After passing the level N2 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), I have been planning to start a volunteer Japanese language study class for kids of foreigners living in the Komatsugawa area. Started gathering some ideas to start such a language class and was writing down points to make the classes effective for all foreigners, not only limited to kids. It was then we met Yumiko-san in the Edogawa ward office.
I went to the Edogawa ward office to change the residence address. The front staff informed me that I needed to change the address on the children's insurance card as well after the change of address on the residence card (Zairyou card). The staff guided us to the second floor, where the child welfare office is located. After a few minutes wait, our turn came, and a lady staff member came and told us to fill out an application form. While seeing me filling up the application form in Japanese, with curiosity she asked from where I had learned the Japanese language. She told me that her daughter Nagisa-chan, who is a second-year university student, is interested in becoming a volunteer to teach Japanese to foreigners. What a coincidence!
We exchanged contact numbers and then later met in Funabori to make basic planning for the volunteer classes. The idea to start a daily-life-supporting Japanese language class came out as a result of our discussion. Nagisa-chan can travel from her house to Komatsugawa on some weekdays and on Saturdays. We decided to make a WhatsApp group of students interested in the classes.
Foreigners, especially housewives, face a lot of difficulties in daily life communicating in the Japanese language. In most cases, the husbands take a holiday to assist them to go to the hospital, banks, post office, etc. In most cases, both husband and wife are not able to communicate in the Japanese language.
Daily Life Japanese language lessons in Komatsugawa aim to provide basic communication skills in the Japanese language. This would be a free class, but the participants need to share the expenses for booking the classroom, costs of printed materials, marker pens, and such related accessories.
