EIL Intercultural Learning

While I was in school in Japan I took a number of classes; World History, Japanese History, Biology, Ancient Japanese, Maths, and English. I freely admit that, for the majority of the time, I was completely lost. I remember being thrilled every time I managed to translate any of the vocabulary being used in Biology or Japanese History, and I'm afraid that Ancient Japanese went over my head completely. Maths I could manage, as I had already covered their course for the Leaving Certificate, and English didn't cause me too many problems. However, my favorite of all lessons in school was sodo - Japanese calligraphy. I'm sure you're all familiar with the complex appearance of Japanese writing; the many symbols, vertical writing, etc. Writing in Japanese is an art-form in itself, and a skill that requires a lot of practice. Children in Japan begin learning calligraphy in primary school, and then have the option of continuing it in high-school, if they so choose. While I have studied Japanese in Ireland for two years, focus was never really placed on perfecting our writing - we tended to concentrate of grammer, vocabulary, etc., so being immersed in a class that deals solely with the precise manner in which you move your brush (or pen) came as a bit of a shock. It was very difficult, and my level of skill was far below that of my peers. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed learning how to write properly, and I felt that in learning the art of calligraphy I was unlocking another secret of the Japanese way of life. The care and dedication needed to write calligraphy hints towards the mindset of the Japanese. It requires practice, hard-work, and patience.