Community "Nihongo Kyoshitsu" Activities Report, vol.11
The regional Japanese language education coordinators of the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation "TSUNAGARI" are visiting Japanese classes in Tokyo and introducing them in the Community "Nihongo Kyoshitsu" Activities Report.
In our eleventh report, we are introducing "ONIGIRI Multilingual Club" in Shinjuku City.
About Shinjuku City
As you undoubtedly know, Shinjuku is one of Tokyo's most bustling areas, and a center of business, entertainment, and culture. It is also the area in Tokyo with the highest percentage of foreign residents, who make up 14% of the city's population.
Iidabashi, the district of Shinjuku where the ONIGIRI Multilingual Club operates, is easy to access by transportation and is characterized by its blend of historic and modern elements. Iidabashi is well known as an area replete with cultural and commercial facilities.
Population (as of April 1, 2024): 354,124
Foreign population: 43,691
About the ONIGIRI Multilingual Club
The ONIGIRI Multilingual Club is a Japanese class that began its activities in 2022.
The club operates out of the Tokyo Voluntary Action Center (TVAC), which is located next to Iidabashi Station on the JR Sobu line.
Aiming to provide conversational Japanese classes, the ONIGIRI Multilingual Club currently has three groups: beginner conversation, intermediate conversation, and JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) preparation. Supporters work with one group for about three months, then change groups by rotation.
The current beginner conversation group is being led by two university student supporters. A projector is used in the learning process, which helps to foster a sense of togetherness, as everyone is looking at the same screen. I was also impressed by the way the students were helping each other to practice conversation.
On the day we visited, there were some students for whom even joining the beginner conversation group was a challenge. These students were studying one-on-one with the aim of joining the beginner group.
Classes for the intermediate level conversation group are conducted at native speed, and the students were taking notes and studying diligently.
The primary objective of the JLPT preparation class is not to obtain the certification but rather to use the JLPT as a way to keep up students' motivation and manage the progress of their learning. On the day we visited, the students were taking a practice test before the exam.
According to the representative I spoke with, the ONIGIRI Multilingual Club is focused on conversation-based learning, and also aims to improve the supporters' skills in the future. Many of the supporters are also enthusiastic, and there are several who have taken or are currently taking the 420-hour Japanese language teacher training course.
The students at every level are enthusiastic about learning, and the enthusiasm of the supporters is also being conveyed to them in return, which creates a positive feedback loop for the class as a whole.
Thoughts on our visit…
I learned from the representative I spoke to that the classes were not originally divided into groups, and that groups were formed and teaching methods were changed in line with students'needs and other factors. I thought it was amazing to first have the drive to start a Japanese class on your own, and then the ability to adopt a trial-and-error approach to continue it thereafter. I could sense that Japanese language education in the community is sustained by supporters who are passionate about it.
by MN