The experience of Japanese Language Tutor in TIUA

Aki and me in the closing of TIUA

When I went TIUA, I tried new things a lot and I had great times in there.

Japanese language tutor (JLT) was also one of my wonderful experiences.

In this volunteer, TIUA students who are interested in JLT can teach Japanese language and cultures for people that live in Salem or WU students about once a week. I love to share Japanese cultures with people, so I was interested in this project.

 

Have you ever been thought children’s minds are really difficult? I really think so to joined JLT. I work with my JLT tutor partner Aki and our tutees were 2 little girls. They are siblings. They were 9 years old and 5 years old, but they already knew hiragana and katakana because they were keeping learning Japanese since around 4 years ago. Their mother wanted them learn more Japanese language like basic greeting, some kanji, something fun things for a younger girl. It seemed easy to teach Japanese to them, but it was very patience work.



I made some handout for JLT.



We tried to teach some words, greetings, calligraphy, and origami, but it was difficult how to teach them to keep them enjoyed.

I thought, fun things are suit for them. I made the lyrics handout for them to put on cute characters' pictures. Then we taught some songs like “donguri korokoro”, but they said, “I don’t know this song…L” “I want origami…L” I thought they like other songs. So I prepared “kira kira boshi”, but they said same things as before! But, we didn’t give up. Aki and I sang together and we tried playing the piano. Then they tried to remember the songs! We often sang to do origami. I was glad they looked fun.



Especially I can’t forget a thing at the last JLT day. In Japan, I had never had a fun day in the last of the class, but I realized in U.S., the fun day is really important for children through this volunteer. In the last JLT day, they brought board games and they started to explain how to play the games, but I totally didn’t understand why they started to play. So, I said, “This is Japanese studying last time, so can you clean up?” then they started to cry. I really confused and upset. I apologized them again and again, but they kept crying. Then I didn’t have any ideas to make them happy.

at the party :)

After the last day, I talked with Aki, and we held the small party for them. It was Christmas season, so we gave them presents, and played together. I thought, they were mad at me, but they gave me hug and big smile! I relieved they enjoyed our party.

 I spent a lot of preparing time for JLT with Aki. It was really hard but I pleased to think about how make them enjoy to learn Japanese, what are good materials for children’s studying. Sometimes I was disappointed about their reactions, but it reminds me what I should do next. Now, I’m glad to joined JLT as a tutor.

Club activities memory in TIUA

I went to TIUA as study abroad in 2010.

First, I was very shy to make friends, but my days would be better when I joined club activities in Willamette University. If there are no club activities, I can join volunteer works but it supposed to be different life.

In WU, there are a lot of club activities like sports, religions, orchestras, sciences and more. When I was in there, I joined 2 clubs of knitting club and taiko drumming club.

In spring semester, I joined knitting club. I wanted someone teach me knitting, so I was lucky to joined the club. Anna was a very nice person. She taught me knitting and she is really good at knitting! I often get confused and asked help to her again and again, but each time, Anna helped me gently. We sometimes talked, and sometimes did knitting silently. I joined the Knitting club activity few times because I was getting busy of assignments, but now I miss the knitting club in WU. I hope Anna still remembers me.



After dinner, we practiced a lot at TIUA auditrium 2 times in a week.

In fall semester, I wanted to try something new, so I joined taiko club. My TIUA friend Yurie invited me because she already joined it from spring. Yurie and few TIUA students are members of taiko club in TIU. I think WU students are 10~12 people in the club. Most of them are interested in Japanese culture and some of them joined JSP program in TIU. So, TIU taiko club and WU taiko club had a wonderful tie of friendship in 2010. I was pleased to join them. I was beginner of taiko drumming, but TIU taiko friends and WU taiko friends taught me every time.





Jornathan often taught me taiko drumming.

 

I think it’s an amazing thing that some of WU students who were JSP students learned taiko in Japan after they taught me taiko in U.S.!

 WU taiko club joined many performance events in many places. Sometimes we cheered football game by taiko drumming. When TIUA staff gave us the opportunity in the nursing home, we performed in the church inside the building.  

Also our taiko teacher Kaoru-san held the performance at downtown in Salem 2 or 3 times.



downtown in Salem



Nick, Cat and I performed together.



Especially, we worked hard for A La Carte festival in November 2010. A la carte was held by TIUA students for sharing cultures, to make strong friendship, as a festival in WU. It was really busy to prepare the performance, but now I realized, it gave me precious memory.



my favorite picture in A La Carte!

 Now, I’m in TIU taiko club(the official name is TIUA太鼓).

We are really nice friends and we do club activity once a week.

I’m exciting to meet new JSP students and work together in this fall.



Genuine Taiwanese cuisine "Haha no Mise"




the middle building is "Haha no Mise."

 Have you ever eaten genuine Taiwanese cuisine?

Today, I recommend you a delicious Taiwanese cuisine small restaurant

"Haha no Mise" in Kasumigaseki, Saitama.

 The small restaurant is in near Tokyo International University Campus 1.

If you go to there from the entrance of TIU campus 1,

turn left to go to Asahi newspaper Kasumigaseki shop

and then you can see “Haha no Mise” across the Kasumi kita doori.



They have a lot of good dishes! Each dishes about 700yen~800yen.
When I went to there with 3 friends, we ordered 4 dishes, and
we paid just 750 yen in each!

 This restaurant is run by a family. The restaurant name “Haha no Mise” means “mom’s restaurant.” All of dishes are made by the owner lady. She is from Taiwan and her son always helps her. They are really nice to the guests. If you are students, you can eat two bowl of rice as free! Also every dishes are good to eat with 5~6 people.  Almost dishes have a lot of vegetables. It's good for health. Of course, they have genuine Taiwanese cuisine like, gyoza, mabo-doufu, and noodles.

 


In this dish, It's nice nutrition balance include seafood, vegetable and pork.

 

  Though students eat a lot but they can eat full, those aren't expensive.

If they can't eat more, the owner serves the take out box.

They open the restaurant around noon to night. If you go to there with many friends,

you need to call them before you go to there.

They sell lunch box around noon every day, so you can enjoy Taiwanese lunch!

   This restaurant is very comfortable atmosphere. It’s like home. If someone who lives alone near the campus, you should go there! You can eat delicious cuisine and it reminds you your mom used to make.






This chiken was really good!
This is one of my favorite. 

 



School of Language Communication



This is Nick's English lounge. There is good atmosphere to talk.
SLC students often enjoy talking in Englih.
Of course, other major students also can join it.



 School of Language Communication (=SLC) is in TIU campus 1. Now SLC has the Department of English Communication only. There are a lot of native English speaker teachers and the professors that who are specialist of English language. Students can learn English and great communication skills along to their 3 courses in SLC.



Students belong to the each seminar from freshman to senior. Freshman has the hardest schedule in SLC because they have a many English skills subjects as compulsory subjects. They learn the basics English skills. Freshman often go to LEAP and the English lounge. Except classes, they read short stories, and enjoy English conversation with native English speaker faculty and JSP students who are from the other countries. It’s very good opportunity to expand skills.



In sophomore year, half of SLC students go to TIUA and students keep learning communication and English skills, volunteer work, trying new things and a lot. Also, in TIU, every student can challenge advanced English classes. The difference of freshman classes is thinking about subjects in English from sophomore to senior. Junior and senior think about their job hunting, so they take classes along to own their needs. For example, students can take secretary applications grade 2, grade semi-1, and grade 1in practical business class by Professor. Sakao. Most of students try TOEIC in Junior. Also, some of classes are connecting interested jobs. English for Tourism by Sandra, students can learn about tourism in this class. Of course, SLC is not only English studying. Students can learn other language of Spanish, German, French, Chinese, and Korean. Like that, SLC is really attractive major in TIU.