著者

大杉 千恵子 Osugi Chieko

出版者

Graduate School of International Development. Nagoya University

雑誌

Forum of International Development Studies (ISSN:13413732)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.23, pp.177-200, 2003-03 (Released:2006-03-28)

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JOCV(Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers)are Japanese skilled young people who work abroad for assisting the people of the recipient countries. Dispatching the JOCV is one of the responsibilities of JICA(Japan International Cooperation Agency)that is the main organization implementing Japan’s ODA(Official Development Assistance). The recent growth and development of Japanese language education in Hungary have been remarkable. At this time it is worthwhile to examine the history of Japanese language education in Hungary and consider its present situation. In my observation, the historical development of the Japanese language education can be divided into three phases : I. Introduction, II. Early development, and III. Maturity. The period of introduction is from the 1920s to the late 1980s that is slightly before the termination of the Soviet influence. Interests in‘exotic’Japan was one of th e critical triggers for Japanese language learning in this period. During this time some of the people who later developed Japanese language education in Hungary appeared on the scene. After the compulsory study of Russian ended, Japanese language became popular among other foreign languages. During this period of early development(late 1980s-2000), many JOCV Japanese teachers came and the number of Japanese learners increased a great deal. Not only the numbers, but also the area of Japanese language education expanded to local cities. Japan’s ODA played a very important role in this large growth. Since the year 2001, the Japanese language education in Hungary entered a new mature phase. The establishment of the Hungarian Association of Japanese Teachers symbolizes the beginning of this new era. The number of Japanese language learners seems to have stabilized, and the Association is working on improvement of education quality. The JOCV Japanese teachers played an epoch-making role to develop the foundation of the Japanese education in Hungary. Hopefully the Japanese language education will contribute to multilingualism that is the key to harmonious co-existence of peoples.