Staff Interview with Iyo Kushibe
Get to know JaLS GROUP's staff!
As the student life coordinator at Kyoto JaLS, Iyo plans Japanese language conversation lessons, international parties, and other events to help students meet and make friends with Japanese people who are also interested in international interchange. It makes her very happy to see JaLS students make new Japanese friends through the activities they offer. Outside of work Iyo enjoys watching movies and traveling. She studied in Canada and she would like to go again.
What inspired you to join the team at Kyoto JaLS?
While I was in university I got my Japanese language teaching license. After struggling to decide whether or not I really wanted to be a teacher, I found out about Kyoto JaLS. JaLS doesn’t simply teach Japanese, it also supports students who really want to get to know Japanese people and culture.
Describe a typical day/week as the Student Life Coordinator.
I provide the support necessary for our students to meet and get to know as many Japanese people as possible, so that they can use Japanese as much as possible. I plan and host our regular international parties and Japanese conversation lessons. Though these events, our students are able to communicate with many Japanese people.
What do you hope for your students?
My biggest wish is for our students, who have gone out of their way just to be here, to be able to make friends with Japanese people. I think that making friends is the best way to make lasting memories. I love seeing students have fun talking at our events and other activities.
What are your favorite events you get to plan for Kyoto JaLS students?
Once every two weeks we hold our Japanese Conversation Lesson activity where JaLS students have the opportunity to meet local Japanese people who are also studying a foreign language. This is chance for each group to become more deeply involved with each other, developing strong relationships. It is also an event where everyone can have fun playing games in Japanese and make new friends.
How do your own experiences of studying abroad in Canada influence the work that you do?
It took a long time for me to improve my English language skills and get them to the point they are at today. When I began my time abroad I really wanted to speak English but was too nervous to do so, and that feeling continued for a while. At that time I had a really wonderful English teacher. I was always told, “It’s absolutely okay to make mistakes.” That teacher always created an atmosphere where I didn’t have to worry, and carefully listened to every single word that I said, as I did my best to express what I wanted to.
JaLS students have come out of their way to come to Japan and I want for them to try and use Japanese, even if it’s only a little bit. I want to provide our students – who have mustered up the courage to step forward and study with us – with a place where they can feel safe and comfortable using the language they set out to learn.
What do you love sharing with students about Japan and Japanese culture with students?
There are many students who come to Kyoto JaLS that have in interest in learning “Kansai-ben” (a regional dialect of Japanese). There are many regional variations of Japanese and it makes me happy to see that students are interested in studying not only standard Japanese, but also the Japanese used in the area that they are spending time in. I am originally from the Kansai region so students ask me many questions about my dialect.
Why is it important for students to travel and learn new languages?
I believe that people are able to communicate with each other even without the use of words. Through the use of body language, facial expressions, and other behavior, people can express what they want to other people. That being said, to get to know somebody on a deeper level and learn about the country they came from, it becomes necessary to learn languages. To learn a new language is to increase the number of people you hold dear in your life. I think that most people only casually choose to start learning a language, but I hope that they will continue to care for those sprouts of curiosity by continuing to learn.