MAATJ February Newsletter

Its been quite cold in the mid-Atlantic area lately. I hope you are staying warm and not getting cold this
winter
In this February MAATJ Newsletter, there are several time sensitive items. Please see the headlines
below with the important dates.
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AATJ / MAATJ Membership for 2015 year

AJALT workshop (3/11, register by 2/18)
National Japanese Exam (test: 3/2-4/10)
Haiku Contest (3/1)
Nengajo Winners
FLAVA Session Proposal (4/17)
Japan Foundation Grants and Scholarship (various deadlines)
Karaoke Contest
News from the member schools
News from our webmaster

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AATJ / MAATJ Membership for 2015 year

We have received the membership information from AATJ recently. It seems like many members from
the last year have not updated the membership status. Please go to the AATJ web page and update
your information! Having the current membership is important for the MAATJ HAIKU Contest and the
National Japanese Exam in order to get discount. For your information, both AATJ and MAATJ
membership period is 1/1-12/21.
AJALT workshop (3/11) email Keiko Abrams sensei by 2/28 if you are attending
There will be a workshop by the Association of Japanese-Language Teaching is providing a workshop at
Lake Braddock Secondary School on 3/11 (4:30-6:00 pm). Two instructors from Japan are providing
information about teaching method that is focused on pronunciation.
Online Japanese Accent Dictionary (OJAD)
WADAIKO
* USA Wadaiko
National Japanese Exam (testing period: 3/2-4/10)
Little over 2,000 students took the exam last year and the number has been growing each year. This
exam is required for applying to the JET-MIP Program (the Japan Foundation). The testing period is 3/24/10.

MAATJ Haiku Contest (receive by 3/1)

We have the new organizer this year: Kyoko Vaughan sensei and Yumi Lawless sensei. Hope to see
many creative and fun Haiku from many students! Each school is allowed to submit max thee pieces for
each language level. Application form is attached.
MAATJ Nengajo Contest Winners have been Announced!
Year of sheep Nengajo Contest Winners have been announced at AATJ website. Among many wonderful
and effortful work around the nation, many our member teachers schools have been recognized.
Congratulations!

Great Falls ES (Kennington sensei, Bentz sensei)

Lake Braddock SS (Abrams sensei)
Cooper MS (Lawless sensei)

FLAVA Session Proposal (4/17)

We are looking for the similar number of Japanese sessions (about 10) this year again. Please share
your experience and expertise with our members! This years conference will be from 9/24 to 9/26 in
Williamsburg. Remember Shokokais Sakura grant as a possible funding source for the teachers in
Virginia and Maryland.
Japan Foundation Grants and Scholarship
There are various grants through Japan Foundation.

Japanese Language Learners Event Grant (Deadlines: 3/1, 9/1)

Japanese Teaching Material Purchase Grant (Deadlines: 3/15, 9/15)
Salary Assistance Grant for Japanese Language Courses (Deadline: 4/10)
Japanese Language Education Project Grant (Deadline: two months before the program starts)
JET Memorial Invitation Program (Deadline 4/15) National Japanese Exam score required.

First Annual MAATJ Karaoke Contest

Thank you for the submission for the first karaoke contest. We had three schools participated this year
and all of them showed a great level of pride in learning Japanese! Hope we will have more entries next
year! We will discuss the logistics of the contest for the next year so that many more schools will be
participating next year. The following schools are this years participants. Congratulations on your good
job!

Gunston Elementary School (Tomoko Geiser sensei)

Lake Braddock Secondary School (Keiko Abrams sensei)
Boonsboro High School (Ayako Shiga sensei)

Professional Development at Univ. of Hawaii (Online Institute)

The National Foreign Language Resource Center at the University of Hawaiii at Manoa offers a
professional development opportunity focused on project-based language learning (PBLL).
Registration Deadline: May 31, 2015 (March 1, 2015 for Intensive Summer Institute applicants)
News from Schools (Falls Church)
Thakur sensei at Falls Church High School invited Mr. Mark H. Rooney, a professional Taiko player, for
appreciation of Japanese traditional music. Mr. Rooney gave performance and workshop to share his
expertise and teach the fun of beating drum. Mr. Rooney loves to teach young people and would be
glad to visit any schools in Virginia / Maryland area schools to share his passion! Please see the article
and picture by Thakur sensei.
News from our Webmaster
Padlet Wallwisher

PadLet

http://goo.gl/cyVx1l