MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA, OKINAWA, Japan -- The Marine Corps Community Services library hosted a Survival Japanese Language Class Nov. 29 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.
The monthly class teaches Status of Forces Agreement members the basic Japanese necessary to enjoy the sites and attractions Okinawa has to offer.
“The class is a great way to get your foot in the door,” said Devin Farmer, a supervisory librarian with Marine Corps Community Services. “It covers the reading, writing, and speaking of the basic phrases that will make your time here on Okinawa more enjoyable.”
The students began the class by learning about the three Japanese writing styles, hiragana, katakana and kanji.
“This class is a great tool for Marines here, because it makes it easier for them to get out and try new things,” said Takaatsu Sueyoshi, a library technician who instructed the class. “When my students become familiarized with the Japanese language, they feel more at home here. They feel more confident visiting restaurants, stores and other places in the community.”
After the overview of the forms of Japanese writing, students practiced reading and writing hiragana, the simplest form. Hiragana is a series of characters that represent vowel and consonant sounds to spell basic Japanese words.
“When people participate in this class, they end up feeling more comfortable when trying new things and meeting new people while they’re here on Okinawa,” said Farmer, an Atlanta, Georgia, native. “They have an easier time making friends and building relationships and have more varied experiences here.”
The last portion of class was a basic conversation practice session, during which the students learned basic useful everyday phrases and conversational principles.
“This class really enables service members to go out and make stronger relationships,” said Farmer. “We want to be good friends with the Okinawa residents and the best way to do that is to break down these cultural boundaries and learn how to better understand each other.”
As the class drew to a close, students said their goodbyes in English and Japanese.
“It’s a good feeling as a teacher to see the excitement in students when they learn something new,” said Sueyoshi. “I hope that they will continue to come and learn here so they can have the best time possible on Okinawa.”