Volunteering in local Japanese classes – insights into a microcosm between personal initiatives, national language policies and the quest for professionalism
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 17680504 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Bettina Gildenhard (corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-25 |
| Publication date | 2026-04-24 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Japan Forum (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0955-5803 • E-ISSN: 1469-932X |
| Publisher | Routledge (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/09555803.2026.2656200 |
| OpenAlex | W7155507428 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 12 |
This paper examines the tensions between personal initiatives, national language policies, and the quest for professionalism that shape the microcosm of local Japanese classes run by volunteers.After providing a historical overview of language policies affecting foreign residents and volunteers and discussing the reasons for reliance on volunteers, it presents findings from practical research, including volunteer activities, participant observation, interviews, and self-reflection.The study shows how the gradual integration of volunteers into national language policies leads to various issues, including the emergence of semi-professionalism, in which volunteers -mostly native Japanese speakers without professional training as language teachers -are required to assume that role.The paper argues that volunteers' amateurism should not be criticised but rather valued, as it ensures the participation of diverse actors.Semi-professionalism, however, tends to limit volunteers' potential and diversity.The paper emphasises that, to promote social integration, it is vital to employ and adequately compensate professional Japanese teachers within municipalities.As a result, civil actors, both foreign and domestic, may develop their potential and participate in activities driven by personal interests, fostering connections that extend beyond a merely supportingsupported dynamic.
Discourse analysis · Microcosm · National development · National language · Work (physics) · EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning · Multilingual Education and Policy · Second Language Learning and Teaching
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |