For anyone who is considering Irodori for their studies or teaching, allow me to share our experience here at Saijou International Training Center, Inc.
Irodori contains several objectives in each lesson that are set in a practical cultural context. Exposure to authentic situations is particularly advantageous not only for those aiming to obtain a Specified Skilled Worker visa, but also other types of visas, or simply to stay in Japan.
Currently, Saijou is handling its fifth batch of Irodori students, and our JFT Basic test takers unanimously observed how similar Irodori lessons are to the format of the exams. Most aced the listening and speaking parts, while doing surprisingly well in other parts, too. One of them commented how they thought they would have a hard time with reading comprehension, but they found out they understood the grammar sufficiently. With due diligence in reviewing kanji and vocabulary, Irodori students can easily excel in the tests.
On the other hand, Irodori is not only student-centered, but is also highly appreciated by many teachers across the globe. With the emphasis on self-discovery, there is no need to “overteach” concepts. Personally, after all the Irodori instructors I’ve observed, I’m still unlearning my old ways of teaching. Thanks to our trainings with the Japan Foundation, we at Saijou are continuously learning how to let our students think for themselves and expand their imagination.
Aside from the learner resources, teaching guides are freely downloadable as well. This vastly reduces the effort to prepare lessons, as teachers can simply integrate the materials into their own slideshow presentations.
As a result, both student and teacher are relieved of unnecessary frustration, and can cultivate a mutually beneficial learning environment. For me and my fellow teachers at Saijou, being part of the first institution to host classes solely based on Irodori, it has been a fun and rewarding work in progress indeed.
Corazon Castro Shobiri (Institution Head, SAIJOU INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CENTER INC.)
