The Laurasian Institution is a non-profit organization that designs and manages educational and cross-cultural programs and Internet-assisted learning environments that endeavor to communicate and further cultural understanding among the countries of Asia, North America, and Europe. A variety of approaches are used at the Institution to deliver its educational programs including professional development seminars and workshops, exchange visits and study tours, and on-line distance education and professional development.

Along with providing professional development for teachers of Japanese, The Laurasian Institution is involved in the following initiatives:


The Japanese Language Exchange Program (JALEX): JALEX is an educational exchange program funded by the Japan Foundation's Center for Global Partnership. The program pairs novice teachers from Japan with mentor teachers in the United States in precollegiate Japanese language classrooms. JALEX is designed to mutually benefit teachers from Japan and teachers and students from the United States. The focus on team-teaching produces an exciting atmosphere for students to learn about the language, culture and people of Japan.


New Perspectives: Japan (NP:J): NP:J is a three-phase program centered around a two-week study tour to Japan. The program begins five weeks before departure with weekly lessons on a theme that a Japanese language class chooses. The class then travels to Japan where students will visit a Japanese school, live with a Japanese host family, visit historical sites in Tokyo and Kyoto, and strengthen Japanese language skills while experiencing Japanese culture first hand. After returning home, the group then engages in a structured process to assess their experiences and reinforce what they have learned.


APEC Education Foundation (AEF): Through an agreement with the US State Department, The Laurasian Institution is responsible for establishing the APEC Education Foundation and for serving the Foundation in an agency capacity. The Foundation is an independent grant-making organization which supports research, scholarship, and educational programs related to the Asia-Pacific region. The mission of the Foundation is to support the achievement of free and open trade and investment in the Asian-Pacific region. The Foundation seeks to achieve this mission by encouraging a sense of community among the members of APEC.

© 1998 The Laurasian Institution