General Information

The Association of Japanese Language Teachers in Europe e.V., founded in 1995, is an international organisation based in Europe  The AJE seeks to enhance and promote teaching and learning Japanese language and culture in Europe. The AJE’s regular activities include organising annual international symposia on Japanese language education with other Japanese educational organisations in Europe, publishing its proceedings and newsletters. The Association’s activities reflect needs in Europe and we took part in a Common European Framework of Reference for Languages project (CEFR) in collaboration with the Japan Foundation. The AJE project team published a report entitled “Learning and Teaching Japanese Language in Europe and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages” in 2005. The AJE currently consists of over 300 members from around 30 countries.

History and Background

The Japan Foundation Japanese Language Institute, Urawa has been providing a training programme for teachers of Japanese Language (for Japanese Abroad) since 1989. In 1994, 13 teachers from 11 European countries participated in this training programme. The teachers realised that the Japanese language teaching in Europe appeared to be in need of an European-wide network for the teachers to cooperate for the future development and enhancement of teaching Japanese. In addition to that, a link with the public sector such as the Japan Foundation was considered beneficial to the region. As a consequence, in December 1994, the 13 participants of the training programme gathered for the first meeting in Maastricht in the Netherlands, and the Association was officially formed.

Aims and Principles

The Association of Japanese Language Teachers in Europe e.V. aims to promote Japanese language education in Europe and to deepen the understanding between Europe and Japan. The Association will endeavour to develop Japanese language education through gathering and providing information and establishing a network of teachers in order to cooperate and exchange ideas. The members of this Association shall in principal be those who are involved in teaching Japanese language in Europe. The Association will embrace the diversity of members.

The main activities of the Association include:

- To establish a network of teachers in Europe
- To hold an European Symposium on Japanese language education
- To form a network with associations of Japanese language teachers beyond Europe
- To gather and provide information on Japanese language education in Europe
- To cooperate in organising seminars and study groups in Europe
- To publish newsletters and other materials

The Executive Committee Members (10. 2007-Present):