[Outline of Activities and Group Appeal]
This group helps those people whose first language is not Japanese to better learn the language. There are people of many nationalities living in Toyota City, but they have little opportunity to mingle with Japanese people, and there are not many places for them to study Japanese. Especially mothers with young children, who feel very insecure, tend to become “shut-ins” in their homes. With the motto of the Japanese Salon of “We welcome anyone at anytime!” we started this salon 1991 years ago with only 3 students. Since then, at all times, by trial and error, we have groped for new methods to address the fluctuation in the number of students. At present, there are 20 Japanese language volunteers, 10 baby-sitter volunteers, and around 100 registered students. Recently, some of those people, who once were students with us, are now working as volunteers. By breaking down the lines of separation between student and teacher, and with “Learning Together, Creating Together as Close Friends” as our basic attitude, we aim to create a very livable local society.

[Details of Activities]
(Date of activity: Every Wednesday, 10 a.m. to noon, Japanese Language study and babysitting; from 12:20 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

[Contents of Activities]
Japanese Language Study: New students are accepted at any time during the 6-month semester. Classes are divided according to the students’ level of Japanese language ability, and each class is limited to 10 students and two or three volunteer teachers.

[Babysitting]
Babysitter volunteers and Japanese language volunteers take turns on a shift system looking after children. Children over 8-months old who are not enrolled in any sort of pre-school are eligible for this service. Children who cannot be separated from their mothers are allowed to be in the classroom along with their mothers. The number of children who can be looked after depends on the number of babysitter volunteers.

[Meetings]
Announcements are made on the day giving information about that day’s activities, and problems and information are shared, so that the salon runs smoothly.

[Additional]
The group cooperates and participates with many events in order to improve international understanding at schools or in the local area.

[Homepage]
http://www.geocities.jp/nihongosalon/index.html
There is also a link from the TIA Link Page.

[Message for those who will step forward for future activities]
We welcome people who will be able to join our activities. Further, we will support those people who want to start the same activities.

[Outline of Activities]

We are a volunteer group which teaches Japanese language to resident foreigners.

[Purpose]
1. We aim our focus our efforts on helping those foreigners whose greatest trouble is “L-A-N-G-U-A-G-E,” to speak Japanese easily and politely on the job and in their daily lives.
2. We aim to broaden the circle of exchange by eliminating the segregation between students and volunteers.
*1 and 2, above, are our main purposes, but in our activities both are given equal importance.

[Group Appeal]

Since our establishment in May, 1992, we have continued to be active in Toyota City. As compared with the small number when we were first established, at present we now have an enrollment of over 200 students. We strive to undertake a large variety of activities to address what has become an obvious reality, as is evidenced by the huge increase in the number students, that there is nothing more important and indispensable for foreigners living in Japan than “Japanese Language.”

[Details of activities]
Regular Meetings / Days/Times of Activities
One term lasts 3 months, and there are 3 terms held/year starting in January, May and September. Basically, the activity time is devoted to Japanese Language held every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. during each term. Meetings will be held whenever necessary.

[Detailed Content of the Activity]

We provide Japanese Language Classes. Also, for the purpose of cultural exchanges, we will hold a final party and event (Rice-cake Pulling, Flower Viewing).

[Message for those who will step forward to take part in future activities]
You need not worry about such things as: “I have no qualifications…,” “I wonder if I am able to do a good job….” If you are even a little curious about our activities “(Who? What? Where? Etc.), then please come and see for yourself!!!

≪Purpose of the Group≫
・Volunteers will teach Japanese language and culture to students who wish to study
Japanese language, and, in return, all students will share their knowledge of their
own country and culture, and both students and teachers will learn from each other.
・As implied by the group’s name, “First Steps,” the volunteers will also study how to teach Japanese from the beginning.
・Ideally, this course will focus on foreigners (those who already have passed the 2nd Level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test “Nihongo Nouryoku Kentei Shiken”), teaching the Japanese volunteers what they
can recall their of own “first steps” in learning Japanese, including what they most wanted to learn as beginners; Japanese volunteers will support the foreign teachers in teaching the grammar, etc. of the language.
・This course is intended to provide maximum support for those foreigners who wish to teach Japanese language after returning to their home country.

≪Features of the group≫
・The course will be held two times per year, from April through September, and from October through March of the following year.
・Two special events, organized by the students, will be held during each session of the course.
・All matters will be decided by groups consensus in meeting amongst the volunteers.
・The classes will be held every Sunday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

≪Recruitment≫
・This course is aimed at those foreigners who would like to teach Japanese, and who already have passed the 2nd level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
・This course is also aimed at those Japanese people who wish to learn about other cultures, while teaching Japanese language and culture and supporting the foreigners.