September 19, 2014
In this series of publications, we will have foreigners who are learning Japanese across the country and are active in their respective communities talking about the charms of their region, the language, the culture, and learning the Japanese language. We hope to shed some light on how people of various backgrounds learn Japanese and experience life within Japanese society.
< Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture >
Active Portuguese and Japanese Language Instructor!
Kiyoko Karina Nagashima (born in Brazil)
NPO ABC Japan
1. Nice to meet you
Hi, my name is Karina. I came to Japan from Brazil in 2008.
Despite being a third-generation Brazilian of Japanese descent, I had no knowledge of Japanese when I came to Japan. All I knew were a few basic words. My reason for coming to Japan was to work, but also to learn about the culture of my grandparents.
I am now teaching Japanese as a bilingual lecturer. I would like to talk about my experience becoming a Japanese teacher.
2. Going to the community Japanese Language Class
I could not read, write or speak Japanese, but with support from my parents, I started studying Japanese. I started at the most basic level, learning the three Japanese writing systems: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. After a while, I was able to go on the train by myself, read the road-side signs, and do other daily tasks.
In 2009, I attended a Japanese language course hosted by ABC Japan, an incorporated non-profit organization. It is a free course where participants can learn to speak with a chance to participate in advanced level classes. In order to improve my Japanese further, I decided to challenge myself in these courses.
Most of the people in this course were factory workers. The instructor taught us important expressions and grammar that we would use in our daily lives. A few months later, I successfully graduated from the Japanese Language Course offered by ABC Japan.
In ABC Japan’s Japanese Language Class (Karina is in the middle)
3. A Portuguese language instructor in Japan?
In the same year, I started working as an assistant in a Portuguese language class for Kumon. There were some Japanese students, but the majority were children of Brazilian parents.
The reason why they were studying Portuguese was so that they would not struggle in school or in society when they returned to Brazil. This is because although Japanese had become a part of their daily lives, at school, when watching television, or when playing with friends, Portuguese had been relegated to a language they only use when speaking with their parents.
Some parents wanted their children to learn Portuguese after already being fluent in Japanese. Being bilingual in Japanese and Portuguese can help them towards a better future, and they can choose to live in either Japan or Brazil.
Karina correcting student work
My role in the Portuguese language class was to evaluate the classwork, focusing on whether students understood the content in the writing and text portions. I also checked their pronunciation, correcting when necessary, and answered any questions that the children had. In this way, I learned Japanese from the children at the same time I was teaching them Portuguese. It was like an exchange course.
4. Then to becoming a Japanese Language Instructor!
In 2012, I transferred to become a Japanese language instructor for Brazilians. Now, I teach Japanese at school as well as in correspondence courses. My responsibilities have also increased since taking on Japanese language education. Unlike Portuguese, Japanese is not my mother tongue and I am continuing to take Japanese language courses. I am constantly teaching the correct pronunciation of words, and grammar including postpositional particles that most students find difficult. Kanji and conjugation of verbs are also topics that students usually find difficult. Constant study is necessary, but I am happy when I see my students, who have just started studying and to whom I taught basic hiragana and katakana, progress in a short period of time.
Students and instructors of the Japanese language class (Karina is second from left)
5. What kind of place is the Japanese Language Class?
The students can already read the labels at the supermarket and converse with Japanese colleagues at the workplace. I also started my study of Japanese from scratch in Japan, so I know the feeling of becoming more independent every day. When I advanced a level, I received a certificate and everybody applauded, and I think those types of events can be a motivating factor for continuing Japanese language studies.
At the end of the year, there is a party, and people from Brazil, Japan, America, India, and the Philippines mingle and talk about fun things other than studying. In this way, the classroom becomes a place where we learn about each other's cultures as well as languages.
6. What are your goals and dreams?
I hope to continue teaching Japanese as well as improving my own Japanese. Even if it is bit by bit, I would like to improve my speaking and understanding of Japanese, as well as my ability to teach. As a bilingual lecturer, I would like to continue encouraging students towards a better life in Japan by talking about my experiences.
Classroom instructors (second from left is Karina)
< ABC Japan, Nonprofit organization >
- Association Summary:
ABC Japan was established in 2000 by Brazilians living in Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama (obtained corporate status in 2004). It is actively involved in counseling and providing Japanese language classes for Brazilians and other foreigners from South America. Additionally, the association is involved in educational activities for children and other exchange activities with the community. In 2009, the association launched the National Network of Brazilians in Japan (NNBJ) in cooperation with the Brazilian community, which is responsible for facilitating communication between the Brazilian government and Brazilian-Japanese associations.
- URL: http://www.abcjapan.org/
- 2014 Agency for Cultural Affairs Trust Organization for Japanese Language Education Program for "Foreigners Living in Japan"