In English we can express in several ways the idea of foreigners learning
English, or teaching themselves something.

My title isn't totally clear so I'm looking for the name of the topic, not
what you call a person who's doing it.

For instance, here are some of the common ways to express it in English:

**General, but on your own:**

  * Self study
  * Teach yourself

**Specifically language learning, with our without a teacher:**

  * English for non-native speakers
  * English as a second language
  * ESL

**What is the equivalent topic called in Japanese?**

For instance, what might be on the sign for the section in a bookshop in Japan
with Japanese textbooks for English speakers?
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phrase-requests
Usual term for the topic of foreigners learning Japanese?
If you're looking at a book store you'll probably find those kinds of books in
the 語学{ごがく} section. You'll generally find JLPT test prep or other English-
language materials for learning Japanese there (at least in my experience), as
well as a variety of other foreign language learning materials.
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I think the name will vary and in smaller book shops where sales of foreign
books let alone Japanese text books are rare you may not find anything.

By chance today I noticed in Kinokuniya, one of the largest book shops in
Tokyo, that the Japanese text book section was next to the foreign books and
magazine section and split into:

> 日本語教育 and "Learning Japanese".

The more difficult books seemed to be in the 日本語教育 section.

Books on 国語 are normally near the foreign books, in between you will probably
find sections on Japanese text books, how to teach Japanese (in Japanese),
"About Japan"/Japanese Culture, Japanese readers and learning other languages
(eg Chinese).

As I said, I think the name varies but if you don't want to ask for 日本語の教科書
(中古＝2nd hand) then I would start by looking for foreign books or 国語 sections.
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