News

“English cultures – Focusing on English garden” By Ms. Kay Yamada

Date & Time: Starting at 1:30 pm on March 26, 2011
Place: Audio-Visual Room, 2F in Handa Fukushi Bunka Kaikan
Fee: Free for the association members, others 1000 Yen
Max. Number of audience: 90
Contact: Handa International Association office

General Assembly of Handa International Association

Date & Time: Starting at 6:30 pm on May 6, 2011
Place: Audio Visual Room, 2F in Handa Fukushi Bunka Kaikan
Commemorative lecture will be held after the general assembly.

Japanese language in daily life

The class was held for 8 months from July 2010 to February 2011 to assist the daily life of foreign residents (For example, rubbish classifying, shopping, employment interview, etc.) It was sponsored by Aichi prefecture.

★〜Hand-made teaching materials〜

I supposed that we could use a low level teaching materials. But, many Chinese characters are used in actual life and it is pretty difficult for Japanese class students who do not use Chinese characters in their home countries .to learn Japanese with text books commercially available. So, we made teaching materials ourselves.

We went to Handa city office, hospitals, railway stations, etc. to collect the data for teaching materials. Thanks to those efforts, our teaching materials are practical and useful at a conversation lesson. It was a good experience for Japanese class students to talk directly with the people in Handa city office including the mayor of Handa, policemen and firefighters.

I suppose the lessons to write a resume and prepare for an interview were very useful to the students. Some of the students got a job later. .I will continue to improve our class to meet the student needs.

Ritsuko Ina, Instructor in Japanese class

★〜Example 〜

When they learned hospitals, they practiced role playing at the scene of reception, medical room, payment and pharmacy so that they can better understand the flow at a hospital.
When we spoke with simple Japanese words, the students could almost understand. But, at the scene for a patient to describe a headache to a doctor, he/she would say “a pain of Zuki Zuki or Gahn Gahn” if he/she were Japanese. But, it might be difficult for foreigners to understand those feelings. Actually, those foreigners whose Japanese skill was not high could not explain their symptoms well.

Mayuko Yamamoto, Instructor in Japanese class

★〜Sufficient service should be provided by public organizations 〜

I would like to propose the below two things to improve our Japanese class for foreign residents.
1 When we teach Japanese, it is one of effective ways to get the students to repeat a role playing at a daily life. By doing so, they can learn more practical Japanese conversation.
2 In order for foreign residents to live in Handa area comfortably, public governmental offices should provide sufficient services to them. In order to make it happen, they should sincerely solve various issues including language barrier.

Nobuo Ohashi, Team Leader

※ I think that Japanese and foreign people should cooperate more so that people in a local society can live together in more diversified culture environment.

★〜Thank you very much, teachers! 〜

�@　I learned Japanese history, culture, geography, etc. in Japanese class for a daily life. Specially, it is a big help for me to study the customs in a daily life and the words used in a daily life. Before I joined the class, I really had a hard time in various occasions such as a social life with neighbors, a conversation at a hospital or a bank etc.

A girl friend of my son is Japanese. When she first came to our house, my family members were so delighted that I cooked Chinese dishes to welcome her. But, there were some misunderstanding as the traditions were different and I could not speak Japanese. My son explained to us in both Japanese and Chinese. Then, we understood each other.

After that, I wanted to study Japanese language and traditions. As Japanese class for a daily life just started, I joined the class. I understood many Japanese traditions through the study of Japanese language. In addition to it, I understood a tenderness of Japanese people as the teachers of the class were tender. Thank you very much, teachers!

I hope this class continues. This class is a big help for foreign residents in Japan.

Ｌｉ　Ｎａ From Cｈｉｎａ,  Student in Japanese class

�A I can not tell you how lonely I was everyday. I had no acquaintances in Handa, even though one year passed after I came to Japan. One day, Ms. brought a Handa city bulletin and said “There is an organization for International culture exchange in Kariyado hall.

I visited Handa International Association with a great anxiety. But, all association members were very kind to me and my anxiety disappeared. Then, I took Japanese class for daily life. In the class, I learned not only Japanese language but many things about Japan such as Japanese social manners, customs, traditions, etc. After I took a lesson to classify rubbish, I could dump rubbish correctly. I felt I became much more used with Japanese life. It was very useful.

I can classify rubbish myself. It is very useful. I have got used with a Japanese life.

Ｚｈｏｕ　ＹｕａｎＹｕａｎ　from China ,Students in Japanese class

Foreign residents had a meeting with the mayor of Handa

Foreign residents had long desired a meeting with the mayor of Handa. It was actually happened on February 3, 2011. 10 foreign residents (Australian, Sri Lankan, Chinese and Brazilian) joined the meeting.

★Chinese woman (13 years in Japan)
When I was sick, I did not know what I should do and where I should go. I had a very difficult time as I had no information and could not speak Japanese. I want to know important information, for example, a medical subsidiary.

★Australian man (15 years in Japan)
I recently heard a social problem that there are a bulling to a foreign children in a school. They suffer bulling, only because they look different, their languages are different and their names are different from Japanese children. We have to do something to stop it. I think we have the same problem among adults.

★Sri Lankan student (14 years in Japan)
It is very difficult for foreign children to study in Japan and go to a high class school. I think that they can be educated much better if they can receive a good environment and assistance at the education of foreign children.

★Chinese woman (10 days in Japan)
I am pleased I can learn Japanese. I am pleased to meet the mayor of Handa. Although the price is high in Japan, it is good to live in Japan.

★Korean woman (15 years in Japan)
After I came to Japan, I had a difficult time to speak Japanese. But, since I joined Japanese class, I can speak Japanese gradually. I am thankful very much. My problem is that I can not find a job.

★Brazilian woman
I have a problem of transportation. I am living in the suburbs of Handa. As I am old, I have no choice on transportation. I hope they increase a bus service.

★Sri Lankan student (１５years in Japan)
I am glad that we had an opportunity to talk with the mayor of Handa on various issues and problems of foreign residents in Handa.
I have lived in several different places in Japan. But, I think Handa is the best place to live. I know there are many voluntary activities which children can participate. Yet, I hope we can have more opportunities to speak out the problems of foreign children.

★Chinese woman (2 years in Japan)
It was a wonderful time for us to meet with the mayor of Handa. I thank to the mayor of Handa for this nice meeting. He kindly advised us for many problems which we, foreign residents, had. I hope we can meet him again. But, I am afraid it would be difficult as he is busy everyday.
Thanks to the Handa International Association staff, I am feeling that Japan is a nice country to live. I would like to repay for their kindness someday.

★ (7 years in Japan)
Handa city is a convenient and quiet town. I am taking Japanese class conducted by Handa International Association three days a week. I want to continue to take the class. I hope they provide such an environment that foreigners can easily get a job. I think the city government should inform foreigners of Japanese class conducted by Handa International Association so that foreigners can be aware of Japanese class, when they apply a foreigner registration at the city office.

★★★
The mayor of Handa said that he wanted to positively tackle various issues so that foreign residents could live in Handa more easily. The mayor of Handa sent us a letter later to answer the question which had been prepared in advance. We thank to the mayor of Handa for attending the meeting.