2024.12.11

Report on the Fifth Activity

We will be introducing voices from supporting staff, learners, and visitors.
The next meeting is Sunday, December 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Endo Lene

Hello, I’m Lena Endo. I’m a senior in college. I’ve joined this activity twice now. I studied abroad to the U.S. while I was in college. I wanted to study abroad to the U.S. because of studying English in middle school. While in the U.S., I could not only improve my English skills but also experience different cultures and meet many people who had different cultures. It was such a precious time for me. I’m looking forward to experiencing a lot through joining this activity.
Endo Lena

Sasaki Kazutaka

I am a staff member who is in charge of a group of junior high school students and mainly assists those of foreign nationality in improving their proficiency in Japanese. I take part in similar activities at Tochigi Voluntary Evening Junior High School, Utsunomiya and at Utsunomiya University. My academic interest is chiefly in the explication of structure and function of English and Japanese. The other day (in the 5th activity), a new learner came to our group. I asked her what to learn and then she answered kanji [Chinese characters]. So, we began with the confirmation of reading and meaning of some basic kanji by using a list of elementary Chinese characters. Then, I asked another staff member to read a passage written in simple Japanese aloud by phrase by phrase, asked the learner to repeat after the staff member, and finally we succeeded in checking the outline of the passage and the meaning of a certain important kanji. From my adaptable and precious experience and knowledge like this, I will respect each learner’s hope and intention and make a steady progress together with learners and other staff members. Such a process shows that learners and assisting staff members enjoy a cooperative and interactive activity, partly because I can also learn a lot from learners and other staff members. If necessary, I will assist you in learning about subjects such as English or mathematics. Thank you. (SASAKI Kazutaka)
Sasaki Kazutaka

Tamaki Matsuo

This is Tamaki, the family member of Kuta (a very, very cute dog, who flops on my face every day). The year 2024 is almost over. What kind of year was it for you this year? Thanks to the opening of the Tochigi Kura no Machi Voluntary Night School, Tochigi City has become a very familiar place to me. I look forward to visiting Tochigi City on Sunday mornings. This is because both the students and the support staff are unique and friendly people. There are very few places where people of diverse ages and nationalities can learn and interact together. Let's grow this multicultural time and space together. Everyone! Please come to the last opening day of the year on the 22nd.
Tamaki Matsuo with Kuta
I am Kuta