On November 10, at a press conference at the Ambassador’s residence, Ambassador of Japan, Ryozo Kato, and College Board President, Gaston Caperton, announced the establishment of an Advanced Placement Program ® (AP ®) Course and Examination in Japanese Language and Culture, as a part of the College Board’s commitment to promoting instruction in world languages and cultures in American schools.
The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program allows students to pursue college-level studies while they are still in high school. Students with different interests and backgrounds can currently choose from among 34 courses and exams in 19 subject areas to demonstrate their knowledge of rigorous academic curricula. Students can earn college credits, advanced placement, or both, based on their performance on the AP Examinations.
AP Japanese Language and Culture will debut in the 2006-07 academic year after educators develop the curriculum and exam. According to the Japan Foundation, Japanese is taught at 645 secondary schools and more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, and there are more than 140,000 American students now learning Japanese. In addition, the Board’s Annual Survey of Colleges shows Japanese language is a major course of study at 96 colleges.
Ambassador Kato, in his remarks at the celebratory reception, stated, “this AP course is a significant step in advancing the importance of Japanese studies in the United States. I welcome it. My government welcomes it. And I thank each and every one of you who are helping to make it happen.”
[Related links]
* College Board website
* Study in Japan
* FAQ on Japan: Education
* FAQ on Japan: Language and Literature
* FAQ on Japan: Student Exchange, JET (Japan Exchange Teaching), &
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