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.