Politehnica University Timisoara

Japanese language classes at UPT

 
 
Japanese language classes at UPT

Great interest shown by Timișoara citizens

16 March 2018

 

 

 

 

 

UPT Central Library’s multipurpose room was overcrowded with the huge number of people who attended the Japanese language course taught by His Excellency Kanji Tsushima, former ambassador of Japan in Romania. The announcement for the course has stirred up interest among the people of Timișoara considering that more than 400 signed up for the lessons after only two days, despite the class having a limit of only 40 people. Shocked by the avalanche of signups, the former ambassador accepted to teach two groups of 100 students each.

During the first meeting, the ambassador presented the course syllabus and talked about his experience in Romania. Afterwards, the students were divided into two study groups – one for beginners and one for intermediate learners, those who already know some Japanese – and they were taught the basics of the language.

” I am surprised by the high number of people who have shown interest in Japanese in Timișoara and I must confess that I wasn’t expecting so many signups. We thank His Excellency Kanji Tsushima for the opportunity of learning Japanese for free provided to the citizens of Timișoara and for his effort of accepting to teach a second study group consisting of an increased number of students. We hope that not only bachelor, master and Ph.D. students, but also UPT professors will find these classes useful especially due to the fact that our university has collaborations and student exchange programs with universities from Japan. Moreover, His Excellence is an older friend of UPT, having previously held conferences on Japanese culture and civilization and diplomatic communication at the Faculty of Architecture and City Planning and the Faculty of Communication Sciences.”, UPT rector professor Viorel Șerban, Ph.D. stated.

Tsushima Kanji has declared himself in love with Romania and our culture, his three children having been born in Romania. He retired in 2008 and he has visited Romania nearly every year after retirement eventually deciding to live there.  He moved to Timișoara in 2013, having chosen the city for its multiculturalist spirit. His Excellency is an avid reader of Romanian literature, being the founder and current president of the Yamato Cultural Association. Furthermore, he is the one who brought the ancient samurai art to Romania, being the founder of the Kendo and Iaido movement.

He first came to Romania in 1965, as a 21-year-old, to learn our language. He witnessed, along with the Romanians, the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia, the 1977 earthquake and the 1989 Revolution. He saw the evolution of the communist regime in Romania, from its inception period in the 70s to the outrageous form it had in the 80s up to its collapse. Now he is a witness to our efforts of building a democratic society.

 
Cursuri de limba japoneză la UPT
Cursuri de limba japoneză la UPT
Cursuri de limba japoneză la UPT
Cursuri de limba japoneză la UPT
Cursuri de limba japoneză la UPT
 
 
 
 
 UPT Central library The Department of Communication and Image
 
© Copyright 2024 Universitatea Politehnica Timisoara. All rights reserved
UPT on Facebook UPT on Twitter UPT on Google +