Keung and other students who participated in the Japanese coffee chat last week also learned more about Japanese culture from Yayoi Nakasone, a junior economics major and facilitator for the Japanese chat group. Nakasone explained the rituals for a Japanese tea ceremony by teaching the group how to kneel, hold and drink from the cup and respond politely after being served. I was looking for something to do while I am in the States, and I am happy to help others improve their Japanese. Maria Paoletti, a freshman linguistics major and a participant in the German chat, said people come to the chats for different reasons, but everyone leaves with something. Everyone knows what they are here for.
People are here in order to practice, to help others, or to learn anything from others.
Maria's mother, Jo Paoletti, took part in the Spanish coffee chat for the first time Monday. There are no long-term commitments and it helps you maintain your language skills. Copyright 1999 - Maryland Media, Inc.