30 September 2009

IPC September Intensive Weekend: Extensive Language Classes

The Third and Last Intensive Weekend for This Year

By Shirley Ghozalli. Edited by Moira Blake.

September 2009 Intensive Weekend Participants with their IPC buddies

Yukata photo under the Sakura blossoms

Kendo practice in full gear

This year's third Japanese Language and Culture Intensive Weekend took place on 5th and 6th September in the midst of the spring blossoms of the sakura or cherry trees. Eighteen high school students, mostly from the lower North Island, accompanied by 2 supervisors, participated in this event that offered a Japanese cultural and language experience to local students.

After a welcome speech from IPC Senior Student Support Advisor Hiro Tsumakura, the participants were divided into 3 groups. As for the previous Intensive Weekend, a series of Japanese language classes filled the two-day programme. However, different from the previous Intensive Weekends, there were 2 new classes introduced. The first was called ‘Japan Today' where IPC lecturer initiated a discussion on modern Japanese culture, history, and society. The second one was a language teaching class led by an IPC student Yukie Oki. She is a 2006 student who is taking the language teaching paper this term. In this class, Yukie talks about teaching Japanese language through games. By using word and grammar games, a student would be more likely to remember what is being taught, rather than just using traditional passive learning methods. For example, the Japanese card game Karuta can be used as a fun tool to memorize the Japanese characters.

The participants at this Intensive Weekend had the rare opportunity of watching the IPC Olympics, which was held in the recreation centre the same weekend. IPC Olympics is an annual sports competition event organized by IPC Students Association to strengthen fellowship among the students. Read more about IPC Olympics in this article.

Learn Japanese while playing Karuta (a Japanese card game)

Enjoying the sunshine and self-made yakisoba (=Japanese fried noodle)

IPC lecturer Taku Saito explaining facts about Tokyo

Along with language classes, there were Japanese cultural activities such as kendo, tea ceremony, shodo, origami, and yukata. For the yukata session, the blossoming Sakura trees added an authentic touch to the photos.

Another new activity was organized at lunch on the first day of the programme. In this activity, the participants could cook yakisoba (=Japanese fried noodles) BBQ style outside the dining hall. Yakisoba is a popular and practical Japanese dish. A special Japanese lunch was also served on the second day with okonomiyaki (=Japanese omelette), kare rice (=curry rice), and fried rice.

IPC President Prof Wayne Edwards closed the Intensive Weekend and presented each participant with a Certificate of Completion. With the certificate, they also received a copy of a CD containing a Japanese language learning program made by one of the IPC Japanese lecturers, Taku Saito.

"This was a really enjoyable weekend!" said one of the participants, Grace Boyd from Tawa College, Wellington. Another participant, Kristy Fecser from Palmerston North, simply evaluated it as a "Great weekend!"

The last Intensive weekend programme for this year is over, but another Intensive Weekend is coming next year. Call 0800 FOR IPC (367472) or email us now for more information.

Also, read the article by one of the participants, Apirana Skipworth, from Porirua College, Wellington, as published in the Porirua College Newsletter.

Practising the art of Shodo

Hands on origami skill

All are ready to taste their tea at the tea ceremony

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