:45 a.m., Clarendon A&B). Conducted in Japanese. Addresses improving students' presentational skills of communication in oral production, test handling and writing production using several different methods and strategies for beginners and intermediate students.

"Factors of Learner Anxiety in Non-Cognate Critical Languages" (12:15-1:30 p.m., Convention Center #205). Presentation of a study of factors and sources of learner anxieties unique to students in non-cognate languages such as Arabic and Japanese.

"The LangNet Resource for Japanese Language Teaching Materials" (12:15-1:30 p.m., Berkeley A&B). Demonstration and discussion of the LangNet on-line database of resources for teaching and learning Japanese. The database will provide customized lists of resources (all media) for learners who fit various profiles or have special requirements, such as heritage learners or students who need extra reading practice.