Aichi Center for Japanese Studies

The Yamasa Institute
S tudent N etwork

Center Homepage

Student Network

Contribute

Help us improve!
Suggestion Box

STUDENT INTERVIEW: Sylvie Nay (SILAC/Private)

Sylvie Nay

Sylvie Nay

Sylvie Nay has been studying in the SILAC program whilst also taking private lessons. I spoke to her after her final private lesson with Kato Erina sensei

J: You've finished your private lessons now and have a week to go in the SILAC program - how have the private lessons been?
S: It was good because I was just me and the teacher and I could take my time to speak, not worry about other students and I found that I spoke more in the private lessons.

J: Why did you take the private lessons?
S: My friend was taking them before me and she recommended them as a good way of practicing what you learn.

J: Why are you studying Japanese?
S: I work in a hotel in France and we have Japanese people stay with us on a regular basis. Japanese culture is so different from any European cultures that you need to be able to understand the language to understand the culture and the people.

J: Overall how has the course been?
S: I've been surprised actually. I was a complete beginner when I started, but the way the course is taught you can pick things up very quickly - the speaking takes a bit longer though. I studied English in the UK and I was a bit worried. The school in the UK wasn't bad but the teachers never prepared, there were no supplementary materials to go with the course text and the teachers didn't seem to be as motivated or well prepared as the teachers are here.

J: So the pace of the SILAC program was okay?
S: I thought the course was too quick at one point, so I moved down a class and this gave me the opportunity to review things I'd missed. But once I got used to it, it was fine.

J: Where are you staying?
S: I'm living in the Student Village. It's convenient because it's close to school and everything you need is there - the kitchen, television, piano etc. I thought it would be a problem sharing the bathroom facilities but it wasn't at all.

J: And the other people in the Village?
S: Anytime you want or need to talk to someone there's always somebody around and I found I learnt a lot about other cultures because of the mix of nationalities that are staying there.

J: Outside of class what have you been doing?
S: At the weekend I go travelling. I've been to Kyoto, Nagoya - the aquarium, castle etc - Gamagori and many other places. I've also been to karaoke and many restaurants - there is always someone who's going to do something in the Village, so I was never bored. I went to Okazaki Castle once and it was an experience getting there but I haven't explored Okazaki very much.

J: Have you been to Tokyo?
S: No. I'm not very good at travelling on my own so I don't think I'll make it before I go back to France. But I'm going to Gifu this weekend and I went to a festival in Asuke last week.

J: Was there anything about Japan that has surprised you, or that you weren't prepared for?
S: I'm French and queueing to get into a restaurant is terrible!! Seriously though, French people, like many other nationalities, are stereotyped and my stereotype of Japanese people has been totally destroyed! I thought they were not very outgoing and it would be difficult to talk to them, but when you begin to communicate they open up. On my first day of lessons, when I was coming to school I said "konnichiwa" to a old man and he gave me a big smile and said "ohayou gozaimasu". From then I knew that ohayou gozaimasu was good morning - I'd learnt something before I'd even started studying!

J: Will you continue studying Japanese when you return to France?
S: Yes. I hope to find a Japanese course at the University near where I live. I might even come back next year! I'm not paying for the course myself, it's the hotel that I work for so yes, I'll probably come back.

J: And finally, any message for students who are enrolling or planning to enroll in a course at Yamasa?
S: Before coming to Japan make sure you learn Katakana and Hiragana as this will save you a lot of time which can be spent on other areas of the language - and you'll progress quicker if you know it before you arrive.
J: Thank you.

Click here to go to ACJS center homepage

www.yamasa.org Aichi Center Online Center Kanji Dictionary
Japan Travel Guide Yamasa TV! FM Okazaki Online