2017 Japanese-Language Assistants’ Report: Bringing a Smile to Ukraine through the Power of Japanese-Language Education

Kyiv National Linguistic University
　SAITO Chika

My Place of Dispatch

The Kyiv National Linguistic University (hereafter referred to as the "Linguistic University") is one of the major Japanese-language education institutions in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. It has an Interpretation & Translation Course and a Literature Course, and currently has about 230 students studying Japanese. I have been dispatched by the Japan Foundation as a Japanese-Language Assistant (hereafter referred to as "Assistant") to the Linguistic University.

Conversation Classes and Current Issues

Photograph of a lesson in progress
A lesson in progress

As the only native speaking teacher of Japanese at the Linguistic University, I teach conversation classes to students from first year through to third year. Nowadays, it is possible to get information about Japan and communicate with Japanese people through the Internet, and there are several teachers who have studied in Japan, so students have various knowledge about Japan and interest in the country. However, in reality, there are very few opportunities to interact with Japanese people or use Japanese language in Kiev. For many students, the conversation classes are the only opportunity to speak directly with a native Japanese speaker in Japanese. I try to give students the maximum possible opportunity to speak using their own comprehensive Japanese skills. In addition, I do not just talk with them, but rather, have them think and deepen their understanding by incorporating Japanese situations into the discussion.

However, in Ukraine, even after studying Japanese for four years at university, there are only a handful of people who are able to study in Japan or work using Japanese. Therefore, many students give up halfway and lose motivation, which is a major problem at the Linguistic University. My current task is to always create classes that offer "Japanese plus alpha," which will give any student the opportunity to grow in many areas through learning Japanese.

About the Japanese Language Club

Image of a group conversation at the Japanese Language Club
A group conversation at the Japanese Language Club

For students who are eager to use and speak Japanese more, we have set up the Japanese Language Club, which is held once a month. We interact with Japanese exchange students studying at the Linguistic University, sing Japanese songs, and play games in Japanese. Students in years 1 to 5 participate together, which seems to be good stimulus for all. They were shy at first, but I was very happy to see the students talking actively as the sessions went on. The number of students who leave saying, "The session of the Japanese Language Club was really fun," or who give us ideas for what they would like to do next, or who look forward to the Japanese Language Club and ask, "When is the next session of the Japanese Language Club?" is increasing. It is truly rewarding to first and foremost think "what can I do for the students," and to launch and operate the club.

The Ukrainian Japanese Speech Contest

In the 21st Ukrainian Japanese Speech Contest held in September 2016, three students represented the Linguistic University and won first, third and fourth place. I was involved in the speech coaching, along with local teachers, and I learned a lot from the students as they practiced diligently and worked hard every day. I still remember the smiles on the faces of the three when they achieved the great results.

Support for Local Teachers and Future Issues

I also support the local teachers at the Linguistic University. They have asked me for advice on class content and teaching materials, and both inexperienced and experienced teachers have asked me a variety of questions about the Japanese language. We also work together to prepare and run events hosted by the Linguistic University, and together are in charge of preparation classes for the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). I need the assistance of local teachers in various situations, but unfortunately, due to their busy schedules, there are very few teachers who are willing to help.

Amid these circumstances, one of the few cooperative teachers suddenly said to me while we were preparing for an event, "Thank you, teacher, for coming to the Linguistic University. I'm really glad you're here." Those words meant a lot to me because I had only been in the position a few months, and every day I was anxious about whether or not I could build a relationship of trust. I would like to continue to value daily communication and to do what I can as an Assistant in my remaining term so that more teachers become even a little more cooperative, and so that the local teachers can organize various events and other activities independently.

The Japanese-Language Promotion Project

My duties as an Assistant are not limited to the Linguistic University. I also participate in regular meetings of the Japanese Teachers Association of Ukraine, and provide administrative support for the annual JLPT and Japanese-language education seminars. In addition, this year (2017) is the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ukraine, the "Year of Japan in the Ukraine," and I was in charge of Japanese-language courses for children and adults at museums and libraries. It was a valuable experience that made me strongly feel that the Japanese language has the power to make people smile, as participants happily said "Arigato," which they had just learned, and looked pleased to be able to write their own names in katakana.

I would like to continue to be involved in programs that promote the Japanese language in the Ukraine so that as many Ukrainians as possible can feel the charm of the Japanese language and smile.

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