Semarang, 26 September 2023 – On Monday, 25 September 2023, Diponegoro University (Undip) once again organized an engaging guest lecture, this time with a highly relevant topic: “Tips for Learning Japanese”. The main speaker for this event was Mrs. Hayakawa Masayo, a lecturer from Kagawa University with expertise in Japanese language. The event was held from 13:20 to 15:00 and was attended by 60 enthusiastic students and 6 faculty members in room A3.11 of Undip’s Faculty of Humanities.
In this spirited lecture session, Mrs. Hayakawa Masayo shared valuable insights on how to effectively master the Japanese language. A key point emphasized was the importance of courage in speaking Japanese. Mrs. Hayakawa emphasized that while students are bound to make mistakes when learning, this is a natural part of the learning process. What is more important is how students can learn from their mistakes and avoid repeating them in the future.
To become aware of language mistakes, Mrs. Hayakawa explained that students need to have a strong command of Japanese vocabulary and grammar. Vocabulary is a key to success in understanding and communicating in Japanese. To improve vocabulary retention, the speaker offered a practical tip: During practice, students should not only read and memorize vocabulary, but also write and pronounce it at the same time. This technique can help consolidate vocabulary memory more effectively.
The guest lecture event received a very positive response from the Undip students. They were very enthusiastic and engaged during the question and answer session held after Mrs. Hayakawa’s presentation. During this session, interesting questions were asked, such as one from Tazkia asking for tips on how to write good haiku, and another from Ahmad Fajar Ory asking about the presence of the Ainu people in Japanese society, which is relevant to the topic of his upcoming thesis.
According to Zaki Ainul Fadli, a lecturer of the undergraduate program in Japanese language and culture at Undip, the event was held primarily to enhance students’ interaction with native Japanese speakers in an academic setting. This is a positive step towards improving students’ understanding and proficiency in the Japanese language.
This guest lecture not only provided valuable insights into Japanese language learning, but also strengthened cooperation between Diponegoro University and other universities. It is hoped that such activities will continue to be organized to provide students with meaningful experiences in mastering the Japanese language and culture.