While Dante Durban moves to uMhlanga, our student Kimmyka moves to Japan.
Q: Congratulations on your achievement! Thanks to the Dante Durban JET programme, we know that in July you’ll be moving to Japan for one year. Can you explain what the JET programme is?
A: The JET programme is a project financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Japan which allows a Japanese language student to be able to work for a year in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) or as a Co-ordinator for International Relations (CIR), or as a Sport Exchange Advisor (SEA).
Q: That’s great! How did your passion for the Japanese language come about?
A: The Japanese language has always been my passion, and since I was a teenager I’ve read anime and love eating out in Japanese restaurants. When I found out that Dante Durban offers both face-to-face and online Japanese classes, I immediately enrolled and studied with my teacher Saera Takahasi for two years. Saera has always encouraged and stimulated me, and constantly adapted to my busy schedule as a university student.
In addition, Dante Durban gave me the opportunity to take the JLCAT language proficiency test for free, and fostered me to continue my studies on the JET programme.
Q: Tell us more about what you’ll be doing in Japan?
A: I start work at the end of July in Japan, and although I’m very excited about this move, I will miss lessons at the new Dante venue in uMhlanga at 1 Torsvale Crescent. I’ll be working as an Assistant Language Teacher in a junior and senior primary school in Tokushima, a small town on Shikoku island.
Q: And what do you expect to gain from this experience?
A: I’m very happy to be able to live in a small town as I’ll be in contact with the local community, and will be able to improve my level of Japanese as well as immerse myself completely in their culture and traditions.
Q: Would you recommend Dante Durban to aspiring Japanese students?
A: Absolutely yes! Dante Durban have supported me tremendously over the last two years. They even organised an online language exchange with students from Kyoto University, which was a fun and enriching experience. As Dante students we were able to speak freely in Japanese and discuss different topics such as food, university, entertainment, and so on, which was always supervised by our teacher Saera.
We wish Kimmyka good luck as she starts her new venture.
For more info:
- 073 852 2482 (Instant response)
- 031 563 7633 Eladante@dantedurban.com
- 1 Torsvale Crescent, Somerset Park, Umhlanga
- www.dantedurban.com