Accelerating Japanese Language Proficiency for Migrant Workers Through a Blended Learning Model: A Case Study at LPK K-Japan

Abstract

Meeting the JFT-Basic A2 proficiency standard for Indonesian migrant worker candidates under the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) scheme is frequently constrained by limited preparation time. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing a blended learning model to optimize a highly accelerated four-month intensive training program. Utilizing a descriptive quantitative case study approach, this research observed 9 students from the first batch at LPK K-Japan who completed a total curriculum of ±450 hours. The instructional design strictly separated effective face-to-face classroom hours (09:00–16:00), which focused on fundamental input, communication practice (kaiwa), and reading comprehension (dokai), from post-class activities that utilized a digital Learning Management System (LMS) asynchronously for rote memorization of kanji and vocabulary. Preliminary results from the first wave of the JFT-Basic A2 competency test (May 2026) demonstrated a 50% pass rate (2 out of 4 students), with high-score achievements of 240 and 220 out of 250 points, respectively. The findings indicate that students with a higher education background (Bachelor's degree) exhibited superior adaptability in managing independent digital learning outside the classroom compared to vocational high school graduates. The blended learning model proved effective in proportionally distributing students' cognitive load to meet a dense curriculum schedule, although additional scaffolding strategies are required for students with varying independent learning profiles.

Keywords: Blended Learning, Cognitive Maturity, JFT-Basic A2, LMS, Migrant Workers.