Casio helps promote Japanese language in ASEAN

The number of overseas students studying Japanese has increased more than 30 times in the last 36 years.

Asia has experienced a 20 per cent increase in the numbers of students learning Japanese in 2016.

Amidst this language boom of Japanese in ASEAN countries, CASIO is working together with teachers and students of Japanese language departments about what kind of learning support devices are necessary for learning Japanese.

Casio has started a pilot program in universities of Asian countries.

The fact that the number of Japanese language classes has increased even in elementary schools in Vietnam shows how popular the Japanese language has become.

Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, a student said, "When I was a child, I loved the Japanese language very much. I enjoyed the Japanese character and wanted to visit Japan in the future. I wanted to learn much more about the Japanese and that's why I began learning Japanese".

Dr. Tran Kieu Hue, Deputy Head of Faculty, University of Languages and International Studies (ULIS) said, "I feel that the support device is useful to support Kanji learning and grammar. And because the pronunciation of Japanese is difficult for Vietnamese, it's very nice to have a function to support the pronunciation of Japanese".

Shusaku Yoshida, Manager, Educational Market Development, Casio Computer Co., Ltd. said, "Casio is going to support Japanese learners and teachers by three ways. First, Casio is developing electronic Japanese learning device, Japanese learning tools by our technologies. Second, we are going to support teachers' activities, events, such as Japanese teaching conventions. Third, like this time, in major universities in Vietnam, we are going to open pilot project providing convenience for them to try new ways of Japanese teaching methods".

With capabilities of technology, the possibilities in language learning become ever greater.

-ANI