Eastern Michigan University

Department of Foreign Languages and Bilingual Studies

Proposal for Graduate Certificate Program

Japanese Language Teaching Certificate Program

Submitted by Hitomi Oketani-Lobbezoo, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Japanese Section

1. General Description of the Program

The Japanese Section would like to develop a Graduate Certificate Program in Japanese Language Teaching. The Department of Foreign Languages and Bilingual Studies at Eastern Michigan University teaches modern languages both for their inherent humanistic value and for their practical application in today’s international world of work and careers. The fundamental goal of the proposed Graduate Certificate Program in Japanese Language Teaching is to assist students in attaining the equivalent of an advanced level of proficiency in Japanese language; in acquiring more knowledge of the geography and cultures of the regions where Japanese language is spoken; and in improving overall teaching effectiveness. The program is designed to have a strong international character through student enrollment from Michigan and other states, as well as other countries such as Japan.

This program is intended to provide graduate level education for those who already possess K-12 Japanese Teaching Certification, and those who want to expand on their existing Japanese teaching knowledge and techniques. This program is not intended for those who are currently seeking to obtain K-12 Japanese Teaching Certification.

Courses within this interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate Program will be offered both by the Department of Foreign Languages and Bilingual Studies, in the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as by the Department of Teacher Education, in the College of Education, in order to provide students with an advanced level of proficiency in the Japanese language, strongly supported with advanced knowledge of current issues in Japanese language teaching.

The appeal of the proposed graduate certificate program to students, its international reputation, and its academic strengths will provide a solid foundation for eventual expansion into a Master’s program (MAFL). Admission standards for the proposed certificate program will be consistent with the university’s regular graduate admission standards.

2. Goals and Objectives

The goal of this Graduate Certificate Program: Japanese Language Teaching Program is to assist applicants in attaining the equivalent of a superior level of proficiency in the Japanese language, as well as a broad knowledge of the geography and cultures of the regions where the Japanese language is spoken, and to improve overall teaching effectiveness. This proposed program offers a unique opportunity to disseminate our EMU program, not only to our state-wide community, but also to the Japanese community as well as graduate students in other countries such as Japan, who are considering coming to the U.S. to study Japanese Language Teaching. The goal of this Program is fully in accord with the department’s main goal to “promote awareness, understanding, tolerance of and respect for the world and our own multicultural society”; as well as the central mission of EMU.

3. List and Narrative Description of Required and Elective Courses

(See attachments for detail Course Descriptions)

This certificate requires 14 hours of course work to be distributed as follows:

Required core courses ………………………………………………………… 12 hours

FLAN 611 Theory and Methods of Modern Language Teaching (3)

FLAN 613 Using Technology in the Foreign Language Classroom (3)

JPNE 544 Graduate Japanese Conversation (3)

JPNE 594 Intensive Seminar in Japanese Studies (3)

One course from the following: ……………………………….………….….. 2 hours

CURR 510 Developing Creativity in the Classroom (2)

CURR 552 The Pedagogy of Group Learning (2)

CURR 650 Improving Instruction through Inquiry and Assessment (2)

FLAN 540 Cultural Issues in Language Teaching (2)

FLAN 612 The Proficiency-Based Curriculum

RDNG 506 Storytelling (2)

SOFD 535 Multi-cultural and International Education (2)

TSLN 501 Theoretical Foundation of Second-Language Pedagogy (3)

TSLN 520 Foreign Language Testing and Evaluation (2)

Total ……………………………………………………………………………14 hours

Narrative Description of Required and Elective Courses:

CURR 510 Developing Creativity in the Classroom (2) (Existing Course)

Helps teachers plan activities that encourage creativity in students. Emphasizes the direct teaching of creative thinking skills, developing a supportive classroom atmosphere and enhancing the teacher's personal creativity.

CURR 552 The Pedagogy of Group Learning (2) (Existing Course)

The course presents a variety of methods for using groups and social learning in classrooms. The methods include, among others, cooperative learning, group investigation, simulation and role-playing. Theory, practice, application, evaluation and critical analysis of the methods will be stressed.

CURR 650 Improving Instruction through Inquiry and Assessment (2) (Existing Course)

Participants inquire into individual students' learning processes, perceptions, and pattern of development in order to plan effective instruction. Emphasis is placed upon understanding students through the use of action research methodologies, developmental theories, and analysis of student work samples.

FLAN 540 Cultural Issues in Language Teaching (2) (Existing Course)

This course addresses prospective language teachers' need to understand the effect of various cultural values on language learning and teaching to develop techniques that will enhance their students' learning.

FLAN 611 Theory and Methods of Modern Language Teaching (3) (Existing Course)

The history, theory and techniques of modern language teaching.

FLAN 612 The Proficiency-Based Curriculum (3) (Existing Course)

This course focuses on the content of instruction, or curriculum, as redefined by the ACTFL/ETS Proficiency Guidelines, and as reorganized in terms of communication tasks and language functions, rather than grammatical principles.

FLAN 613 Using Technology in the Foreign Language Classroom (3) (Existing Course)

This course focuses on the review, development and integration of audio, computer-assisted and video-interactive technologies in the foreign language classroom.

JPNE 544 Graduate Japanese Conversation (3) (New Course)

A continuation of advanced conversation with emphasis on attaining advanced communicative skills pertinent to professional and cultural needs.

JPNE 594 Intensive Seminar in Japanese Studies (3) (New Course)

Different topics are selected each semester for intensive study by advanced students. The course consists of review and discussion of contemporary issues in Japanese language and culture, based on research projects and review of the pertinent literature carried out by the student. Emphasis in seminar meetings on exchange of ideas and information developed in the research.

RDNG 506 Storytelling (2) (Existing Course)

Applying techniques storytellers use to research, prepare, learn and master a story, participants will tell a variety of different types of stories, using an array of presentation formats. Students will also prepare a collection of storytelling/language arts activities appropriate for various grade levels.

SOFD 535 Multi-cultural and International Education (2) (Existing Course)

Designed to provide multi-cultural and international perspectives to the continuing debates on reform of education in a democratic society. Emphasis is placed on what multicultural education should be and its place in the curriculum.

TSLN 501 Theoretical Foundation of Second-Language Pedagogy (3) (Existing Course)

Overview of the principal theories of language description, language learning and language use, with emphasis on those factors that affect second-language acquisition and learning.

TSLN 520 Foreign Language Testing and Evaluation (2) (Existing Course)

Examines the role of testing; surveys types of tests; discusses the criteria of a good test; analyzes tasks that variously require listening, speaking, reading, writing and communicative competence and provides practice in evaluating and constructing test items.

4. Anticipated/Typical Schedule of Course Offerings

CURR 510 Developing Creativity in the Classroom (2) Fall/Winter

CURR 552 The Pedagogy of Group Learning (2) Summer

CURR 650 Improving Instruction through Inquiry and Assessment (2) Fall/Winter

FLAN 540 Cultural Issues in Language Teaching (2) Fall

FLAN 611 Theory and Methods of Modern Language Teaching (3) Fall

FLAN 612 The Proficiency-Based Curriculum (3) Fall

FLAN 613 Using Technology in the Foreign Language Classroom (3) Spring

JPNE 544 Graduate Japanese Conversation (3) Winter

JPNE 594 Intensive Seminar in Japanese Studies (3) Winter

RDNG 506 Storytelling (2) Spring

SOFD 535 Multi-cultural and International Education (2) Winter

TSLN 501 Theoretical Foundation of Second-Language Pedagogy (3) Fall

TSLN 520 Foreign Language Testing and Evaluation (2) Winter

5. Special Admission/Graduate Requirements (if different from those of the Graduate School)

1. Applicants in this graduate certificate program must demonstrate at least Intermediate Low level of Japanese proficiency using the ACTFL's Oral Proficiency Interview or Level 4 of the Japanese Proficiency Test developed by the Japan Foundation, or equivalent,

2. Conditional admission may be granted to candidates evidencing deficiencies in Japanese proficiency. Such candidates must successfully complete deficiency courses including, but not limited to, JPNE 344 Japanese Conversation, JPNE 345 Japanese Composition, and JPNE 444 Advanced Japanese Conversation,

3. Submit a copy of Japanese Teaching Certification or Departmental permission,

4. Submit a statement of reasons for pursuing this certificate, and

5. Meet the requirements for admission to the graduate school.

6. Anticipated Student Market/Need Analysis

Our graduate certificate program’s prospective students will include teachers and prospective teachers of Japanese in the U.S. as well as from other countries such as Japan who want to enhance their Japanese language ability and pedagogical knowledge.

Currently the Japanese Section is conducting the EMU/Japanese School of Detroit (JSD) Project with the support of the Graduate School. The Japanese School of Detroit is an educational entity designed to provide Japanese children with a basic Japanese education. In this project, our EMU students teach Japanese language and other subject matters at the school with a full Graduate/ Student Assistant Scholarship with external funding from the school. As a community outreach program involving international components, currently this project offers educational service, referral and support to academic units and the Japanese community in fulfilling the land-grant mission of EMU. As the school has given a high degree of recognition and praise to the educational level and quality of graduate students, they have asked to increase the number of our graduate assistants for future years. In order to meet the needs of the school and maintain this significant external funding, we need to recruit appropriate candidates for this project annually.

Both Dr. Motoko Tabuse and Dr. Hitomi Oketani-Lobbezoo are founders and members of the Advisory Board of the Japanese Teachers Association of Michigan (JTAM). We frequently receive verbal as well as e-mail communications requesting information about future advanced programs (the graduate level) from teachers of Japanese who teach in the Greater Detroit area schools, as well as Japanese Language and Culture Teaching majors (undergraduate level) who are currently studying at EMU and at universities in Japan (see attached letter from Ms. Kiyomi Kawakami, TESOL graduate student, EMU).

As part of the activities of a World College Fellowship (2001-2002), Dr. Oketani-Lobbezoo visited Japan and observed that there is much demand there for those who want to study at the graduate level in foreign countries such as the U.S. Our EMU/Japanese School of Detroit Project is very appealing for those graduate students who want to study Japanese Language Teaching at EMU. There is also a great shortage of schools for Japanese language teaching major students in Japan (both undergraduate and graduate levels) to carry out their practicum. In correspondence, Dr. Majima of Osaka University of Foreign Studies, Graduate School (Japanese Teaching Program) has shown great interest in our proposed certificate program. According to Dr. Majima, 81% (51/63) of her students who are in the Japanese Teaching Program have expressed interest in coming to EMU and study at our proposed program. These students are strongly attracted to the unique combination of studies, this proposed certificate program and EMU/JSD Scholarship, that our university can offer. Dr. Majima also explained that the remaining 19% (12/63) showed hesitation due to their lack of English language proficiency (see attached e-mail correspondence on December 10, 2002 with Dr. Majima). Thus, we can conclude that the majority of Japanese students in the program in Japan are eager to come to EMU to study. Further, once the proposed certificate program is established, Dr. Majima proposes establishing international cooperative programs between with our universities.

7. Resource Requirements and Budget

The proposed new courses JPNE 544 and JPNE 594 are graduate level courses that senior undergraduate students may take. Both JPNE 544 and JPNE 594 are required courses for the Certificate Program and will be offered every year. However, no incremental resources and budget coverage are required to implement these courses.

JPNE544

This course will be taught along with JPNE444 with additional requirements for JPNE544 students, as outlined in the syllabus. If a sufficiently large number of students register for JPNE 544, separate sections will be offered in accordance with the university enrollment guidelines. If in any year very few students enroll in JPNE544, then instruction will be conducted as Independent Studies for those students. In addition to the requirements of JPNE 444, students enrolled in JPNE 544 will:

1) lead classroom activities using the learning materials shared with the 400 level students;

2) conduct a presentation on economic, political, and/or educational systems and culture in Japan;

3) be assigned to read an additional textbook titled "Japanese Cultural Episodes for Speed Reading";

4) complete tests that include all above additional requirements.

JPNE594

This course will be taught along with JPNE494 with additional requirements for JPNE594 students, as outlined in the syllabus. If a sufficiently large number of students register for JPNE 594, separate sections will be offered in accordance with the university enrollment guidelines. If in any year very few students enroll in JPNE594, then instruction will be conducted as Independent Studies for those students. In addition to the requirements of JPNE 494, students enrolled in JPNE 594 will:

1) lead classroom activities using the learning materials shared with the 400 level students;

2) present summaries and critiques of chapters of the textbook (written in Japanese) in Japanese;

3) present one additional 20-30 minute individual presentation on Japanese language and /or culture in Japanese;

4) submit a research paper which demonstrates advanced level of proficiency, pertinent to current professional and cultural contexts.

8. Assessment Plan

The program attainment will be measured in a number of ways, including on task activities in the classroom and norm-referenced proficiency examination (written examination with listening) such as the Japanese Proficiency Test developed by the Japan Foundation or proficiency or oral proficiency interview such as the Simulated Oral Proficiency Interview (SOPI).

The instructor will assess students’ proficiency level using the test materials mentioned above at the beginning of the program, and an individual plan to improve proficiency level will be created with the student to provide specific feedback based on the results of the proficiency test. The student’s proficiency level is assessed again at the end of the program to measure their improvement.

In addition to the student’s proficiency level assessment, the overall program effectiveness will be assessed at student, instructor, and community levels, using various methods. The methods of assessment include (1) Pre-test and post-test of the student’s language progress, (2) student’s evaluation of the instructor, (3) Exit-level interview and/or questionnaire with the student on reflections of the student’s own language development, student’s own content area knowledge development, program curriculum, and the student’s recommendation toward a better program. Where applicable, student’s employer’s opinion about the program and its effectiveness and recommendations will be assessed.

9. Attachments

(1) JPNE 544 Graduate Japanese Conversation (3 credit hours)

Request for a New Graduate Course

Syllabus

Cost Analysis Form

(2) JPNE 594 Intensive Seminar in Japanese Studies (3 credit hours)

Request for a New Graduate Course

Syllabus

Cost Analysis Form

(3) Correspondence with Dr. Junko Majima, Osaka University of Foreign Studies, Japan

(4) Letter from Ms. Kiyomi Kawakami, Graduate Student, TESOL, EMU