About Community-based Japanese Language Classes and Support -What Was Gained From the Community-Based Japanese Language Classes-

I attended one Japanese language class for about 5 years.

I attended Japanese classes from the 1st grade of elementary school to the 3rd grade of junior high school. I could already speak Japanese well, but I really enjoyed learning about Japanese culture, because we speak Spanish at home, and it is basically Peruvian culture.

I have been attending the same class for 31 years. I have been going to another class for more than 20 years. I have studied Japanese for about 12 to 13 years. Both classes have been a great help to me, and now I teach and study with them as a volunteer.

I learned many things in the Japanese language class. In addition to language and information, we were taught about Japanese culture. For example, on Children's Day, we must have an iris bath. I have continued to have iris bath every year since my teacher taught me. I love it because it smells so good. I am very happy to have made friends with the teachers and to have gotten to know people in the community.

I was able to learn Japanese in depth at the Japanese language class, and it has led me to my current job. I am able to teach my students because I was able to study Japanese well. I was able to learn how to explain things that are difficult to explain from my teachers.

The first time I learned Japanese was when I was shopping at a store. At that time, I did not know how to say what I wanted to say because we did not buy vegetables at a supermarket but at a grocery store and rice at a rice shop. So I was speaking a little English. In Japanese language classes, we were told not to use English, so I struggled to learn Japanese.

I don't know if I would have grown so much if I had not encountered the Japanese language classes. I met and became friends with many people in the Japanese language class, and through that connection, I ended up getting married. And because of the Japanese language class, I was able to get my driver's license in one shot.

The Japanese language class is very important for me. I feel sorry for my children because I came here not knowing Japanese, so I couldn't do anything. Once I learned Japanese, I could lead a normal life. Raising a child is also very different between Japan and China. My 1st childbirth was difficult, and my 2nd childbirth was also difficult because it was during the pandemic, but it was a little easier because I could speak Japanese.

The good thing is that I was able to meet my teacher. They gave me a lot of support. I teach my students with the same energy as that teacher. The students always tell me how much fun it is.

I am glad that I was able to meet many different people. Most of the people who came with me from Bangladesh at that time are no longer in Japan. They have all gone back home. I think they still needed support in terms of mental health. Since everyone has moved away, I think it is important to meet new people and stabilize your mentality. If I had not encountered the Japanese language class, I might have returned to my home country.

What I have learned at the Community Japanese Language Class has led me to my current job. The same is true for what I have learned, the encounters I have had, and the job I have found. I think it was very effective for me.

I think that I have acquired the skills to live in Japan. We speak Chinese basically only at home. My children do not speak Chinese outside the home. It is not because we are embarrassed to speak Chinese, but because everyone speaks Japanese, so we can speak with them.

If I could not speak Japanese, I would not have been able to keep up with my work. I would not be able to get a driver's license, and I would not be able to teach karate. When my children were young, they once told me, "Daddy, you can't speak Japanese, but you want us to study". When I became able to speak Japanese, I was able to say, "At least your father can write some kanji". Now I can interact with everyone in the community, I can speak in any situation, and I can communicate with strangers. So going to Japanese language classes has given me confidence in myself.

It would be nice if there is a Japanese language class in the evening that I can go to after work. Or it would be nice if there was a place where I could go on either Saturday or Sunday. Some people go to church on Sundays, so Saturday would be better.

I am a housewife, so I would like to be able to study with my children. I would like to attend a class when my child is about 3 years old, if there is a class I can take her to as well.

The Japanese language class I go to allows children to come. If they are noisy, you can leave at any time you want. Just by saying hello, you can learn a lot. Japanese language classes are not just about learning the language. You can meet and get to know a lot of different people.

Also, if it was for children, I would appreciate it if they could teach not only Japanese but also other school subjects. It would also be nice if we could go together as a family. Parents can study Japanese and their children can study their school subjects at the same place. Such a place would bring families together.

To hold a Japanese language class, first of all, you need a place. You also need teaching materials. The ward subsidizes the cost, but even so, every week volunteers and students pay 100 yen each. It would be nice if we could borrow them for free. The ward office may not have the budget, so we may need support from the government.

It was a safe and enjoyable place. I was born and raised in Japan, so there are things in my daily life that I have a hard time asking friends and people around me. I could ask anything to the teachers, so I felt very safe and was able to talk about anything with them.

When I don't understand Japanese, I feel anxious because I cannot speak. When I study in a Japanese language class, I feel comfortable and can speak calmly. I have children, so if I cannot speak Japanese, my children cannot play with each other with other children, and there are many difficulties. There is a big difference between being able to speak Japanese and not being able to speak Japanese.
Going to Japanese language classes changes one's life. It also relieves stress. Also, we could talk to the teachers about various things and they gave us information, which was very helpful.

When I started going to the Japanese language class, it was only once a week on Saturdays. I was stressed at work because I didn't understand Japanese, so I was looking forward to Saturdays in my mind. When I went to the Japanese language class and saw everyone's faces, I could release all the stress and everything. The cheerful atmosphere and the smiling faces that greeted me was like heaven for me. At the time, the rules were strict and we were not allowed to exchange phone numbers or go out for fun. Still, everyone was single, so we went out to eat and hang out every week. The Japanese language class was a place I really looked forward to.