The Japan Foundation provides a Japanese-Language Pre-training Program for Indonesian and Filipino Candidates for Nurses and Care Workers under Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA).
Background of Pre-Arrival Japanese-Language Training for Nurses and Care Workers
Under the EPAs with Indonesia and the Philippines, Japan started accepting Indonesian candidates in the field of nursing and nursing care on an annual basis in fiscal year 2008 and Filipino counterparts in 2009. The agreements required such overseas candidates to undergo six-month Japanese-Language training1, except for those candidates who already had a certain level of proficiency in the language2.
In 2010, the Japanese government took measures to provide preparatory Japanese-Language education in the two countries to enable the candidates to acquire basic Japanese prior to their further language training in Japan. The Japan Foundation has provided this preparatory training since the fourth year of the Indonesian program and the third year of the Filipino program.
Currently, overseas candidates receive a total of one year of Japanese-Language training: six months in their home countries, and six months in Japan.
- The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website: Accepting Nurse and Care Worker Candidates from Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam
- Proficiency equivalent to Level N2 or previously, Level 2 of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test
Objectives of the Pre-Arrival Training Programs
The Pre-Arrival Japanese-Language Education Programs by the Japan Foundation are designed to maximize the efficiency of language training in Japan and to support overseas candidates in learning the language and culture required for job training and daily life in Japan. Suggestions of the candidates, receiving hospitals and nursing care facilities, learning support organizations, and relevant government ministries and agencies were taken into account in developing the training curriculum.
Overseas candidates are required to master the Japanese-Language to live and work in the country and pass the Japanese national licensing examination. In consideration of the suggestions of people involved in the programs and the flow and continuity of the overall Japanese-Language education for overseas candidates, the pre-arrival training aims to enable the candidates to acquire basic, pre-intermediate level knowledge and proficiency in Japanese, and equally strong language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Since the learning environment and support for such candidates vary depending on the receiving hospitals and nursing care facilities, they need to be aware of the skills they may lack and make a habit of self-learning to achieve their goals.
Outline of the Japanese-Language Pre-Arrival Training Program for FY 2016
- Objectives
- Japanese-Language
- Acquire knowledge and proficiency in Japanese required for daily life and job training in Japan. Master pre-intermediate level of Japanese communicative skills needed for daily life and job training in Japan. Aim at balanced development of all four language skills
- Learn basic words and expressions used in nursing and nursing care
- Self-learning
- Develop basic methods to preview and review learning materials and establish the habit of self-learning
- Learn to plan and review one’s self-learning
- Social and Cultural Understanding
- Gain basic knowledge about Japan, including its people, geography and transportation
- Learn lifestyles and manners in Japan
- Understand differences in general workplace practices and culture and customs specific to the field of nursing and nursing care between Japan and one’s home country
- Japanese-Language
- Period of Implementation
- Philippines (As the 9th year)
- November 2016 – May 2017 (6months)
- Venue
- Manila
- Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Language Skills Institute (TESDA LSI)
- Nihongo Center Foundation, Inc. (NCF)
- Personal Ability Development Foundation, Inc. (PAD)
- Manila
