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The SBS Japanese
Radio Show featured speeches and interviews with several contestants
from the 34th National Japanese Language Speech Contest held in Sydney
in October 2003. These segments were recorded by SBS Radio Reporter
Yoko Davies, and broadcast during January and February. The SBS Japanese
Radio Show can be heard every Tuesday night from 10pm. |
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The Japan Foundation in
Sydney will observe the following holidays in 2004 (subject to change): |
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Good
Friday |
Friday
9 April |
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Easter Monday
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Monday 12
April |
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Anzac Day
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Monday 26
April |
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Constitution
Day |
Monday 3
May |
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Queen’s Birthday
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Monday 14
June |
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Marine Day
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Monday 19
July |
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Bank Holiday
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Monday 2
August |
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Respect for
the Aged Day |
Monday 20
September |
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Labour Day
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Monday 4
October |
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Sports Day
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Monday 11
October |
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Culture Day
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Wednesday
3 November |
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Boxing Day
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Monday 27
December |
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End of Year
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Wed 29 -
Fri 31 December |
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It’s that
time of the year again.... At the start of every school year we ask
all schools to update their details with us, to keep an accurate idea
of the number of schools teaching Japanese. Keeping your school’s
details up to date ensures that you are eligible to apply for the
Sydney Language Centre’s donation materials (Activity Resources),
borrow from the Library, and will continue to receive Dear Sensei.
Updating is quick and easy - simply complete the School Update Form
enclosed with this newsletter and return it to us, or complete an
online School Update at our website. Alternatively, you can call the
SLC on (02) 9957 5233 and update your school over the phone. |
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In November,
following the reorganisation of the Japan Foundation as an Independent
Administrative Institution, the head office conducted an evaluation
of its Japanese Language Advisors Program in Oceania. Professor Tazuko
Uyeno, Director of the International Exchange Center, Tokyo Women's
Christian University, and Keiko Morito from the Japanese-Language
Division at the Japan Foundation head office were accompanied by the
Manager of the Sydney Language Centre, Noriko Miyake, on a visit to
six cities in Australia and New Zealand where eight advisors are appointed.
Meetings were held not only with the advisors, but also with the respective
Departments of Education and the Consulates- General of Japan, to
discuss better ways of using the advisors’ skills to help teachers
develop networks in the region as well as upgrade their proficiency
and teaching methodology in the language. The information gained from
the evaluation will help the head office plan the Japanese Language
Advisors Program effectively and positively over the coming years. |
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We would
like to inform everyone that the application period for the Japan
Foundation Grant Programs (fiscal year 2004-2005) closed on Monday
1 December 2003. All application forms were sent to Japan for processing
in late December. The results of the applications will be released
in April 2004, and successful applicants/ institutions will be notified
shortly thereafter. Applicants for the Short-Term Training Program
for Foreign Teachers of the Japanese Language (Spring Course) should
note that they will be informed of the result of their application
by the end of March 2004. Successful applicants for the Teaching Materials
Donation Program should receive their materials around the middle
of the year. |
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鬼は外！福は内！
This
issue of Dear Sensei should reach you just in time for
節分,
which this year falls on 3 February. , 節分meaning
‘division of the seasons’, is the day before 立春,
the first day of (northern) spring by the lunar calendar.
Traditionally, people in Japan purify their homes on 節分,
scattering soybeans around the doorway while chanting
「鬼は外！福は内！」
, “out with demons, in with good fortune”. Scattering
the soybeans alternatively outside and then inside the
doorway signifies the direction demons and good fortune
are supposed to take. This also leaves the householder
with a substantial vacuuming headache, but in comparison
with the prospect of a year’s worth of demons and bad
fortune, I suppose this is of minimal concern.
All of us at the SLC hope you had a happy and safe New
Year, and we look forward to working with you in 2004.
David
Boyd
Program Coordinator
The Japan Foundation Sydney Language Centre
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