WHAT: A reception to introduce and celebrate the creation of the nation’s first Japanese language textbook for elementary school children. The text and curriculum was produced at the University of Oregon with a grant from U S West.

WHEN: 3 p.m., Tuesday, May 11

WHERE: Galleria, State Capitol, Salem

WHO:

• Stan Bunn, state superintendent of public instruction
• Dave Frohnmayer, UO president
• Joe Cox, chancellor, Oregon University System
• Larry Huss, vice president-Oregon, US West

• Students from the Japanese Magnet Program at Richmond Elementary School in Portland

BACKGROUND:

Following the announcement of the successful conclusion to a six-year effort to design an elementary school Japanese language curriculum, Portland Japanese language students will entertain the guests with Japanese songs at a reception in the Galleria. The UO’s Center for Applied Japanese Language Studies began developing the Japanese language curriculum project in 1994 through a six-year $332,000 grant from
U S West. The grant supported work to create the nation’s first elementary-level Japanese language text and supporting assessment and curriculum materials as well as supporting Japanese curriculum study for elementary language teachers.

The textbook and curriculum will be offered free to schools in Oregon and sold to elementary schools across the nation. More than 100 Oregon elementary school teachers of Japanese have already benefited from the grant.

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