Homestay: Live with a Japanese family • Go to school with Japanese students

Other Activities: Summer festival • Visiting Harajuku • Tea Ceremony • Ikebana

Approximate Dates :June 18th: Depart from US

June 19th: Arrive at Narita

June 19th-21st Tokyo

June 21st-July 10 Asahikawa Homestay

July 10th:Depart from Asahikawa/Narita

July 10th: Arrive in Columbus

Accommodations: Asahikawa Jitsugyou High School/School Partners abroad take care of all accommodations while students are in Hokkaido

Price: Approximately $3,500 (Includes ) Airfare • Traveler’s insurance • Visit to Tokyo

Application Process:

November 9th: Application deadline • Including $400 ( $100 enrollment fee + $300 airfare deposit) at 10AM at Twin River post office

January 11th: Airfare balance due at 10AM at Twin River post office

March 21st: All remaining fees due

April: Pre-departure orientation date TBD

For More Information: Contact Ms. Imamura @ timamura8478@columbus.k12.oh.us

The National Japanese Exam (NJE) is an online, proficiency-oriented, standards-based and culture-related assessment tool for students who are studying Japanese as a second language. It can be used to recognize students' achievements in the study of Japanese and to stimulate their further interest in learning the language.

Teachers who conduct the NJE may award certificates to their students (Gold Level, Silver Level, Bronze Level, Honorable Mention, and Participation certificates), and the exam results can be used to highlight the success of their Japanese programs and celebrate their students' accomplishments. The NJE also helps teachers to identify strong and weak areas in their teaching as well as to see students' strengths and weaknesses in various areas including skimming, scanning, contextual reading and listening, grammar, and vocabulary.

The Japan Bowl® is a Japanese language competition created by the Japan-America Society of Washington DC in 1992. The Japan Bowl tests the achievements of Japanese learners throughout the US and other countries. The Japan Bowl in the United States focuses on high school students.

What makes the Japan Bowl unique is that it goes beyond language and asks students about their knowledge of Japanese culture, society, daily life, history, geography, and current events. Participants compete as members of 3-person teams, based on how many years they have studied Japanese.

The Japan Bowl is not an exam; it uses a “quiz bowl” format. Students hear – and don’t read — the questions. They are given a timeframe, usually 30 seconds, within which to respond. The questions are asked in both Japanese and English and answered in a variety of ways.

The Japan Bowl was first held as a local competition for high schools in the Washington DC area. Within a few years, high schools from other parts of the nation joined the competition in Washington, and it became the “National Japan Bowl.” In addition to the National Japan Bowl in Washington DC, there are Japan quiz bowl competitions throughout the United States. Beyond the Ohio Japan Bowl, there are also official Japan Bowl competitions in Illinois, Wisconsin, Utah, and California.

The Japan Bowl seeks to motivate students to higher levels of academic achievement. It strives to impart the kind of real-world communications skills and cultural knowledge that will help students in their high school years and beyond. Most Japan Bowl participants say they plan to continue to study Japanese during their college years, and almost all hope to study abroad in Japan.

Japan Bowl participants say they hope to have a “Japan connection” in their adult lives, whether in business, academia, the arts, or public service. No matter which profession they choose, the knowledge and skills they acquired as Japan Bowl competitors will help them become future leaders in the US relationship with Japan.

About the Ohio Japan Bowl

The Ohio Japan Bowl is being organized by the Japan-America Society of Central Ohio in cooperation with the Japan-America Society of Washington DC, and the Ohio Association of Teachers of Japanese.

The AATJ Nengajo Contest is a nationwide contest for students in elementary school, middle school, high school, and university. All participants receive a certificate of participation. Winners at each level in each category also receive certificates and prizes from AATJ.

The Nengajo Contest is an excellent advocacy and teaching opportunity for your program. Many students love artistic pursuits, and this is their chance to shine in your class. It also represents an excellent chance to practice language and culture.

There are four categories for entries: Artistic, Comical, Original, and Computer Graphics.

Will you be the next winner?

Project: Sound with Misato Hanawa, Japanese Saxophonist

Saturday, October 26, 2019
11 AM – 2:30 PM

Stanton's Sheet Music
330 S 4th St, Columbus, Ohio 43215