Active teaching method is a student-centered teaching method, linked to practice, promoting learners’ proactive abilities and working skills. The method brings many positive results, but when implemented in practice, it also faces many difficulties. This article systematizes the theoretical basis of active teaching methods through an overview of domestic and foreign research, and clarifies the current status of applying active teaching methods in teaching Japanese at the Japanese language department of Foreign Trade University through a survey of students of course K59. Analysis of the survey results shows good effects towards the teaching goals of the Faculty but also shows difficulties in applying it to propose measures to increase the application of this method in teaching Japanese in particular and foreign languages in general.