我孫子市国際交流協会

Date: Nov.20 (Tue), 2:00 p.m.~4:40 p.m.
Venue: Abiko Civic Plaza, Room 1.
Planned by: AIRA (Japanese language class)
Attended by: 27 voluntary teachers

The class was originally advocated by Professor Hiroaki Kitamura, who had given valued lessons in 2006 to those who had will to learn the "How to teach Japanese" course, to give supplemental lectures for those graduates.

Professor Kitamura began the class by saying, "Just raise any kinds of questions, problems, or whatever you might have in your teaching Japanese".

A student made a question1: A foreign couple now studying in Japan has a child of an elementary school 4th grade. The child is able to communicate with class mates, but is very difficult to follow the class. What would be your advice for this case ?

Prof. Kitamura's comment: Teaching foreign children is hard working.
The said child primarily had been needed the JSL education.(JSL=Japanese as Second Language).
A pupil spends his day in a surrounding of school and what he touches are school subjects. The teaching method in Japan is strictly based on the subject teaching. Therefore, if he can not understand a subject his brain would cause a rejection against it, then ends in losing interest in the school.
The child should learn "daily language" and "language understandable for the subject" at the same time.
A teacher's license holder can only teach a subject, therefore, if a non-qualified Japanese volunteer teaches any subject, it would exceed outright his authority.
A JSL child's position tends to be unstable because of parents' circumstances such as a sudden return or like, which may give bad effect to his achievement.
It's not recommendable to soak a foreign child in Japanese culture.
He should esteem the culture and language of his mother country.
You are required to encourage him that the experience of culture in Japan would be a valuable asset for him in future.

An ability for language usage:
When someone says to you, "Tea is ready, Sir ", you shouldn't say simply, "Oh, I see". What is really required is your ability to step a little further to understand another meaning involved that, "Tea is ready. Please enjoy it."

Every Japanese teacher should set up a definite achievement target to which level you would intend to raise the foreign learners. Teaching Japanese endlessly to the same student is improper.
You should not be eased to see that your student nods to your question like "Do you understand?", or "Are you all right?".
More important thing for you is that you raise a concrete question and make him answer in voice.
The repetition is one of the most important issues in language education.

In the latter half, the professor switched to the Q and A style, relaxing by taking tea and some cookies.
He stressed that knowledge of grammar is so vital in teaching that any teacher is required to always study it hard.

He also gave a detailed explanation on the usage of postpositional particle of Japanese, "Ga" and "Ha".

His lengthy but humorous lesson made the attendants happy and made them forget the time.

< Prev		Next >