Developing e-learning system of Japanese language for foreign students in Japan

In this paper, we describe the e-learning system for Japanese language we are developing.Japanese language education for foreign student is the one of the fields that is appropriate for e-learning. However, there are neither sufficient contents nor systems that are successful in sustaining motivation of users.Our project team proposes a content set with various devices to maintain learners' motivation.Such devices produce not a passive study style but an active, autonomous study style using web-based learning.It will provide conversation practice by using avatars, courses with stories and simulating games, and a web-based learners' dictionary.It will also provide a platform for interactions among learners and between learners and Japanese native speaking volunteers through a self-organized SNS and/or web phones.The whole of the content and system will be accessible by all of the higher education institutions in Japan.