As international borders begin to dissolve, students need to think and communicate across cultures to be successful. The Japanese K-16 Immersion Program, following the successful foreign language learning model pioneered by the Oregon Chinese Flagship Program, will prepare students to participate in this cross-cultural climate.

The University of Oregon's Center for Asian and Pacific Studies is collaborating with the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures and Portland Public Schools to develop the K-16 program. CASLS and researchers at California State University at Long Beach are conducting a feasibility study to understand students' strengths and weaknesses, which will lead to a tailored curriculum best suited to help them succeed.

• Learn Japanese language and experience the culture in an immersion setting
• Receive quality K-12 content-based instruction, explicit language instruction, and experiential learning opportunities
• Enroll in regular courses at the University of Oregon, taught in English, along with discussion courses taught in Japanese
• Study abroad at a university in Japan their junior year, enrolling in regular courses in their major with native-speaking peers
• Complete a senior thesis to showcase their academic, language, and cultural skills
• Graduate with professional-level Japanese skills, which makes them competitive for graduate school or employment

The Japan Foundation sponsors this program for students studying Japanese language and culture.