As AIRA provides many foreign language classes, various supportive work by class leaders is indispensable for managing classes smoothly. The purpose of the annual round-table meeting was to exchange their opinions and views. (N0. 22-15) Date and time : Sunday, February 5th, 2023 14：00 ～ 15：30
Venue ： Abiko Civic Plaza, Meeting Room #1
Participants : 13 Class leaders from each class (Chinese : Intermediate, Fundamental & Intermediate, French: Advanced, Intermediate, Fundamental & Intermediate, Fundamental, English: Advanced, Fundamental & Intermediate, Fundamental, Korean: Fundamental, German: Fundamental & Intermediate, Spanish: Salon
Director of Foreign Languages UEHARA Masamoto, AIRA President KITAJIMA Fumiko ,2 persons from the Secretariat <Total: 17 people >
In spite of the COVID restrictions in 2022, five foreign language classes (20 classes) and the other small class (called “salon” ) have opened for the current fiscal year. In addition, one more class called Russian Salon” has been added to prepare for accepting Ukrainians fled from their country invaded by Russia.
Class leaders take responsibility for making reservations for their classes at public facilities, making contacts with their instructor, students and the Secretariat. By hearing candid opinions of class leaders, AIRA has promoted smooth management of the foreign language classes.
Mr. UEHARA moderated the meeting. After KITAJIMA’s short remark and the participants’ self-introductions, the discussion started. The major agenda is as follows.
1. The outline of the foreign language classes for FY 2023
*23 classes in 6 languages (English 8, Chinese 5, French 4, Korean3, Spanish 1, German 1) will be opened.
*Names of some Chinese and Korean classes will be changed.
* A fundamental class will be added to Korean and Spanish classes.
* Some adjustment, such as reducing the number of class-days, will be applied on beneficiaries-pay principle in case the number of students applied is less than the number required for the class,
*The class information will be given to AIRA members in the March-issue leaflet,
on the web site of AIRA, and run on the News Letters Abiko No.342 (April 1)
2. Guideline for target students
*Each class leader should give rough contents of its class to the Secretariat because the class information on the web site is regularly updated. Even if no update is made, class leaders should inform it to the secretariat.
(Submission deadline: not later than the end of February, 2023 by email or Fax to the Secretariat)
3. Others
*Suggestions for attracting more students
a) The class information should be given between February and March, earlier than the current April.
b) AIRA needs to conduct promotional activities to make people interested in foreign languages, which includes posting videos of classes to the social media like Youtube and other social networks.
c)AIRA must consider how to attract younger learners.
d)Supplementary classes could be provided between February and April not to leave the students’ attention from the language.
*Report about classes
a) Students talk freely for the first 30 minutes, then the instructor provides some topics to discuss when they don’t use any textbooks.
b) Students can enjoy the class because they can speak out their own ideas.
c) Some students are unable to catch up with the class due to the quick speed of the class.
d)Students can enjoy not only the class but also after-class activities such as chatting with coffee and snack.
(Translated by Ms. KOYAMA Hitomi)