Deadline: 15-Apr-22
The U.S. Embassy Tokyo’s Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit proposals for English teacher training projects to improve the communicative English language teaching skills of Japanese elementary and secondary school teachers in the Kanto and Kansai regions.
In an effort to enhance English language education in Japan to foster the young generation who can compete in and contribute to the global society, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) has started implementing a new policy since April 2020 to teach English as a regular subject starting for the fifth and sixth graders. However, Japanese elementary school teachers are not formally trained to teach English and are in need to learn on how to teach English communicatively. In secondary schools, many teachers are still teaching English in an old-fashioned way with the emphasis on rote memorization, explanation on grammar in Japanese and word-for-word translation from English to Japanese.
The U.S. Embassy has set strengthening English language education as a Mission priority and is committed to providing Japanese teachers of English with Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) opportunities to improve their English teaching, with the ultimate goal of promoting more student exchange between the United States and Japan.
The Embassy proposes to address this complex issue by accepting proposals for English teacher training projects to improve the future communicative English language teaching skills of Japanese elementary and/or secondary school teachers through innovative engagement with teacher training institutions in the Kanto and Kansai regions.
Funding Information
- Total available funding: $70,000
- Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $70,000
- Length of performance period: Up to 24 months
- Number of awards anticipated: 1 award (dependent on amounts)
- Anticipated program start date: No later than May 31, 2023.
Priority Region: Japan
Eligibility Criteria
The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/nongovernmental organizations
- Public and private educational institutions
- Public international organizations and governmental institutions
- Individuals
For more information, visit https://japan2.usembassy.gov/pdfs/nofo-2022-10-teachers-e.pdf