Guidelines for applicants

Objectives of the Program

The Queensland Centre for Japanese Language and Studies (QCJLS, formerly the Queensland Program for Japanese Education or QPJE) was established with an endowment from The Tokyo Foundation to promote Japanese language education in Queensland and the Northern Territory. A major component of the Centre’s program is an annual offer of study grants to enable practising Japanese language teachers to visit Japan to further enhance their Japanese language skills and understanding of teaching methodology, and to deepen their knowledge of Japan.

Eligibility

Applicants must be full-time or part-time (0.4 or greater) teachers of Japanese language with a minimum of 3 years’ teaching experience in government or non-government primary or secondary schools in Queensland or the Northern Territory at the time of application, and have a soundly-based expectation of continuing employment in that field. Applicants must be non-native speakers of Japanese who are Australian citizens or permanent residents. Past grant recipients are eligible to re-apply after 3 years, but in the event of a large number of applications will receive lower priority than other applicants. Past grant recipients should ensure that their application is significantly different from any previous application.

Grant Details

It is anticipated that most grant recipients will travel to Japan in the December/January school holidays – that is, during the summer vacation period – but teachers are also able to apply to travel at other times of the year as long as their proposed study programs meet the grant requirements. It is expected that all travel funded under the travel grant program will be completed by 30 April the following year unless otherwise agreed.

Study grants of up to $10,000 are available for applicants who plan to enrol in an approved Japanese language course. This funding is intended to contribute to the cost of applicants’ airfares, travel insurance, accommodation, tuition fees and daily expenses. Evidence of careful budget planning is essential, and items in each budget category must be properly justified, i.e., evidence given for the basis on which amounts are requested. Since the primary purpose of this scheme is to improve the Japanese language proficiency of successful applicants, programs must include a minimum of 60 hours of formal language study, and this must constitute the majority of time spent in Japan that is funded by this scheme. Where funding is requested for travel outside the period of formal language study, the specific benefit this will provide to the applicant’s students must be clearly explained. Applicants are welcome to stay on in Japan at their own expense after their grant period where possible, but the length and cost of this extended stay need to be clearly distinguished from grant costs in the application.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the grant to prepare for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). Applicants who plan to sit for the JLPT within 12 months of their study program will be given favourable consideration.

Budgeting

It is the responsibility of applicants to ensure that they have adequately costed the level of funding sought in their applications. The selection committee will not provide funding above the level requested, and reserves the right to delete or reduce proposed budget items not considered essential to an applicant’s study plans. In order to fund as many applications as possible, funding will not be provided to cover cultural experiences or entertainment expenses. Where possible, please include screen shots or quotes to support your costings in the space provided at the end of the form.

Accountability Report and Financial Statement on Completion

All successful applicants will be required to submit a detailed report on their grant program and expenditure to the Queensland Centre for Japanese Language and Studies (QCJLS), in addition to any requirements of their employer. They will also be required to provide a certificate of completion from the language school (including name of language school, course level, dates of attendance, number of hours of study).

Study Arrangements

Applicants are responsible for making their own arrangements for their visit. Applicants should note that arranging future school trips/sister school agreements should not be the focus of their study program.

Application Form

Applications must be typed on the official Application Form and submitted either as a Word document or pdf. Handwritten applications will not be considered.

Applications should be emailed to Anne Platt (QCJLS Secretariat): [email protected]

Application closing date: TBC.

Download the application form.

Notification of Successful Applicants

Successful applicants will be notified in around August each year. Names and school addresses of successful applicants will be provided to The Tokyo Foundation for their records.

Selection Criteria

  1. Extent to which the proposed program meets the needs of the individual teacher. For past QPJE grant recipients: Extent to which the proposed program builds on previous study program.
  2. Extent to which the proposed program could be expected to enhance the applicant’s effectiveness as a Japanese language teacher.
  3. Extent to which the proposed budget is reasonable and realistic.

Some Language Schools Attended by Past Grant Recipients1

General Website

Japanese Language School Database https://www.aikgroup-siki.com/j-school/english/index.htm

Download Application Form