Japanese Language Class

If you get lost somewhere ?

2008-06-22T04:53:00.000-07:00

Get lost in an unknown place is an unwanted situation. But it happens in life. Say many times Sumimasen to any Japanese you see on the road. Japanese people are crazy to help you.

Never try to show that you are a BIG ZERO in Japanese and you can speak only English. That will be the biggest mistake foreigners may do in Japan. Japanese people due to difficulty in communicating may shy away from you. Japanese people want to help. They will left aside their work and come with you in order to guide you. But we should always start with a SUMIMASEN !

This works in almost all situation. Some phrases we must remember for survival in Japan !!

Our Starting Point

2008-06-21T09:42:00.000-07:00

After teaching the self introduction words and discussing about student's native language, Morishita sensei dived into Hiragana.

As told, there are three kinds of letters in Japanese: Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji. Hiragana and Katakana are phonetic representations of sounds while Kanji conveys the meaning as well as sounds.

Hiragana are used to write particles, the inflectable parts of words etc. Katakana are used to write foreign names and borrowed words. English is also used in between. Japanese name it Romaji.

As with any other language, Japanese also starts with 'A'. It is sounds somewhere between the 'a' in cat and the 'u' in cut.

Below is the list of Basic Hiragana consisting of 46 characters. Constant practice and revision is required to remember.

Reading Japanese News Paper

2008-06-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

Nihon no Shinbun o yomitai desu !I like to read Japanese newspaper like I read newspaper in my native language. Possible ?

Not crazy. It is a challenge. If I can read Japanese newspaper and understand, probably I can assume that my proficiency is at a good level.

Japan offers a great variety of Language learning resources from free to the nominally paid services. Foreigners can easily find out a Language teacher or institute to speed up their language skill. It takes time. But slow and steady progress is required as with any skill learning process. MLC Meguro Language center is one of the best I have seen through internet and recommended by Imade sensei. MLC provide a great lot of free stuff. For a primary student like me that is more than enough.

OVTA

2008-06-21T03:52:00.001-07:00

Our Nihongo lessons started on the middle of Feb 2008, just 17 days after my landing in Japan. I know only 'Ohayo gozaimasu' and rest everything was in English.

Company arranged the classes in OVTA - Overseas Vocational Training Association at Kahin Makuhari. My Indonesian friend Mustain-san was my guide in Tokyo. We started for our first lessons on a Saturday early morning from Kiba. We were told how to get into OVTA by train from Kiba. As per plan, we reached Nishi Funabashi and were confused how to go. Finally with the help of company colleagues we reached this building.

(When you bring staff from overseas for training, we back you up to the hilt)

This slogan says when Japanese companies bring staff from overseas, OVTA will support Japanese companies by giving skill training for foreign staff.

This is the reason why we are here in Kahin Makuhari. So, let us enter into OVTA.

Morishita Sensei & Imade Sensei

2008-06-21T03:48:00.000-07:00

After waiting in the longue, our Teacher came and introduced. She was the teacher for our first Japanese lesson - Morishita sensei. After two classes by Morishita sensei, another teacher, Imade sensei came to teach us. Two teachers shared the burden of teaching Japanese to us.

Students with Morishita sensei

Students with Imade sensei

Tomsan could not attend the last class and missing in photos

I felt as if I am attending my primary school. The teachers had taken care to teach us like children. While our children are attending schools, here in Japan we are attending the school !

During first lessons, the students strength was three - Mustain-san, Gou-san and myself. Later Tom-san and Arm-san joined to make the students wing more powerful. Teachers were careful to create a homely atmosphere.

Every week saturday from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, with coffee breaks in between, ten classes passed very fast.