On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations, the Japan Foundation Centre for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam (JFC) and Vietnam TV (VTV) in cooperation with Mitsubishi Corporation start broadcasting the series of the 25 episodes “Japanese language lesson, Erin challenges! I can speak Japanese.”

1) Airtime on VTV2
Every Thursday and Saturday 17:00~17:30
Every Friday and Monday 16:30~17:00 (rebroadcast)
2) The Schedule
1st broadcast Thur, 27th Nov 2008 17:00~17:30
1st rebroadcast Fri, 28th Nov 2008 16:30~17:00
2nd broadcast Sat, 29th Nov 2008 17:00~17:30
2nd rebroadcast Mon. 1st Dec 2008 16:30~17:00
The broadcasting of this Japanese lesson TV programme with Vietnamese explanation will not only be useful for Vietnamese people who learn Japanese but is also expected to increase the interest for the Japanese culture amongst Vietnamese
Program Outline
A growing number of young people are studying Japanese language because they are attracted to Japan’s “cool” culture. For these young people, The Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa, has developed the series “Erin’s Challenge! I Can Speak Japanese.”
The program features mini-dramas by up-and-coming actors together with clear and fun explanations by animation characters. In addition to language study, the program is designed to help learners develop an attitude conducive to cultural understanding.
■Title
“Erin’s Challenge! I Can Speak Japanese.”
■Production & Development
The Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa
■Co-production
NHK Educational Corporation
■ Production collaboration
Directions, Inc.
■Skit writer
Hirokazu Yamana
■Skit (mini-drama) cast
Ellie Toyota (Stardust Promotion, Inc.)
Kana Kurashina (SMA Entertainment, Inc.)
Meguru Ishii (P.B.B.)
Hideo Ishiguro (Production Ogi Co., Ltd.)
Jutta Yuki (Stardust Promotion, Inc.)
■Voice actors
Takashi Nagasako, Kayo Sakata
Characteristics
■Drama-style skits

Skits (basic and advanced) feature young actors and actresses, and are structured in a drama format so that Japanese-language learners can enjoy watching and studying. The basic skits center on the routine life of Erin (Ellie Toyota), an exchange student, and her classmates, Saki (Kana Kurashina) and Megumi (Meguru Ishii).
After each lesson’s skit, the things Erin can do in Japanese increase one by one.
The story of the advanced skits focuses on the relationships among Saki, Megumi and their friends, Kenta (Jutta Yuki) and Kaoru (Hideo Ishiguro). The advanced skits feature more natural conversation among Japanese people.
■Anchored and explained by animation characters

Japanese animations and comics enjoy worldwide popularity and are one of the reasons target learners are motivated to study Japanese. This material uses computer-generated animation characters to explain key phrases in skits and introduce individual sections. “Honigon” is the teacher, while the animated person of Erin learns Japanese from Honigon, and the data robot “N21-J”.
■Friends and advanced learners around the world encourage study of Japanese
In addition to video images of Japan, this material also introduces interviews with Japanese-language learners around the world and people who use Japanese in their work. It is hoped that showing video taken in over 10 different countries will encourage learners to study and set new goals.