N.Z. interest in Japanese language pleases group

Press, 29 March 1979, Page 2

N.Z. interest in Japanese language pleases group

By

LEONE STEWART

Youthful enthusiasm in New Zealand for learning Japanese has impressed a group of Japanese professors visiting Christchurch during a 15-day tour of this country; "It is very unexpected, and very pleasing, to find so many young people, even primary school children, wanting to learn the language,’’ said Mr Naoomi Kuratani, assistant professor at 'Osaka University of Foreign Studies, yesterday. Mr Kuratani, with Mr Toraya Nishio, a professor in the department of education and a specialist in grammar, and Mrs Shigeko Imada, an assistant professor at the International Christian University whose primary field is phonetics and pronunciation, arrived in Christchurch yesterday. The group, who teach English as a second language, will spend five days visiting schools, and giving seminars for teachers of the Japanese language. The group’s visit is sponsored by the Japan Foundation established seven years ago by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They are, accompanied by a representative of the foundation,

Mr Tomoyuki Sakurai. One

•of the foundation’s many , activities to promote inter- [ national understanding is the i provision of grants for ; teachers of the Japanese '. language to attend twomonth study courses in , Japan. j “We hope, in our short i time here, that we can give the teachers some stimulus and encouragement, and find i out how we can best help ■ when we return to Japan,” . said Mrs Imada.

They believe they can help with what they see as New Zealand's major problem in teaching Japanese — access to up-to-date teaching materials. “Teachers need good textbooks and teaching materials, including audio-visual aids,” said Mr Kuratani, who is a co-author of a modern

textbook, “Japanese for Beginners,” which is used extensively in the United States. Japanese is a fast-evolving language, constantly being adapted to meet demands of new technology and chang-

ing values in society. It is not uncommon for Japanese to hear what Mr Kuratani described as “some very funny Japanese” when they go abroad.

All three members of the group teach Japanese at university level, Mr Nishio at a very advanced level. However, they believe the earlier the start with the language, the better. During their visits to Australia a°d New Zealand, Mr Kuratani has been emphasising that there are considerable advantages in having English-speaking teachers teaching Japanese. “The English-speaking teacher understands the

problems of learning Japanese in the same way that the Japanese teacher understands the difficulties in learning English,” he said. For proper pronunciation a blend of native-speaking and English-speaking teachers was the ideal, according to Mrs Imada.

While in Wellington, the group was asked by teachers there whether they should be concentrating on the technical aspects of the language, or teaching the Japanese culture. Mr Nishio considers that

understanding of the Japanese culture is indispensable to study of the language at a more advanced level. In the early stages he advises concentration on simple

mastery of the technicalities. For New Zealanders who find the prospect of learning Japanese intimidating, the group has some encouragement. “Japanese is a different language, but not difficult,” said Mr Kuratani. “Perhaps, it seems difficult just because it looks so different.”