AATJ - American Association of Teachers of Japanese

06/12/2026

NOW ACCEPTING 2026 TEACHER AWARDS AND K-12 GROWING PROGRAM AWARD NOMINATIONS

The deadline to submit nominations for the 2026 Teacher Awards and K-12 Growing Program Award is July 31. Recipients of these prestigious awards will be honored at the AATJ Teacher Award Luncheon at the 2026 ACTFL Convention.

https://aatj.org/awards/k-12-growing-program-award/

https://aatj.org/awards/aatj-teacher-awards/

The AATJ Teacher Awards recognize outstanding teachers who demonstrate excellence in teaching, advocacy, and leadership in Japanese education both locally and regionally. AATJ customarily presents the awards to the recipients during the ACTFL Annual Convention each November. Awards are given annuall...

06/12/2026

ACTFL CONVENTION/AATJ FALL CONFERENCE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT SPONSORED BY THE AATJ OKA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND

The application for this generous Grant, sponsored by the AATJ Oka Professional Development Fund, is now open. The application deadline is July 1, so please do not hesitate to apply as soon as possible!

ACTFL Convention and AATJ Fall Conference Grant 2026 Mayumi and Masao Oka Professional Development Grant for ACTFL 2026 November 20-22, 2026, San Antonio Thanks to the generous donation from Mr. and Mrs. Oka, five AATJ members will each be awarded $1,000 to support travel, registration, and lodging....

05/31/2026

Do you have students who might consider the JET Program as their next step in their Japanese language and culture experience? Please pass along this information for an upcoming USJETAA webinar for prospective JETs.

Take this as your sign! Thinking about applying to the JET Program? Join USJETAA’s free virtual JET Info Session on June 11, 2026!

✏️ Hear firsthand experiences from JET alumni, get application advice from a JET Program Coordinator, and ask your questions during a live Q&A.

Whether you're just starting to explore JET or preparing your application, this session is a great opportunity to learn more about living and working in Japan through the program.

This event is part of USJETAA’s NEXT JET Program, connecting prospective and departing JETs with alumni and current participants for mentorship and support.

Register here: https://www.usjetaa.org/news/jet-info-session-june-2026

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05/21/2026

和食育オンデマンドコース for University Students
2026–27年度 参加校募集のご案内

Are you looking for a unique and engaging program for your students?

Applications are now open for our Wa-Sho（和食育）Online On-Demand Course for university students. We are currently seeking 30 teachers to collaborate with us for the 2026–27 academic year. The program will be provided free of charge to selected schools.

Application deadline: June 5, 2026
https://form.jotform.com/260889181229164

About the Program
Through this course, students will:

Learn the fundamentals of Japanese cuisine and food culture
Develop practical skills to prepare healthy, balanced meals
Explore global food-related issues and their impact on our lives
The course is written both in Japanese and English.（日本語も追加！）
Flexible and Easy to Use
This program is designed to fit your teaching needs.

Use the full course or select only the parts that align with your curriculum
Adapt content to your lesson plans and schedule
Occasional optional hybrid activities such as an Okonomiyaki Party (Oko Party).
Around 30 colleges participate annually, and we have wonderful experiences collaborating with teachers and institutions. We are excited to continue expanding the program in the coming year.

Learn More
Website: https://www.wa-shokuiku.org/ondemand-university
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWpOTKXEiUI/?img_index=1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CmGUU7RUP/

05/06/2026

The 31st CATJ Call for Proposal: DEADLINE - Saturday, May 16 2026!

This is a reminder that the Call for Proposals for the 31st Central Association of Teachers of Japanese Conference (CATJ) will close in about two weeks!

Submission deadline: 11:59 pm (EDT) on Saturday, May 16, 2026

https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.lsa.umich.edu%2Fcatj31%2Fcall-for-proposals%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ckatie.ross-1%40colorado.edu%7Cb24a0bf1d331495b7ee708deaa4c6b5d%7C3ded8b1b070d462982e4c0b019f46057%7C1%7C0%7C639135442371860827%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=WgnK1Y2mW7yC9bb%2FO3sUfMGCuLnEzs9dWYZ8m1MLTdI%3D&reserved=0

We look forward to seeing your proposal!

Submission Deadline: Saturday, May 16, 2026, 11:59 pm (EDT) The 31st Central Association of Teachers of Japanese (CATJ 31) will be hosted by the University of Michigan, in collaboration with Oakland University. This conference will be held in person on Saturday, October 31, 2026. The 31st CATJ conf...

04/23/2026

A new Global Network (GN) page has been launched on the American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ) website. The page includes the report from the AATJ/CAJLE Global Networking Meeting held on March 13 during the 2026 AATJ Spring Conference. We invite you to visit the page and read the report!
https://aatj.org/global-network/

04/13/2026

Door to Japan is an online career webinar designed to support learners of Japanese as they explore professional paths connected to Japan.

Co-hosted by NECTJ and Mynavi, the program connects language learning with real-world career possibilities, beginning with an introduction to Japan’s entry-level hiring system.

Tuesday, April 14, 8:00 pm EDT

Register here: https://www.northeastctj.org/door-to-japan

04/08/2026

Elementary School Japanese SIG Webinar for AATJ members!

Date and Time: Saturday, April 11, 9:00 PM (Eastern Time)
Location: A Zoom link will be sent to those who register.
Topic: Sharing teaching materials that have worked well in our classroom

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdE9lVkn0IOJMyAGX3tiqg0KhlY4DWxmwVqa76guy2HdfdvIQ/viewform

04/08/2026

Do you know someone who might want to teach Japanese? Please join AATJ and USJETAA, on April 21, for this informational webinar. Pathways to Becoming a Japanese Language Educator will be moderated by AATJ Vice President Kate Davis, and features several distinguished AATJ members, including AATJ Past President Motoko Tabuse sensei, and AATJ members Laurel Taylor sensei and Cameron Chien sensei!

Register here: https://usjetaa.wildapricot.org/event-6627443

We hope to see you on April 21!

04/01/2026

A Special Offer from Cheng & Tsui for AATJ Members!

As cherry blossoms bloom, it’s the perfect time to refresh and strengthen your Japanese language program for the upcoming academic year.

For a limited time, enjoy 20% OFF* sitewide at Cheng-Tsui.com and take an opportunity to thoughtfully expand your curriculum, improve continuity across levels, and better support student proficiency outcomes.

Visit www.cheng-tsui.com
Use code: SAKURA26 at checkout
Offer valid through April 15, 2026

*Offer not valid for resale or classroom quantity orders (3+ of the same title).