Press Releases

NTT Communications Adds Self-learning Program to "Visual Learning .Japanese" Cloud-based Japanese Study Service
VLJ Basic 1 enables mastery of beginners’ Japanese in six months

TOKYO, Japan — July 21, 2015 — NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com), the ICT solutions and international communications business within NTT (NYSE: NTT), announced today that it has added a handy self-learning program to its cloud-based Japanese-study service, called Visual Learning .Japanese (VLJ). Targeted at foreign employees of Japanese companies, the program can be accessed with personal computers and mobile devices, effective immediately.

NTT Com has been offering VLJ in cooperation with a noted Japanese language school, the Shinjuku Japanese Language (SNG), since October 2013. It is a "blended learning" style of study combining online study via mobile devices and offline study in classrooms. The course is based on unique teaching methods developed by SNG.

The new self-study program uses e-learning to enable busy office workers to learn Japanese on their own without having to attend language classes regularly. The inaugural course for learning beginner’s-level Japanese is called Visual Learning .Japanese Basic 1 (VLJ Basic 1).

VLJ Basic Japanese enables quick, low-cost language study using rich, interactive e-learning materials via PCs and mobile devices. The course involves taking 96 lessons over a six-month period to master Japanese equivalent to the level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N5. Each lesson can be completed within 15 minutes and more than one lesson can be taken per day. The course focuses on expressions essential for business, such as self-introductions, responding on the phone and honorific language. Also, benchmarks allow students to check their progress.

VLJ uses the Ezoe Method, an innovative teaching method that enables newcomers to the Japanese language to quickly understand difficult characteristics of the language. The Ezoe Method was designed by SNG Principal Takahide Ezoe. One of the key teaching methods is the use of color-coded cards that indicate parts of speech. The use of gestures also figures prominently in the Ezoe Method.

Attachment 1: Ezoe Method

Although language study usually depends heavily on instruction by a teacher, the VLJ Basic 1 online textbook assumes this role. Study guides in the textbook direct the student to online videos and device applications to deepen their understanding of grammar and other points that they just learned (see Attachment 2: VLJ Basic 1 system).

Since VLJ Basic 1 is a self-learning program that does not involve teachers or classrooms, enterprises can lower their employee-education workload by deploying the program. Also, managers can check each student’s progress and make sure that they are keeping up with their studies, which is sometimes a problem in self-learning.

The suggested price of the course is 160 USD. (USD price assumes at 1 USD to 123.75 yen. Price may vary by currency or country of payment. For more information, please contact NTT Com at vlj_info@ntt.com. Usage is possible for six months from the first day of access. Materials include a textbook (PDF), learning website (video and quizzes) and device app (grammar and vocabulary notebook).

As an optional service, VLJ Basic 1 also offers group lessons taught by a Japanese teacher who is dispatched to the customer’s office for in-person (offline) training using the Ezoe Method (see Attachment 3: VLJ Basic 1 Details).

Going forward, NTT Com expects to add other online study courses for mastering conversations, higher levels and business Japanese.

Related webpage: Visual Learning .Japanese: http://www.ntt.com/vlj_e/

NTT Com’s press release published on October 31, 2013: NTT Communications Launches Cloud Service For Japanese Language Education: http://www.ntt.com/aboutus_e/news/data/20131031.html

About NTT Communications Corporation

NTT Communications provides consultancy, architecture, security and cloud services to optimize the information and communications technology (ICT) environments of enterprises. These offerings are backed by the company’s worldwide infrastructure, including the leading global tier-1 IP network, the Arcstar Universal One™ VPN network reaching 196 countries/regions, and 130 secure data centers worldwide. NTT Communications’ solutions leverage the global resources of NTT Group companies including Dimension Data, NTT DOCOMO and NTT DATA.
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