[Research News] Can Volunteers Replace Professional Language Teachers in Japan? ｜Doshisha University

Research reveals how policy gaps and community efforts shape language education for foreign residents in Japan

(Summary)

While language education is critical for the social integration of foreign residents, Japan’s system remains heavily dependent on volunteer labor. New research by Associate Professor Bettina Gildenhard, from the Faculty of Global Communications, examines the intersection of national policy and local practice within these volunteer-led Japanese language programs. Through policy analysis and field research, the study concludes that this reliance fosters a “semi-professional” environment, which not only impacts educational quality but also risks stifling the potential of both the volunteers and the residents they serve.

Reference

Gildenhard, B. (2026). Volunteering in local Japanese classes – insights into a microcosm between personal initiatives, national language policies and the quest for professionalism. Japan Forum, 1–25.

https://doi.org/10.1080/09555803.2026.2656200

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Innovation, Doshisha University.
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-98/

This achievement has also been featured in “EurekAlert!”

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1127643