NIOC Sailors Teach English to Local Japanese Students

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Matthew Bradley, U.S. Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan Public Affairs

MISAWA, Japan (NNS) -- Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Sailors aboard Misawa Air Base visited a Japanese after-school youth facility in Misawa, Japan, to help students learn the English language as part of a cultural exchange, March 10.

The NIOC Misawa Sailors have been visiting the children at the Oka Misawa Jidokan twice a month for the past three years.

Legalman 1st Class Quenise Crigler, volunteer coordinator, said she particularly enjoys teaching and learning from the children.

"These sessions are a little give and take," Crigler said. "We're able to teach them a little English, and they teach us a little bit about their culture. I thoroughly enjoy interacting with the kids. I like seeing how excited they are even before we get inside the door."

Yumiko Yamamoto, a teacher at the facility said Misawa is a very special city because Japanese children see Americans almost everyday.

"When the Americans first started to visit, the children were a bit shy, but now they are excited and look forward to each visit," said Yamamoto. "This is a great opportunity for the kids to use English and interact with native speakers."

NIOC plans several seasonal events throughout the year in addition to the regular visits. These events showcase both American and Japanese cultures. For Halloween the children went trick-or-treating, and for the New Year's Eve party the students introduced the Sailors to the Japanese tradition of bean throwing, said Yamamoto.

Crigler said an event to celebrate Easter is already being planned.

For more news from Naval Air Facility Misawa, visit https://www.cnic.navy.mil/misawa/index.htm or visit on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nafmisawa.