Language and Culture for Ministry in Japan

If you were tasked with developing the optimum Japanese language and culture-learning program for your organization, what would you include?

For almost 60 years, KLS (Karuizawa Language School), located on the historic Karuizawa Union Church property, faithfully served the missionary community in Japan. It was one of several Japanese language schools for missionaries. TEAM (The Evangelical Alliance Mission) decided to close KLS in March 2008, restructure, and start over. A few months later, we opened a new language training center, LCM Japan Training Center (LCM Japan), in a new location, under a new name, with an expanded vision, and an updated approach.

LCM Japan

Our mission is to equip missionaries in language acquisition and proficiency, facilitating life-long language and culture learning, to minister effectively in a culturally sensitive manner to Japanese people in their heart language.

LCM Japan committee members keep up with changes in the field by attending language learning conferences. These conferences are great opportunities to network and to learn about the latest principles and resources available in language and culture learning. Additionally, we invite professional consultants to evaluate and assist us as we update our program.

Characteristics of our new approach:

• A curriculum-driven program rather than a text-driven approach.
• Current, user-friendly technology wherever feasible, Skype teaching, and Internet broadcasting of our group orientation sessions.
• A spiral approach rather than a mastery approach. Instead of waiting until learners can master something before moving on, we encourage our students to move on, knowing the curriculum will cover the same points repeatedly over time.

The LCM Japan Committee seeks to implement its vision through:

• teaching courses at the Japanese Language Training Center in Karuizawa,
• promoting continuing education,
• providing encouragement (coaching, seminars, articles),
• providing resources (texts, courses, archived articles & broadcasts),
• language coaching (one-on-one, seminars, consulting), and
• distance education (Skype classes, web site, live broadcasting).

Technology

In restructuring, we have researched user-friendly applications of technology to adapt to language and culture learning. Thanks to advances in cloud computing, and online information technology services, we have found a number of useful new tools to help fulfill our mission.

Enrollment

Those new to the Japanese language and culture, as well as those who want refresher courses, can enroll at any time throughout the year. Instruction is available at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Students can enrol in our two-year program, or for shorter periods. Although our primary emphasis is on students being able to converse and minister in Japanese, we also include reading and writing. Along with daily conversational Japanese, we offer a Ministry Language Course to enable our graduates to do evangelism and discipleship, to teach and lead Bible studies and worship services, and to preach in Japanese.

Skype classes

Although physically located in Karuizawa, LCM Japan’s activities are not restricted to a geographical location. Thanks to new technologies, we can now provide distance education and coaching to missionaries anywhere in Japan, and throughout the world. We offer Japanese language classes via Skype for those who desire to study Japanese without having to relocate to Karuizawa. In this way they can remain active in their current ministry assignment in Japan or during their home assignment. Some learners are using Skype lessons to get a head start on learning Japanese before they arrive in Japan.

Program overview

Coaching

As part of our program at LCM Japan, we offer grammar classes to aid in understanding each lesson. Translation and grammar texts are available in a number of languages. We also offer coaching sessions to help students develop their language learning strategies. Learning strategy inventories help students better understand their personal learning style.

Community

Involvement in the community is an important aspect of our overall language and culture learning program. Students not only study Japanese, they also use Japanese. We recommend that our students join a club or class (such as cooking, flower arranging, painting, ping-pong, volleyball, choir, band), or work as a volunteer part-time at a local business establishment. We encourage our students to have a least one language partner that they can interact with on a casual basis for at least an hour each week, either face-to-face or by Skype.

Church

Ministry involvement from the beginning is another vital element our program. We encourage students to gain ministry language experience by attending worship services, and a midweek prayer meeting. We also recommend sitting in on or helping out in a children’s Sunday School class, Awana club, or Youth Group. We show students how to take advantage of these language immersion situations, even when little is understood eaerly on.

Culture

We seek to integrate cultural aspects into the classroom. Language learning and culture learning are inseparable—attempting to learn one without the other will limit your progress. A deeper understanding of the culture enhances language learning, and as you advance in the language you will understand the culture more fully.

Maintaining an optimum language and culture-learning program is an ongoing process that involves continuing research, education, assessment, and an environment of progress. We press on toward the goal of utilizing the most effective language and culture learning strategies and technologies as they becomes available, in order to equip missionaries for the Lord’s work in Japan. 

For Resources and More Information

You can contact us at lcmjapan@teamjapan.org.
“Like” us on our Facebook page at LCMJ,
“Follow” us on Twitter @LCMJapan,
or check out our web site:
http://lcmjapan.teamjapan.org

The LCM Japan Training Center is located in Karuizawa, Nagano prefecture, 70 minutes by Bullet train from Tokyo. From the Karuizawa train station it is 10 minutes by car, or a 30-minute brisk walk to the Training Center.

LCM Japan is a specialty school that focuses on teaching the Japanese language and culture to evangelical Christian missionaries ministering to Japanese people. Although TEAM operates the training center, we continue to welcome evangelical Christian missionaries with other mission agencies.