AIRA has been trying to run the foreign language classes smoothly through discussions with the leaders who are playing an important role in the management of each class. The leaders and AIRA staff had a meeting to exchange opinions. (No.20-13)

Date and time : Sunday, 31st January, 2021 2:00 pm～3:30 pm
Venue: Abiko Civic Plaza Meeting Room 1
Participants: 9 leaders and 4 people from AIRA ( Mr.Hesaki, VP, Mr.Uehara, Director of Department of Foreign Languages, Ms.Sakazume, Ms.Kogawa), total 13 people

The meeting was held under the State of Emergency due to COVID-19, so the number of participants was limited to only one from each class and their body temperature was checked at the entrance. Also, social distancing was practiced by using acrylic boards in the room. Mr.Hesaki expressed his gratitude in his short speech that the classes were able to be opened thanks to the positive participation of the students in spite of the delayed opening of the classes from the scheduled May to July or later. Mr. Uehara explained the agenda and proceeded with the meeting in accordance with the program.
The contents of his explanation are as below;
1. Next year three new classes are planned to start: “Elementary English Class (Tue.)”, “Chinese Class for Beginners” and “Korean Class for Beginners” in addition to the classes that are being held this year. ( total 6 languages 23 classes)
2. The leaders are requested to submit an outline of each class to AIRA Office not later than 20th February.
3. AIRA is now making a draft of protection policy of private information and will announce it as soon as it is finished.
(Opinion) How about putting the policy on AIRA’s website?
(Answer from AIRA) It will be delivered to the leaders soon upon completion.
From next fiscal year, we will state our privacy policy on the back page of the list of the foreign language classes as well as on return postcards for application.
4. The leaders are requested to write an introduction of each class and take pictures to put on the special issue of AIRA newsletter commemorating its 30th anniversary.

Q&A
1. Is it possible to hold lessons on ZOOM? We are thinking about making necessary preparations by ourselves.
(Answer) Possible. But as we have to pay lesson fees to the teachers, please report to the office in advance.
2. The deadline of a cancellation of Chiba Citizens Community Plaza is two weeks before the applied date while rental fees are also required to be paid two weeks before. Also, it is inconvenient that an application is to be made on the internet while a cancellation has to be made at the office or by fax only and the internet is unacceptable. Is it possible for AIRA to negotiate with them so that cancellations can be made either online or by PDF mail?
(Answer) It is possible for us to make a request to Chiba Prefecture, but we can’t hope much for change.
3. How has the number of the students changed since the opening time of the classes under COVID-19?
(Answer) We have received reports from 11 classes. There was no change in 7 classes and students decreased in 4 classes including Spanish Salon.
4. Spanish Salon held a lesson on ZOOM for the first time in January.

In the meeting held under the restriction of the number of participants, all the participants exchanged their thoughts and opinions and deepened their understanding through Q&A with AIRA, and it was successfully completed.

※ Leaders from the following classes attended the meeting.
　English: Elementary (Monday and Sunday)
　Korean: Pre-Intermediate
　Chinese: Intermediate and Pre-Intermediate
　French: Advanced and Elementary
　German
　Spanish Salon

(Translated by Katsumi Nakajima)