Programul de vara pentru copii - un succes

Vara anului trecut a fost o vara in care am realizat mai clar ce inseamna lipsa studentilor din Cluj-Napoca, studenti care compun majoritatea participantilor la activitatile si evenimentele organizate de catre noi, Cercul „Prietenii Japoniei” la Ceainaria cu specific japonez, „Sakura”, fapt pentru care, in vara anului 2012 ne-am gandit sa facem o schimbare, orientand activitatile noastre mai mult catre publicul local. In abordarea noastra am folosit experienta acumulata in colaborarea noastra din trecut cu scoala David Prodan, si mai recenta, cu scoala Ioan Bob. Astfel, vara aceasta am gandit-o ca pe o vara a copiilor, in care majoritatea activitatilor noastre au avut ca tinta copiii cu varste cuprinse intre 7 si 13 ani, pe care le-am impachetat in ceea ce noi am numit „Programul de vara pentru copii”,

Am incercat in acest program sa impacam utilul cu placutul, un aspect vital in lucrul cu copiii, si de cele mai multe ori chiar si cu oamenii mari. Astfel, in cadrul programului nostru am inclus un curs de limba japoneza, ateliere origami, kirigami, etegami si papercraft, o intalnire muzicala, numita cantece pentru toti (Minna no Uta), si o intalnire finala in care ne-am felicitat, am premiat participantii, am revazut poze cu ceea ce am realizat pe parcursul verii si la finalul careia am vizionat un film de animatie, japonez, pentru a ne relaxa.

Prima intalnire din cadrul programului a avut loc in data de 10 iulie, fiind o intalnire de limba japoneza, care facea parte dintr-o serie de patru astfel de intalniri, in care copiii au putut sa invete cateva lucruri elementare despre limba japoneza, despre pozitionarea geografica a Japoniei, iar din moment ce limba si cultura japoneza merg mana in mana, copiii au invatat si cateva aspecte culturale japoneze esentiale. 

Elementele lingvistice invatate de catre copii cuprind formule de prezentare („Ma numesc...”, „Imi pare bine de cunostinta.”, „Multumesc!” etc.), saluturile in diferite momente ale zilei si cu diferite ocazii (dimineata, seara, la plecare, la intoarcere etc. ), numeralele cardinale, 

zilele saptamanii, lunile anului, anotimpurile, cateva intrebari simple („Cati ani ai?”, „Cate obiecte sunt?” etc.) si cateva expresii uzuale („Da.”, „Nu”, „Imi place...”, „Imi cer scuze.” etc.). S-a invatat si despre existenta a trei alfabete japoneze utilizate de catre japonezi si despre modul in care sunt pronuntate sunetele in limba japoneza.

Copiii s-au aratat interesati de elementele predate, aflandu-se la acest curs, in primul rand, cel putin datorita curiozitatii fata de limba japoneza. La aceasta curiozitate s-a adaugat si modul in care limba japoneza a fost adusa mai aproape de copii, in mod interactiv, elementul nativ prezent in aceste cursuri, dra Akiko Ishihara, jucand un rol important in concretizarea unei idei despre utilitatea invatarii unei astfel de limbi si contextelor in care aceasta poate fi pusa in practica. Cu ajutorul drei Ishihara, voluntar pe tot parcursul programului nostru de vara pentru copii, am reusit sa dam un exemplu de limba japoneza vorbita de catre un nativ. Pe langa aspectul practic al prezentei drei la aceste cursuri, copiii s-au bucurat si s-au atasat personal si emotional de dra japoneza, lucru care ne bucura, intentia noastra ca Cercul „Prietenii Japoniei” fiind aceea de a creea intotdeauna un spatiu cat mai calduros si mai familial pentru oricine doreste sa participe la majoritatea activitatilor organizate de catre noi, lucru pe care credem ca reusim sa il realizam.

Atelierele de origami, kirigami, etegami si papercraft au fost probabil activitatile cele mai anticipate de catre copii, datorita faptului ca, in esenta, acestea sunt activitati mai interactive si mai colorate, atat in sens propriu cat si in sens figurat. Ideea de baza a acestor ateliere a fost nu aceea de a da o directie fixa copiilor spre a creea ceva cat mai apropiat de perfectiune. Nu am urmarit de aceasta data nici sa observam deficiente ale copiilor pe care sa le corectam ulterior, in manuirea hartiei, a pensulei, a instrumentelor de taiat etc., desi in unele cazuri am fost nevoiti sa ajustam si sa dam directie copiilor in acest sens. Mai mult decat atat, am dorit sa oferim copiilor libertate de creatie, sa ingradim cat mai putin imaginatia copiilor, si chiar sa o stimulam, prin discutii, prin exemple de creatii ale altor copii si artisti, sa descoperim potentialul din fiecare participant, si sa invatam impreuna ceea ce arta are ascuns in ea si ce poate sa ne descopere, fara ca noi macar sa ne dam seama. Am lasat arta sa curga, timp in care am invatat si descoperit, noi organizatorii, lucruri foarte interesante de la copii; am invatat ca diferenta dintre scoala si acasa este ca la scoala nu sunt paturi, ca leopardul este asemanator cu girafa pentru ca ambii au pete, ca un sportiv este un artist, ca din hartie putem construi orice dorim, si multe alte lucruri interesante, in timp ce copiii au fost liberi sa picteze, sa deseneze si sa decupeze.

Copiii s-au simtit ca acasa in ceainaria noastra cu note japoneze, si ne-am bucurat impreuna de creatiile fiecaruia. In cadrul atelierului origami am realizat caluti saltareti, fluturasi si pliculete pentru betisoare. Arta de a inventa modele origami fiind una pretentioasa, in cadrul atelierului origami ne-am limitat la a discuta alte posibile modele, ajungand impreuna cu copiii la concluzia ca o casa origami, in care sa putem locui, nu ar fi un proiect imposibil.

Atelierul kirigami a lasat loc mai mult imaginatiei in creatie. Dupa ce am realizat modelele propuse de catre noi, am dat libertatea copiilor sa creeze propriile modele kirigami. Rezultatele au fost impresionante, copiii dand dovada de multa ingeniozitate si imaginatie, prin creatie si interpretarea modelelor creeate.

Cel mai spectaculos dintre ateliere a fost insa probabil atelierul etegami, unde am pictat felicitari in stil japonez. Toti participantii au dat dovada de creativitate si talent, realizand felicitari impresionante, neincetand sa ne simtim bine impreuna cu copiii in acelasi timp si sa avem discutii neasteptat de mature si de interesante.

Atelierul papercraft a fost pe cat de solicitant, pe atat de interesant. In cadrul acestui atelier am avut ca tinta crearea unui orasel al copiilor, din hartie decupata si lipita. 

A fost un proiect solicitant, insa impreuna cu copiii am reusit sa il ducem la bun sfarsit, oraselul realizat fiind unul chiar impresionant.

Minna no uta, tradus cantece pentru toti, a fost o intalnire atat interesanta cat si educativa. Am vizionat impreuna cu copiii o serie de desene animate scurte, insotite de cantece pentru copiii. Am vizionat un cantec care ne invata sa ne spalam pe dinti si sa ascultam de parinti, un alt cantec care vorbea despre o fetita si un baietel care se jucau impreuna, insa intr-o zi baietelul a devenit trist pentru ca mama lui lipsise de acasa o vreme, un cantecel despre o calatorie in trecut, realizabila si de catre noi, pentru ca aceasta a avut loc la un muzeu de antichitati, o adevarata poarta a timpului. 

Ultimul cantecel ne invata sa ne apreciem si sa ne respectam bunicii, care ne ajuta la teme si care se pricep la atatea lucruri datorita experientei lor de viata. La final am invatat impreuna sa cantam cantecelul care vorbea despre Bunica calculator – Konpyuta Obacha. Copiii si-au dat toate silintele sa invete cantecelul, care le-a placut foarte mult.

Ultima intalnire din cadrul programului de vara pentru copii a avut loc in data de 31 august, zi in care am felicitat copiii pentru reusita acestui program de vara, am inmanat diplome de participare si premii, am facut poze impreuna, 

iar in final am vizionat filmul de animatie Tonari no Totoro - Vecinul meu, Totoro, o animatie care a fost apreciata atat de catre copii, cat si de catre partintii care au fost prezenti.

Consideram ca este foarte important sa cautam noi valente in copii, pentru ca apoi sa le putem oferi suport si indrumare in directia in care copilul are nevoie, si mai mult, pentru a nu le impiedica dezvoltarea prin ignoranta, pentru ca pe viitor acestia sa poata deveni tineri cu perspective si, candva, persoane de admirat. Ca organizatie si ca oameni, facem tot ce ne sta in putinta sa oferim un mediu cat mai curat din punct de vedere al poluarii comportamentale, omniprezente in societatea actuala, cu precadere in randul tinerilor, orientati tot mai mult spre o cultura a inculturii si spre o lipsa de valori,  o pseudosocietate care pluteste in deriva pe reminiscentele unei societati candva, demult, promitatoare, si totusi in continua decadenta. Societatea japoneza nu este nici pe departe una perfecta, insa ca si oameni capabili sa judecam si sa cernem prin sita constiintei, putem sa gasim in aceasta civilizatie indepartata, dar si in imediata apropiere, numeroase valori, fie umane, estetice sau culturale, pe care sa le promovam si sa le adoptam in vietile noastre personale.

Suntem multumiti de rezultatele date de programul nostru de vara pentru copii si speram ca pe viitor mai multi copii sa poata sa se bucure de ceea ce noi oferim si, mai mult decat atat, dorim ca mai multe persoane sa inteleaga nevoia nu unuia, ci mai multor puncte de revitalizare, a societatii, a culturii si nu in ultimul rand al fiecaruia dintre noi personal.

Multumim participantilor pentru colaborare si speram sa ne revedem in cadrul altor activitati cat mai curand.

                Echipa Cercul „Prietenii Japoniei”

           ********* English Version bellow: *******

The Summer Program for Children

In the summer of 2011 we realized clearer what the lack of students in Cluj-Napoca means, since students make up most of the participants at the activities and events which we, Japan’s Friends Club, organize at „Sakura” Japanese Teahouse. As a result, in the summer of 2012 we decided to make a change, trying to redirect our summer activities towards the local public. In tackling this we used our experience gained from the collaboration with the David Prodan school, in the past, and from our recent and ongoing collaboration with the Ioan Bob school. Thus, we organized this summer as a summer for children, where the majority of our events were children-oriented, and which called the Summer Program for Children.

              We tried to make this program both pleasant and useful, a vital element in working with children, and most of the time even with grown-up people. Therefore, we included in our program Japanese language classes, origami, kirigami, etegami and papercraft workshops, a musical meeting called “Songs for everyone” (Minna no Uta) and one final meeting to congratulate the participants, view pictures from our previous meetings, and at the end of which we watched a Japanese animation, in order to relax.  

Te first meeting of the program took place on the 10^th of July, and it was a Japanese language class, part of a series of four such classes, where the children had the chance to gain some elementary knowledge of the geographic localization of Japan, about the Japanese language, and since language and culture walk hand in hand in Japan, some basic knowledge about the Japanese culture. The linguistic elements that the children were taught during the Japanese language program included the following: introduction phrases (“My name is...”, “Nice to meet you.”, “Thank you!” etc.), greetings according to different times of day and ocasions (in the morning, in the evening, at departure, at arrival etc.), numbers, weekdays, months, seasons, a few simple questions (“How old are you?”, “How many objects are there?”  etc.) and a few usual expressions (“Yes”, “No”, “I like...”, “I am sorry!” etc.). The children also learned about the existence of the three different alphabets and about the way in which sounds are pronounced in Japanese.

The children showed interest in the elements that were taught, which was expected since they participated at the course because of their curiousity, if not interest in the Japanese language, in the first place. We also made our classes interactive, and the native element, in the person of Ms. Akiko Ishihara, played a very important role in the children’s understanding of the applicability of learning a language like Japanese, and the contexts in which it can be put into practice. With the help of Ms. Ishihara, voluntary during the entire summer program, we also managed to give an example of the Japanese language spoken by a native. Besides the practical aspect of the presence of Ms. Ishihara, the children were happy about the presence of the Japanese at the courses and some affective ties were also made between her and the children. We regard this with pleasure, since our purpose, as Japan’s Friends Club, is that of always creating a warm, familiar environment for anyone who wishes to enjoy our activities, and also make friends, something we can be proud of achieving.

The origami, kirigami, etegami and papercraft workshops were probably the most anticipated activities, due to the fact that these activities are more interactive and have a more colorful nature. The main idea of these workshops was not to give a concrete direction to the children in order to create something as close to perfection as possible. Also, this time our purpose was not to observe various lacks in skills, which to correct afterwards, like inappropriate paper folding or cutting techniques, or inadequate use of brushes and cutting tools, and so on, even though our intervenience was necessary in some cases. More than this, we wanted to give children the freedom of creative expression, to extend the boundaries of imagination as far as possible, stimulating them with discussions, examples of other artistic creations by children or artists, and with this, to discover the artistic potential of every children, and learn together what art has to pull out of each of us. We let the art flow, while we, the organizers, found out some very interesting things from the children; we found out that the difference between school and home is that at school there are no beds, that the leppard is similar to a giraffe because both have spots, that an athlete is an artist and that we can create pretty much everything out of paper. These are only a few of the many interesting things we found out while the children were painting, drawing and cutting.

The children felt at home in our Japanese teahouse and we all enjoyed each other’s creations. At the origami workshop we folded jumping horses, butterflies  and chopstick envelopes. Since the art of inventing origami models is very difficult, at the origami workshop just discussing other possible models was fulfiling enough, getting to the conclusion that even a habitable house made of paper would not be impossible to create.

The kirigami workshop however, was more generous in terms of expression of ingenuity. After we created the models proposed by us, we gave the children the possibility to further create their own models. The results were just amazing, the children showing great imagination, both in creating and interpreting the meaning of the models.

Maybe the most spectacular of all of the workshops was the etegami workshop, where we painted postcards in Japanese style. All of the participants showed great potential in terms of creativity and originality, the resulting postcards being stunning. During the whole workshop we didn’t cease to feel good and to have unexpectedly grown-up debates and conversations with the children.

The papercraft workshop was as rewarding as it was demanding. Our aim at this workshop was to create a children’s city, out of paper, cut and glued together. It was indeed hard to get it done, but in the end we managed to, the finalized little city turning out quite impressive.

Minna no uta, translated as  Songs for everyone, was a both interesting and educative meeting. The children watched a series of musical cartoons, for children. We watched a movie that teached us to brush our teeth and listen to our parents, another one talked about a girl and a boy, who used to play together. However, one day the boy became sad because his mother left for a few days. Another song brought us into the past, by means of visiting a museum, a real gateway to the past. The last cartoon taught us to appreciate and respect our grandparents, who help us with our homeworks and who are so skilled at so many things, due to the experience they gathered all of their long lives. At the end we learned how to sing the song that was talking about The Computer Granny – Konpyuta Obachan. The children gave their best to learn the song, which they liked a lot.

The last meeting of the program took place on August 31^st, and it was the day when we congratulated the children for the success of the program, handed diplomas and prizes, took pictures together, and in the end we watched the movie Tonari no Totoro – My Neighbour Totoro, an animation who was appreciated both by the children and the parents who were present at the meeting.

We believe that it is very important to look for new valences in children, so that we can offer support and guidance in the direction that the child is in need of, and especially not to get in the way of their development by being ignorant, so that in the future they can become inquisitive teenagers and, one day, admirable grown-ups. As an organization and as people, we do all that we can to offer an environment devoid of any behavioral pollution, omnipresent in the actual society, especially among teenagers, who getting increasingly cultivated in inculture and are caracterised by a lack of moral values. It is a pseudosociety floating around on the reminiscences of a one day promising society, which is now, however, in a continuous decadence. The Japanese society isn’t by far perfect, nevertheless, as people capable of making judgements and seclude bad from good, by means of counsciousness, we can find in this distant civilization, and also in the immediate vicinity, numerous human, estetic or cultural values, which to promote and adopt in our personal lives.

We are happy with the results of our summer program for children and we hope that in the future more children will be able to enjoy what we have to offer, and more than that, we wish that more people realized the need of not one, but of many revitalization centres, for the society, the culture of our people and last but not least, for the revitalization of each of us, personally.

We are grateful to our participants amd we hope to see them again at our activities, as soon as possible.

The staff

Japan’s Friends Club