News
Inuyama Multilingual

Published by
Inuyama International Association
Date of Publication: March 31, 2022

English Version (No. 4)

Let’s Build Communication with our Children!
It is said that when parents speak with their children in a mutually familiar language, their children will
gain confidence in communicating in that language. Why not read have story time with your younger
children? It is also a good idea to talk with your children about the culture of Japanese schools when
they start attending.

Reading Aloud
The time spent reading picture books with your children can be an important time for building
communication between parents and their children. By reading to your children, you can not only
improve their language development, but also their ability to concentrate and listen, as well as
broaden their imaginations.
HonkanInuyama City Library(Inuyama Shiritsu Tosyokan)

GakudenPictureBooks

Children's
Books

Picture
Story
Shows

PictureBooks

Children's
Books

The Inuyama City Library(lib.inuyama.aichi.jp) has picture

Spanish51020books, picture story shows, andchildren's books in various languages.
There are two libraries, the main library
in Inuyama and the Gakuden Fureai
Library.

Portuguese

61000

English197

4623111Chinese

04000

Japanese School Culture

SchoolLunches

School lunches and cleaning are an important part of Japanese school
culture.

In Japan, school lunches are available at elementary and juniorhigh schools. Recently, people are concerned about the health oftheir children due to their unbalanced diets at home and noteating breakfast, which can lead to being overweight or evenobesity. School lunches play an important role in dietaryeducation, helping children to acquire correct knowledge aboutfood and eating habits.
In Japanese schools, there is time set aside for students to clean

Cleaning

the classrooms and bathrooms they use. Cleaning is somethingthat all children can work on themselves during their time atschool. In addition to keeping the school clean, it is also avaluable opportunity to learn the importance of group activities,
such as fostering a sense of caring through cooperation.

The Guest for Our Neighbors in this issue is Miyaji Dos Santos Leide who is teaching Portuguese
in a Mother Tongue Class*.
*The Mother Tongue Class is a language class for non-Japanese residents to improve their language ability in the language oftheir own home country.

Instructor: Miyaji Dos Santos Leide
Nationality: Brazil
Qualification for Stay: Permanent Resident
First Visit to Japan: January 2005
Family Members: 2 children (1st and 2nd graders in elementary school)
Language Class: Isshiki Cosmo Support Gakushu-no-kai, Komaki City
Number of Mother Tongue Class Students: 3 students

Why did you start the Mother Tongue Class?
In order to raise my children in Japan, I struggled to learn Japanese. I also came to realize thatmy children may need to use Portuguese in their future. So, I decided to teach my children
Portuguese. If my children can use both Portuguese and Japanese, they can get a good job
and widen their ability to choose the country in which they would like to live in their future. Oneof my teachers recommended that I teach Portuguese not only to my own children but also toother children who might wish to learn.

When did you start the Mother Tongue Class?
I started the class in October of 2020. I started teaching Portuguese after myolder child started 2nd grade in elementary school. I wanted to wait until hehad learned hiragana and katakana to avoid the risk of confusion.

What language do you speak at home?
All my family members speak in Portuguese. There is no language problem for daily life at home.

Can you share any positive changes, since the children started studying their mothertongue?
A mother of one of the students in our language class got a nice note from her child in Portuguesethat read, “Thank you for preparing delicious meals after you return from your day-time job eventhough you are tired. On Saturdays and Sundays, we will have a surprise for you.” The mother of thestudent burst into tears when she read her child's letter, and when I heard the story, I cried too!

Do you have any suggestions for the non-Japanese residents who are raising children inJapan?
Even if you can’t speak Japanese well, when your children get home, you can ask them, “What did
you learn in school today? Can you tell me?” Your children can teach you Japanese. I sometimes ask
my children for some Japanese words. You can look up the words you don’t know. Praise your childwhen your child did well! Your children will be happy and their confidence will improve when you
praise them. Also, you don’t have to do this every day, but often share with your child about your own
language, national holidays, and the folklore stories of your own country. Please keep at it and yourchild will gradually learn and remember. Your child is growing day by day. Keep showing your interest
in your children’s daily lives and keep talking with your child, and you and your child can continue tolearn together.
I could see how hard Ms. Leide is striving to not only teach her mother tongue to her kids but also tolearn Japanese. I could also see the importance she placed on both languages in raising her children.
Ms. Leide's comment that "If a mother does her best, so do her children: The children follow theirmother's example." made a strong impression on me.
(Interviewed in February 2022 by Tsuji Aiko, Inuyama International Association)

Portal Site* for Foreign Workers and Companies in Aichi PrefectureThis is a portal site for foreigners newly arriving in Japan to work and for companies to help them intheir professional and social lives. It is available in Japanese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, English, andChinese.
https://www.pref.aichi.jp/syakaikatsudo/tabunka/yokosoaichi/index.htm*A portal site is a website that serves as a gateway to access the Internet.

Renting a House
If you would like to find a house to rent, you can go to a Fudosan-ya (a realtor). The Room
Search Guidebook explains in various languages (Japanese, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese,
English, and Chinese) what you should do when renting a house.

●English http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001317844.pdf

Useful Words and Expressions When Renting a House.
Ooya: Landlord. A person who leases out a house.
Yachin: Rental fee. Money that is paid every month by a person who rents a house.
Shikikin: Security deposit.

When a house is found, the person who rent the house pays the money.

It is used by landlords for repairs after moving out. When you move out, any money not used by thelandlord will be returned to you.
Reikin: Key Money paid by the person renting the house when the house is found.
Chukai Tesuryo: Fee to be paid to the fudosan-ya who helped you find a rental house.

Cool JapanShodo

Shodo is a way of expressing one's thoughts by
writing letters on paper using a writing brushcalled fude and ink called sumi. By practicing towrite beautiful letters, you can also develop yourability to concentrate. In school there is a similarclass called shuji. But the big difference in shodo
is the emphasis on self-expression rather thanjust on penmanship as in shuji. Why don't you
try your hand at shodo?

Please meet Somoson Sheila Mae Saberon: A foreigner who is studying
hard at the Inuyama Japanese Language School.
Nationality：Republic of the Philippines
Date of arrival in Japan：June 2013
Work：Manufacture of plastic containers

I have loved to study since I was a child. The teachers of the Japanese language classes
are cheerful and fun. I am also happy to be able to learn Japanese little by little. The
Japanese I have learned is useful in my daily life. I continue to attend the classes because
they help me grow as a person.
My dream is to work hard and put my two children through college. Once they are incollege, I would like to start a food business because I love to cook.

Comments from a Volunteer
Teacher:
Somoson is very interested in everything and participates in theclass very enthusiastically. She is actively trying her best to learn
and use the Japanese she has just learned. She speaks socheerfully that I enjoy her class.
Volunteer Teacher: Beppu Kai

Fun Japanese Onomatopoeia!

Do you know what onomatopoeia is? Onomatopoeia is a word that expresses a state or
movement with sounds. Learning Japanese onomatopoeia will make your conversations inJapanese more enjoyable. If you learn Japanese onomatopoeia, you can enjoy conversing inJapanese more. Let's try to use them!
・Ukiuki: When you are happy and excited.

・Kutakuta: When you are feeling very tired.

・Iraira When you are reeling irritated・Gubigubi: When you are drinking a drinkwith gusto.

Inuyama Multilingual News in English
Published by Inuyama International Association〒484‐0086 Aichiken Inuyama-shi Matsumoto-cho 4-21 Inuyama Community Center『Freude』
TEL: (0568) 48-1355
FAX：(0568) 48-1356
HP：http://iiea.info
E-mail： iia@grace.ocn.ne.jp

Volunteer Translation Team Members:
English: Kusakabe Kazuro, Shibata Atsuyuki, Yasumura Megumi, Uchimura Hidetomo, Steve McGuire
Spanish: Tawara Carlos, Ruiz Bulnes Ricardo Arturo, Saeki Liliana
Portuguese: Yara Marcos, Akagi Kazunori, Akagui Mitsue, Yoshida Gisele
Chinese: Harita Misako, Ten Ru, Sun Jiao, Yang Liya, Ozawa Tsutomu
Vietnamese: Pham Thi Nhu Hau, Doan Ba Hoang, Pham Dinh Bang
Tagalog: Higuchi Marita, Kawasaki Maria