The Naganuma School

The Teaching at Naganuma

The Naganuma Method

The School's primary objective is to develop each of our student's ability to communicate effectively in Japanese. Because a language is inextricably linked to the culture where it is born, Naganuma has always focused a great deal of attention on programs and lessons that nurture the student's understanding of the Japanese culture.

The Birth of the Naganuma Method

Naoe Naganuma, The founder of the school

A photo from the collection of the Institute of Research in Language Teaching

Harold E. Palmer,
the British educator

The School's founder, Naoe Naganuma, was influenced by the Oral Method of language training introduced by the British pioneer in language pedagogy, Harold E. Palmer. He subsequently went on to develop the Mondou (question-and-answer) Method specifically for Japanese language education which eventually became known as the "Naganuma Method".

As language use and the technology of language training have evolved over the ensuing decades, Naganuma has remained at the forefront in language teaching methods and in the development of graduates with the ability to communicate and function professionally in a wide range of fields that demand fluency in Japanese.

Features of the 'Naganuma Method'

Naganuma Method on Video – Beginners Class

Purpose

This helps the student to make it a habit to think in Japanese.
Purpose

This helps students to acquire practical Japanese language skills.

Team teaching

This allows the students to experience different Japanese individualities and instruction styles.

Learning Materials

Over the years since Naoe Naganuma first developed Japanese learning materials for non-Japanese students in 1931, our course curriculum has gone through many revisions and improvements. These Naganuma texts and aids have come to be used in Japanese language programs throughout the world and continue currently to serve as the primary curriculum and textbooks at the Naganuma School. This has allowed the School to continue effective instruction based on the Naganuma Method. Audio-visual and/or computer-aided learning methods are also an important and increasing element of our teaching programs.

The Naganuma leadership has been seen at the forefront of pedagogy in Japanese language instruction since 1931 through the curriculum development. It periodically publishes the “Nihongo Kyouiku Kenkyu” (“Journal of Japanese Language Study”) for those in the profession of teaching Japanese to non-Japanese students.