An Overview of Japanese Language Education

The teaching and learning of Japanese language around the world is a relatively new area of study compared to traditional European languages, with most programs being established within the last 40 years. As such, relative to other European languages, little is known in regard to how it is acquired as a second language. Unlike the learning of European languages by other European language speakers, the learning of East Asian languages has predominantly developed after the Second World War. Interest in the learning of the Japanese language in Western countries was largely due to globalization, which brought the East and the West closer together economically and politically. Japanese language education first grew from the increasing economic strength of Japan, beginning in the late 1970s and early 1980s. One driving force for language education growth was in response to an increase in tourism from Japan around the world. With a stronger economy came an increase in population mobility, which brought European language speaking nations such as France, the UK, the USA and Australia into direct contact with large numbers of Japanese tourists for the first time. The numbers of outbound tourists leaving Japan during this economic boom skyrocketed, as can be seen in Figure 1.1.

Also during this time, the global economy saw an influx of trade with Japan and closer economic and political relationships. In the 1970s, Japan grew to be the world's third largest economy and the nation soon became the second largest economy by 1980. With the growth of Japan on the global stage, the need to learn Japanese as a foreign language naturally grew. Nations such as Australia and the USA were quicker than others to fill a need for Japanese language programs, perhaps due to strong Pacific trade ties.

Interestingly, despite its recent entry among language study options, Japanese language education around the world has boomed (Bramley & Hanamura, 1998).