One-day Spanish lesson planned by two Chuo students

学生が企画した1日だけのスペイン語講座

Mizuki Koike (left) and Mariana Nishii pose for a photo at G Square of Chuo's Tama campus.
Mizuki Koike (left) and Mariana Nishii pose for a photo at G Square of Chuo's Tama campus.

Not many students in Chuo University learn Spanish as their second foreign language. Mizuki Koike and Mariana Nishii are preparing to give a one-day lesson on Spanish at the school on Nov. 30 in a bid to make the language more popular among Chuo students. Both of them are first graders of the Faculty of Commerce’s Marketing & Trade Department. Koike learned Spanish when she studied in Mexico during her high-school days. Nishii has been familiar with the language since her childhood because she has Japanese-Peruvian parents.

中央大学でスペイン語を第二外国語として履修する学生の割合は低い。そのスペイン語の認知度を高めたいとして、11月30日の昼休みに開かれる1日だけの講座を企画したのが小池瑞希さんと西井まりあなさん。2人はともに商学部貿易科の1年生。小池さんは高校時代にメキシコに留学してスペイン語を習得、西井さんは日系ペルー人の親を持ち、小さいころからスペイン語に親しんでいた。

 

They are giving the lesson at G square of the Tama campus at the suggestion of Professor Hideki Takamatsu, the chairperson of the working group organizing Chuo International Week on Mexico scheduled for Nov. 28-Dec. 3. Nishii said, “I thought it will be a good chance to get Chuo students know about Spanish. I also felt it will be a good challenge for me to experience the hardships people may have when they teach.”

Gスクエアで開かれるこの講座は、インターナショナル・ウィーク座長の高松英樹教授が2人に持ちかけたもので、西井さんは「相談を受け、中大生にスペイン語を知ってもらうにはいい機会だと思った。また、これを通じて教える立場の苦労を味わうことができるのでいい挑戦になると思った」と言う。

Koike (left) and Nishii speak during an interview with Hakumon Herald.
Koike (left) and Nishii speak during an interview with Hakumon Herald.

Their lesson will focus on daily conversations in Spanish. “I have prepared the course, based on the troubles I experienced during my study in Mexico. Its contents will be easy and practical for beginners like, for example, ‘What do you say this in Spanish?’,” Koike said.

当日は日常会話を中心にスペイン語講座が開かれる。「私がメキシコ留学中に困った体験をベースに講座をつくりました。例えば『これをスペイン語で何と言いますか?』というような、初心者でも学びやすく、実践的な内容になっている」(小池さん)

 

Asked about the charm of Spanish, Nishii said, “It is a language spoken with a lot of bouncy gestures that make you cheerful.” Koike and Nishii seem to be arranging for light meals to be served and Bingo games played after their lesson.

スペイン語の魅力を聞くと、西井さんは「表現やしぐさが軽快で、喋っていて楽しくなる言語です」と語った。当日は食事とビンゴゲームも用意されるようだ。(Written by: Hideki Kato)(加藤英樹)