Motivated Successful Learner - 70 years old is still young to master a new thing!
Jun 17, 2024![](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/blogs/2147485846/images/51f7114-265d-1334-ccb6-8c24ff125af_17_David.png)
こんにちは。Arai Academy of Japanese Studiesの新井です。皆さんはチャレンジしたいけど、もう遅いかもしれないと思ってあきらめてしまうことがありますか。今回はいつからでも始められるし、成功できるという例を紹介します。デービッドさんは今70歳で、4年間ぐらい日本語を勉強して、今年日本を旅行した時、日本語でコミュニケーションができて、とても達成感があったそうです。きっと皆さんも「今からでもできそうだ!」とエネルギーが出てきたらとても嬉しいです。
Hello, my name is Arai from Arai Academy of Japanese Studies. Have you ever felt that it may be too late and you have given up something that you wanted to try? Don’t worry! Here is a real story of how you can start anytime and succeed. David, who is now 70 years old, has been studying Japanese for about four years, and when he travelled to Japan this year, he was able to communicate with people in Japanese, which gave him a great sense of accomplishment. I hope his story will make you feel “I can do/start it even from now!” and you will feel even more energized.
デービッドさんはキングスカレッジの付属高校の議長で、私も以前キングスカレッジで日本語を教えていた時、この高校でも教えていたので、親しみを感じます。
デービッドさんは2,3回日本に行ってから、20年ぐらい日本に行っていませんでした。それから、2018年と2019年にまた日本に行ってから、一人で日本語の勉強を始めて、2020年12月からArai Academy of Japanese Studiesで日本語を勉強しています。
David is the Chairman of King's College London Mathematics School, a sixth form Academy linked to King’s College, and I feel close to him because I also taught Japanese at the same school when I was teaching at King's College. David had gone to Japan a few times for business, but had not been there for almost 20 years. He went to Japan again in 2018 and in 2019. After that, he started studying Japanese on his own and has been studying Japanese at Arai Academy of Japanese Studies since December 2019.
次に、デービッドさんが66歳の時に日本語の勉強を始めて、4年後に日本語で必要な会話ができるようになったポイントですが、どんなに大変でも毎日、日本語の時間を作るということです。デービッドさんはイタリアとイギリスの会社の議長でもあり、とても忙しいんですが、毎週必ず日本語のレッスンを受けるし、宿題も必ずします。私のレッスンを独学向けにアレンジしたMaster Speaking Japaneseのオンライン教材も使ってレッスンとレッスンの間に文法の復習や話す練習も頑張っています。また、私の投稿も必ず見てくれているので、日本語の表現だけでなく、日本人の考え方やマナーなども熱心に学んでいます。忙しくてもいつも日本語に接しているというのはとても大切なことですね。
Next, the key for achieving the conversation level at the age of 70 in 4 years starting from 66 years old is to make time for learning Japanese every day, no matter how hard it is. David is also the Chairman of an Italian company and of a British company and he is very busy, but he always takes our Japanese lesson every week and always does his homework. In between the lessons. he also revises grammar points and practises speaking by using 'Master Speaking Japanese’, the online learning materials that I created for self-study. He also checks all my posts and keeps learning not only Japanese expressions but also Japanese people's way of thinking and manners. It is essential to make time for the Japanese language even though you are busy.
デービッドさんが今年の春に日本を旅行して、日本語でお茶碗を作り、畳作りを体験し、全然英語を話さない居酒屋のオーナーとも日本語で会話をして、たくさんの人に会って、楽しい時間を過ごしたと聞いて、とても感激しました。デービッドさんはイギリスに住んでいて日本語を話すのはレッスンの時だけなので、70歳でも日本語の会話ができるようになるということを実感できますね。これからもこのように頑張っている生徒をサポートしていきたいです。
David travelled to Japan this spring and I was impressed when I heard his experiences! He enjoyed meeting people and going to workshops such as pottery making and tatami mat stitching in Japanese, and had a great time having a conversation with the owner of an ‘Izakaya (Japanese style pub)‘ in Japanese only because he did not speak English at all. David lives in England and speaks Japanese only during our lessons, so he is a great example that you can achieve conversation level even at 70 years old. I would like to keep supporting any hard working students like him.
こちらはデービッドさんのコメントです。This is the commnet by David.
「今までいろいろな外国語を勉強しましたが、日本語を勉強するのが一番楽しいです。文法も文型もヨーロッパの言語とぜんぜん違うし、漢字の勉強は終わりがないパズルのようで、日本について深く知ることも大切で、本当に面白いです。新井先生は私がひどい間違いをしてもいつも笑顔で、楽しく勉強できるし、スピーキング、リスニング、リーディング、ライティングなど全てのスキルがよくなっています。それに、どんな質問をしてもわかりやすく答えてくれるので、よく覚えられます。今は日本語の基本パターンがわかってきたので、年をとってなまけそうになっても、今までより速く勉強ができていて、とてもうれしいです。」
'I have learned a number of languages over the years, but I never enjoyed learning a language as much as I enjoy learning Japanese. It is a fascinating language: the grammar and syntax have substantial differences from things we take for granted in European languages, learning kanjis is like solving a never-ending puzzle, and the language helps you understand the hidden treasures of Japanese culture. And Arai sensei is always tolerant of my horrible mistakes with a smile, makes it fun and effective, combining the power of learning by writing, reading, listening and speaking. She also has an impressive ability to answer my questions, however weird, and to explain things in a way I find memorable. Now I feel over the big initial hurdle of learning the basics, and I flatter myself that I am learning faster and faster (although sometimes I wonder if I am only getting more indulgent with myself as I age…).'
皆さんは「自分にはもう遅すぎる」と思ったことはありませんか。今回の話を聞いて、いつからでも始められそうな気がしませんか。小さな一歩からでも始めてみれば、いつかデービッドさんのようにレベルアップしていくと信じています。頑張ってください。
Have you ever thought, “It's too late for me”? But I hope you have got inspired through this story that you can start at any time. I believe that everything starts from the first small step. If you do it, you will reach higher in the future like David did. Good luck with your journey!
輝いて Enrich your life!
新井峰子
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