Paper short abstract:

Kobanashi (short Rakugo style jokes) allow learners of various backgrounds and levels to enjoy creative learning of Japanese language and culture on an equal basis. An international non-competitive Kobanashi festival, its community building and the development of the involved teachers are presented.

Paper long abstract:

We will report on the development of Japanese language teachers through kobanashi - short jokes performed in the traditional rakugo style.

Kobanashi has become increasingly popular in Japanese language education in the last few years. Without any special equipment, it allows anyone to experience the Japanese language and culture creatively.

The collaborations started in October 2020, when approximately 20 Japanese language teachers from all over Europe met through the online 'Kobanashi workshop for Educators'. Most of the participants had never met before, but after the workshop, they not only practised kobanashi in their own educational settings, but also kept in touch, visited each other's classes and provided exchange opportunities for learners. Moreover, they jointly set up an international online kobanashi presentation festival for their learners.

In the first year, they collected videos of kobanashi performed by Japanese language learners and screened them in an online festival on Zoom. Family and friends of the performers were also invited as audience. The goal was to create a space where learners of various backgrounds and proficiency levels could participate on an equal basis and enjoy each other’s performance without competition. In 2022, they set up a monthly joint rehearsal space open to anyone and encouraged teachers to participate actively. Indeed, both teachers and learners participated at the second festival as performers.

The whole activity is becoming more fun.

Kobanashi contains elements common to all humans, such as laughter and non-verbal expression, which is why it can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of the proficiency level, mother tongue or age.

Through the collaborative process, the teachers broadened their horizons and became aware of the variety of educational settings and approaches for learning or teaching Japanese. It allowed them to see themselves as partners in the process of learning Japanese and awakened the desire to continue creating collaborative learning environments for themselves and their learners.