On July 4th and 11th, Ms. Nakashima and Ms. Sato from Okayama Institute of Languages gave lectures in the Teaching of Japanese Language I class. Okayama Institute of Languages is the largest Japanese language school certified by the Ministry of Justice in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions. Located in Okayama City, it has students from over 25 countries around the world. The instructors shared their experiences of becoming Japanese teachers, their teaching methods, and their attitudes as Japanese teachers, providing our students with a rare insight into the world of Japanese language teaching.

In Ms. Nakashima's lecture, OUS students learned about the diversity of learners at Okayama Institute of Languages and the importance of "YASASHII Japanese," not only for Japanese teachers but also for Japanese speakers. She explained that avoiding complex words, onomatopoeia, and honorific expressions and speaking clearly with short, simple sentences using polite forms ("desu/masu") can make Japanese more understandable for non-native speakers. The students also participated in an activity using easy Japanese to explain vocabulary.

In Ms. Sato's lecture, the students learned about the methods used by Japanese learners from non-kanji backgrounds (those whose native languages do not use kanji) to memorize kanji. They engaged in an activity where they identified the rules for different kanji characters based on these students' methods. Through this, they gained insight into the actual classroom practices and the work of Japanese teachers.

Okayama Institute of Languages offers an internship for OUS students in their fourth year at its school. This provides a valuable opportunity to experience aspects of a Japanese teacher's job that cannot be experienced through a regular teaching practicum. The knowledge and experience gained through these lectures are expected to further enhance our students' practical skills.

Okayama Institute of Languages