Japan Society: Language Officer

I am running for the role of Language Officer because I believe language is one of the most significant ways to connect with individuals from diverse cultures. During the time I studied Japanese, I realised that learning a language is not just about studying grammar and vocabulary, but also about building friendships and gaining a deeper understanding of different cultures. Having experienced the challenges of learning Japanese myself, I understand how difficult the process can sometimes feel, so I would like to help make learning Japanese more approachable and enjoyable for other international students who may be interested in the language. 

When I began teaching level 1 students, I was inspired by their enthusiasm for learning Japanese and their interest in exploring Japanese culture. These interactions with the students made teaching Japanese more motivating and meaningful. As Language Officer, I hope to create more relaxed and welcoming opportunities for members to practice Japanese, meet new people, and learn about Japanese culture, so that more people can experience the joy of learning a new language. I would also like to encourage more international students to feel comfortable joining language events and to feel included within the Japan Society community, making Japanese language learning more accessible to everyone interested in it. 

Hi everyone, はじめまして！

I’m a second-year Pharmacy student from Japan 🇯🇵I’m running for Language Officer to spread the joy of learning Japanese!

I’ve been teaching the Level 2 Japanese class since last September, and I’ve loved it so far! I really enjoy seeing the progress and deeper understanding students gain in each lesson🤩

Through my experience this year, I’ve noticed a few things we can improve to make lessons more enjoyable and engaging. 

Here are my goals:

Make lessons joyful and not like an ordinary lecture :) I plan to achieve this by following 7 plans:

• Including more partner and group work
• Doing quiz/kahoot activities at the end of lessons so you don’t just input grammar and vocabulary, but also output them.
• Adding more speaking exercises, especially for beginner-level classes. Shadowing, role-play etc…
• Most importantly, creating a supportive environment where students aren’t afraid of making mistakes, because they’re an essential parts of learning!😉

To ensure it’s also a positive experience for teachers, I will:

• Plan teachers’ schedules in a timely and organized manner
• Provide enough resources, support, and feedback to teachers, so we can always improve 🫶
• Support language director throughout the year by providing ideas, feedback from the teachers, and students.

I’m eager to create a welcoming community with you and all the members of the language team! 
Please vote for me!! 🗳️

Hi, I’m Koto Nakajima, first year BA History student from Tokyo. I am running for Language Director/Officer to improve the language lessons even further.

Why am I running?

I currently teach Level 5 Japanese, the highest level. Doing so, I see immense potential in the lessons to become more accessible, practical, and most importantly, enjoyable. With 5 years of experience in teaching, I believe I can bring the changes necessary to elevate the language lessons of JSoc.

What will I do?

I’m running for Language Director & Officer next year to reform the JSoc language lessons. I will modify the language classes by making them more practical. Currently, the language lessons across all levels are purely focused on grammar. However, the application of language is never fully possible unless the teachers fully explain the context and the cultural views behind the selection of certain words/phrases. Therefore, my three following pillars will support the transformation of the Language Lessons:

1. Heightened awareness of Japan through weekly briefings of Japanese news.
2. Creating a systematic repository of resources specifically for non-native speakers, such as textbooks.
3. Inter-level workshops focusing on specific skills, such as letter writing using Keigo, and/ different types of language used in different texts (songs, adverts, etc.). 

I appreciate you reading until the end, and I sincerely hope you vote for me!皆さんの協力をぜひともよろしくお願いします。

I’m standing because I want to deepen my own understanding of the Japanese language while helping others do the same. As someone currently at Level 2, I know how exciting and sometimes intimidating the early stages of language learning can be. Taking on this role gives me the chance to grow alongside other learners and contribute to society. 

My goals after becoming the language officer are to learning through contribution, as I can use the role as a way to reinforce my own language skills, for example, preparing slides and learning materials. I also hope to foster a welcoming, inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of level and nationality, feels comfortable participating. I want to continue the casual, conversational atmosphere in Japanese lessons right now, where learners have the opportunity to practice speaking the language. 

I’m a beginner myself, but I believe that can be a strength as I understand what students struggle with, what they want to learn, and what helps them stay motivated. I also believe that I am a good fit as the organisational skills I have honed allow me to manage materials, coordinate with committee members and teachers, as well as keep sessions running smoothly.

Japanese Society has been a place where I’ve made close friends across faculties and backgrounds. I want to help create that same experience for others. It makes language learning so much more enjoyable, and I want to help build that environment for new and returning members.

I am running for Language Officer as I believe language learning is one of the most unique and valuable parts of JSoc. Having taught language lessons to JSoc members, I have seen how determined the students are coming week-in week-out to learn Japanese. I want to help create an environment where learners at every level feel supported, motivated, and excited to improve.

My experience in collaborating with other instructors and adapting content into different learning styles has prepared me well for this role. I aim to build on the strong foundation of our current programme by ensuring that our weekly sessions remain clear, engaging, and welcoming to any Japanese learners.

As Language Officer, I will:

• Work closely with teachers to organise weekly language lessons and maintain smooth communication

• Gather input on class level and collaborate with teachers to tailor language lessons to student need

• Recruit and support language teachers

• Help run language‑focused events such as Nihongo Socials, ensuring they are inclusive and accessible to all members

• Create a welcoming environment that encourages members to ask questions and grow at their own pace

I want to contribute to a JSoc where language learning feels approachable, enjoyable, and community‑driven. I would be honoured to serve as your language officer.