Promoting the Teaching of Japanese Language

As reported by the Department of Education and Training of Hai Phong, in school year 2012 – 2013, the sector piloted teaching Japanese at To Hieu Secondary School at 4 classes of Grade 6 with the total number of 130 students. In school year 2013-2014, 4 classes of Grade 7 with 130 students and 7 teachers are qualified to join Japanese teaching model in the city. In school year 2014-2015, there will be 4 classes of Grade 8 with 130 students; 2 newly recruited classes of Grade 6 with 70 students. The sector will also open 1 class of Grade 6 to study Japanese at a secondary school in Ngo Quyen district. The form of teaching Japanese is activities in a club so it receives support from parents and students. However, the biggest question is how to pay remuneration for teachers and collect students' tuition fees. All teachers have signed contracts with the University of Hai Phong so there will be difficulty in the long term. Next the coming time, the Department of Education and Training is expected to pilot teaching Japanese as 2nd language (from grade 10) in a number of high schools; train and retrain teaching methods for teachers, improve the quality and efficiency of learning as the basis for the implementation of teaching Japanese for children as other languages in order to train Japanese Human Resource and Japanese-speaking employees to serve construction and development of the city. The Department will coordinate with other departments to teach Japanese for labourers and civil servants in the city.

 

Regarding labour exports to Japan, in the 2009-2013 period, the growth rate is quite high, the basic labour quality is good; over 90 percent of workers exported to Japan are well trained, mostly officers, crew on board, and welders. The average income of employer is nearly VND35 million / month. However, the number of Hai Phong’s labourers working in Japan is just over 200 (by 17.12 percent). Thus, there is a difference between the speed of the labour export to Japan with the proportion of Hai Phong workers. Therefore, there should be cooperation in training and labour export from Hai Phong to Japan in the form of appropriate management. Hai Phong should also promote propaganda to raise awareness of people about the policy of the city. Each year, Hai Phong will spend VND3 - 5 billion helping employers to enhance professional training and foreign languages.

 

Chairman of Hai Phong’s People’s Committee Mr Duong Anh Dien also asserted: "The push for teaching and learning Japanese is one of the important sectors contributing to boosting comprehensive ties between Hai Phong and Japan to create a difference and favourable opportunities for the socio-economic development of the City." The Chairman requires the Department of Education and Training to quickly complete a master plan to have Japanese language taught in Hai Phong on a large scale. Especially, Hai Phong needs to pay attention to teachers, creating favourable conditions, sending a number of qualified teachers to Japan to do M.Sc., Ph.D. to improve teaching skills; and selecting appropriate curriculum. Hai Phong should try to take advantage of the support from Japanese ministries and central agencies, including the Japanese Cultural Centre. By the end of 2014, Hai Phong will broadcast Japanese programme on Hai Phong’s TV Channel to show the image and culture of Japan to Hai Phong citizens. This will be a major turning point in the creation of employment for Hai Phong labour.