Experiences – Life – Inspiration 🇨🇭🇯🇵

Recently, I discovered that local municipalities in Gifu Prefecture offer free Japanese lessons to non-Japanese speakers. These lessons take place every first and third Sunday from 10 AM to 12 PM at a community center in Kasamatsu.

No prior enrollment is required; participants can simply show up and start taking lessons from a Japanese teacher.

On my first day, I was unsure of what to expect or how the lessons would be conducted.

Upon arrival, I informed the organizer that I had zero knowledge of Japanese. The organizer, who spoke English, asked me to fill out a form with personal details. Afterward, I took a seat at one of the classroom tables and waited. I observed other teachers providing one-on-one lessons to other students, but my assigned teacher was not immediately present.

Shortly after, a young Japanese woman sat across from me. She didn’t resemble a typical Japanese teacher; instead, she was a volunteer who happened to be a student herself. She explained that she volunteered to teach these lessons not only to help others but also to practice her English skills. Having spent time in Canada, she sought to maintain her proficiency in English by conversing with native speakers.

This arrangement proved beneficial for both of us, as it allowed her to practice English while I learned Japanese. We began by creating a name card with my name written in Japanese and then proceeded to review the personal details form. I expressed my preference to focus on spoken Japanese before delving into reading and writing.

My rationale for prioritizing spoken Japanese stemmed from its practicality; mastering verbal communication would enable me to navigate daily interactions more efficiently. As for written communication, tools like Google Lens with its translation feature sufficed for the time being.

The classroom setting evoked a sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of my school days. Prior to this, my Japanese learning had primarily been through apps like DuoLingo.

The two-hour lesson at the community center proved challenging yet rewarding, as it compelled me to speak Japanese more freely. Unlike language apps, having a real-life teacher provided invaluable feedback, accelerating my learning process.

Although I struggled to retain everything taught during the lesson, particularly when tested by my wife later that day, I recognized that mastering Japanese would require consistent practice over time.

Despite the initial difficulties, I left the lesson feeling motivated to continue attending the free Japanese learning sessions.

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