I became a full-time
instructor at the Doshisha
University, Center for
Japanese Language (Bekka)
that was established in April
1999. To be honest, we jump
started without creating goals
and organize how things were
going to be carried out.
Teaching Japanese at Bekka
was the beginning of my
international exchange. We
tried to improve the Japanese
class as much as possible
with the cooperation of other
teachers by piling every
conceivable device. Then little
by little, we realized our goal
was to make the Doshisha
University International
Bekka the worldfs best
Japanese education institution.
We thoroughly researched on
teaching methods and
materials and aimed to
acquire refined Japanese.
Along with the society
inspection that is held once a
year, we visit Shiyo Gakuen,
institution for the
intellectually disabled. I was
able to experience valuable
time of true peace by having
young and old people of both
sexes, people with the
intellectually disabled, and
people from various countries
surround the table and enjoy
dinner. Listen to your heart,
learn the importance to keep
things that you cannot see in
your heart, and conduct
education that you can only
do at Doshisha. Letfs send
out talented people from the
university who can create a
bright 21st century that
everyone can enjoy. I believe
this is my personal mission
in Doshisha and this made
me strive for bigger dreams.
If I were to wrap up these
last ten years, I would say
that it was fun but I canft lie
that education for
international students are
twice more work. Itfs
challenging for international
students to figure out their
goals because they feel lost
in the inter-culture, have to
face the worries about living,
problems with studies and
their future. There are even
students who donft know the
reason why they came to
Japan. To help figure things
out, we must talk to them on
one on one and listen to
their thoughts. Ifm happy
that I was able to exchange
and discuss about their
dreams despite the different
country and generation. It
takes time and work but the
more we give the more things
become affluent. I am very
grateful for all the things I
received from the
international students.
By changing the form of
the original culture experience
classes that make use of the
profit of earth, along with
improving the classes of
Japanese language and culture,
students from all over the
world have joined Bekka.
The center for Japanese
Language and Culture carry
organizations of the Doshisha
Japanese Education Center
which became bigger. I hope
to face the students who are
here today sincerely and use
my important gift for the
international students who
look up to us. I canft help
but to imagine the grown
figure of the students that
will play an active part in
the future.
(Reprinted from gthe Cross
Culture News No. 8h (on May
18, 2009)
Hira, far left