How to improve the program for Japanese Studies Students

Japanese Studies Students (=international students who specialize in Japanese language and culture in Japan; Hereafter referred to as J.students) show a variety of language skill and interests depending on the features of education in Japanese in their respective countries. All the J.students, however, receive an education at our university for one year based on one education program for the J.students. This paper shows first the variety of J.students through analysis of their final theses of past J. students. If we realize a program for J. students that supports the variety of students, we can clearly improve the results of their study in Japan. For this purpose, it is necessary to clarify the features of education in Japanese in the respective countries of J. students. I analyzed the features in the countries that send students based on prior research. As a result, I found that there were several patterns of education in Japanese in these countries. Then, I propose a specific method of using flexibly the existing program for J. students. I expect that this method will provide more effective education to each of various J. students. Also this paper describes problems which teachers and students should consider respectively for realizing the proposed program. Finally, this paper shows analysis of the courses of past J. students after completion of study in Japan to clarify the role of J. students and confirm the importance of this system of study in Japan and describes the necessity of continuation of the system