Residents of Trinidad and Tobago of all ages and skill levels are in invited to enter the Culture Through My Eyes Art Competition. Inspired by the book, Unearthing Traditions: Stories of Language & Culture Volume One, this contest encourages individuals to reflect on the various connections between cultures. Submissions should reflect the language(s), tradition(s), aspects of everyday life, or the beauty of a people and/or place.
HOW TO ENTER
- Create a drawing (digitally or by hand) that captures the theme, Culture Through My Eyes, and represents one of the countries featured in the book, connecting it with Trinidad and Tobago. Countries included are: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador (The Americas); Nigeria, Mozambique (Africa); China, Japan (Asia); France, Portugal, Spain (Europe).
- Complete the Entry Form. Pictures of hand-drawn pieces must be submitted on the entry form. Digital submissions must be uploaded to the entry form.
- Drop/mail in your submission (hand-drawn or digital) to the address below.
| Attn: Ms Janine Lutchman Centre for Language Learning The University of the West Indies St Augustine Campus |
We look forward to seeing culture through your eyes!
GUIDELINES
- Submissions must be original work.
- Submissions must be accompanied by a short paragraph (80-100 words) explaining your depiction of the cultural connection. This information will be displayed as the artist’s statement in the exhibition.
- For hand-drawn pieces, all forms will be accepted: oil painting, watercolour painting, gouache painting, Chinese-style painting, acrylic painting, printmaking, comic style, sketching, etc.
- Medium and formats: digital artwork (jpeg, png), pictures of hand-drawn artwork (jpeg, png). Minimum image resolution: 1,200 × 1,200 px (or equivalent print resolution).
- Orientation: portrait or landscape accepted.
- Size: letter (8.5 x 11 inches) or legal (8.5 x 14 inches).
- Save file in the following format: LastName_FirstName_Country_Category. e.g. “Smith_Jane_Japan_HandDrawn.jpg” or “Jones_Sarah_Colombia_Digital.png”
- Deadline: All entries must be received by 4:00PM on June 30, 2025. Submission period: June 1-30, 2025. Winners will be announced on July 18, 2025.
JUDGING CRITERIA
The artwork must be an original piece that you created. No AI generated artwork will be accepted. Judging will be based on the following:
- Relevance to the theme (40%) – clarity of the cultural connection
- Creativity & Originality (30%)
- Artistic Skill & Technique (20%)
- Overall Impact (10%)
PRIZE CATEGORIES
| CATEGORY 1 | CATEGORY 2 | CATEGORY 3 |
| 1st Place Winner – Digital Artwork | Best Connection between T&T and the Americas | Social Media Prize – Your artwork will be posted to the CLL’s Instagram & Facebook accounts for a public vote. |
| 1st Place Winner – Hand-drawn Artwork | Best Connection between T&T and Africa | |
| Best Connection between T&T and Asia | ||
| Best Connection between T&T and Europe |
TERMS & CONDITIONS
- All work must be original and created by the entrant.
- Entrants retain copyright; contest organisers may feature submissions in promotions, with credit.
- By entering, you grant permission for your artwork to be displayed online and in print.
- Participants may submit more than one piece of artwork, provided that each submission represents a country from a different geographic region as listed (The Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe).
Questions? Contact Ms Janine Lutchman at janine.lutchman@uwi.edu.
The Centre for Language Learning is pleased to announce the release of a unique collection of stories, which was launched on April 11, 2025. This captivating series showcases tales from across the globe, shedding light on diverse cultural practices, traditions, and the perspectives that emerge when people engage with them.
It features faculty and alumni of the Faculty of Humanities and Education: Dr Nicole Roberts (Senior Lecturer, Spanish and Director, CLL), Ms Janine Lutchman (Mandarin Chinese Tutor), Dr Diego Mideros Camargo (Lecturer, Spanish at the CLL), Ms Mathilde Dallier (Assistant Lecturer, French at the CLL and PhD candidate Linguistics), Dr Oscar Bazán Rodriguez (Lecturer, Spanish), Ms Sandra Castro Carmona (Visiting Lecturer, Spain), Dr Adonis Díaz Fernández (Instructor, Spanish), Dr Jo-Anne S. Ferreira (Senior Lecturer, Linguistics), Ms Paola Palma Rojas (Instructor, Spanish and PhD candidate, Linguistics), Mr Sean Samad (Adjunct Lecturer, Brazilian Studies), and Ms Avah Atherton (Freelancer and Masters student).
Each story invites readers to explore the beauty of intercultural experiences, promoting understanding, appreciation, and the joy of discovering our shared humanity. From language enthusiasts, cultural explorers to anyone who loves a good story, this book has something for you! Copies are available at Charran’s Book Store nationwide and at the Centre for Language Learning. Pre-order your copy here.
Keep up to date with more information on this series by following its Instagram account: @unearthingtraditionstt.
Call for Submissions
At the CLL, we recognise that all cultures are unique and valuable, and by celebrating them, we hope to, not only preserve the traditions described, but also create a more inclusive and vibrant world where all individuals feel seen, heard and appreciated. We are therefore pleased to invite submissions for the second volume of the book series, Unearthing Traditions: Stories of Language and Culture. Do you have a flare for writing? Are you passionate about languages and culture? Then, join us in celebrating cultures and traditions of the languages taught at the Centre for Language Learning (CLL) at the UWI, St Augustine.
This book series seeks to promote diversity, inclusivity, and understanding through glimpses of culture. If you ask the average Trinidadian about their culture, you might hear vivid descriptions of carnival, steelpan or Divali. Ask a Tobagonian and you’re likely to be told about Heritage or Blue Food Festivals. It is the fusion of these elements, and more, that births our Trinbagonian identity. It is the understanding of these nuanced narratives that plays a role in fostering unity. We look forward to reading your stories and tales of personal voyages.
Share your unique story!
Submission guidelines:
Please submit your entry of 1000-1500 words (entries written in French, Portuguese and Spanish are also welcome) via this link:
For further information, please contact the editors of the series:
- Nicole Roberts (The Americas & Europe-related submissions) – Nicole.Roberts@uwi.edu
- Janine Lutchman (Africa & Asia-related submissions) – Janine.Lutchman@uwi.edu (also copy jan.lutchman17@gmail.com)
Both editors can be contacted for Trinidad and Tobago-related articles.
Deadline: Friday 27th June 2025 at 11:59pm
On March 19, 2024, the Director of the CLL, Dr. Nicole Roberts welcomed a delegation from the People’s Republic of China consisting of Her Excellency Huang Xiaowei, Head of Delegation; His Excellency Fang Qiu, Ambassador; Mr. Wang Yulin, Director-General of International Department of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC); Ms. Zhao Yan, Director of IDCPC; Ms. Gao Hao, Secretary of Her Excellency Huang Xiaowei; Ms. Shi Meiqi, interpreter; and Mr. Meng Hongyu, Third Secretary of IDCPC. Campus Principal, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine; Deputy Principal, Professor Indar Ramnarine; Campus Registrar, Dr Dawn-Marie De Four-Gill; and the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Education, Professor Elizabeth Walcott-Hackshaw were also in attendance for this official visit.
The hour-long visit commenced with a brief meeting to discuss UWI-China relations, followed by a tour of the Confucius Institute and the CLL, culminating with a few student performances. Students studying Mandarin Chinese as a foreign language requirement in their degree program, and those studying for personal and/or professional reasons, were delighted to showcase their language proficiency through poetry, a video presentation and digital art. At the end of the visit, Her Excellency expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the students and the unwavering dedication of The UWI and the CLL to Mandarin Chinese education in Trinidad and Tobago.
Special thanks to the students of Level 1B and 2B Chinese (online) and CHIN 1007.
Open House 2023 starts this Friday! Among the CLL staff the anticipation is starting to build. For those who have been on the team since the last Open House, in 2018, feelings of anxiety are interwoven with gleeful sentiment. We are cognizant of the immense amount of planning that goes into two days of foreign language activities. But we are also fuelled by memories of smiling, excited faces, laughter and loads of positive feedback. For our newer staff members, curiosity is perhaps at an all-time high. Despite this range of emotions, we are confident that this Open House will certainly be momentous. As one of the major events organized for our 25th anniversary, this year’s Open House theme is “Explore the World with the CLL!” It promises to remind everyone attending that the CLL continues to be a vibrant hub for all things foreign language-related. But what exactly is involved in hosting the triennial Open House? Today we take you behind the scenes in order to whet your appetite for the March 24 and 25 activities.
Planning
Believe it or not, planning for the 2023 Open House began in September 2022. Acting Director, Dr Nicole Roberts, met virtually with the foreign language coordinators to begin planning. The first aspects discussed were the potential dates, the theme, the languages represented, potential budget and marketing of the event. This initial meeting sought to lay the symbolic cornerstone of the Open House event. The team went away enthused about the various activities they could organize to emphasise the theme of exploration of foreign languages and cultures. Semester 1 rolled on, 2022 ended, and 2023 commenced with a bang. Once registration ended and semester 2 teaching began, the team met in February 2023 to provide planning updates. Fortunately, the discussion was ripe with ideas and at the end of it, the excitement to carry out a wide range of activities was palpable.
More planning...
With the language coordinators focused on their respective language(s), Open House planning switched into another gear. The coordinators engaged with their tutors to ascertain everyone’s availability for the two days. They also determined the number of students required to help with the various activities. For languages wanting to provide samples, door prizes, and display authentic materials, tutors sent out requests for donations. In addition, coordinators contacted local performers regarding their participation in this year’s Open House. Do you remember the capoeira performance at Open House 2015 or the salsa dancing lessons at Open House 2018? This year, we look forward to Afrobeats performances, Latin dancing sessions and Zumba, to mention a few. Tutors also enlisted the help of their students to prepare materials for displays around the CLL and their language-related activities. Now, customarily, the Friday of Open House is dedicated to secondary school students, although members of the campus community and public are also welcome. So permission was also sought from the Ministry of Education for schools throughout Trinidad and Tobago to attend on March 24.
Spreading the word
Beginning in March 2023, we ramped up our social media advertising. Of course, our aim was to increase visibility of Open House 2023. However, we also wanted to engage more with our community, recognizing that much of the CLL’s excellence is due to our dedicated students and staff. Thus, we produced a variety of language-related content. From a trivia contest, to staff and student features, to boomerangs from friends of the CLL, which included the hashtag #myCLL. The winner of the trivia contest will be announced on the Friday of Open House. Haven’t entered yet? There’s still time. Here are the rules:
How to Enter and Win
- Like the original post.
- Re-share to your feed/story, along with your answer and the hashtag #myCLL.
- Tag us in the post.
- Your profile must be made public.
- Answer all 8 questions correctly.
- Winner will be announced on March 24.
We are grateful for the current students and staff members that took the time to create short videos with 3 useful phrases in their respective language. With our social media presence abuzz, we then created an Open House event page on Facebook and shared it with our networks. We wrote short articles about the event and promoted these on our social media platforms. And certainly worth mentioning is the local favourite, word-of-mouth.
What to expect
Now that you have a fair idea of the behind-the-scenes of Open House, what awaits you? Without revealing too much, here’s a glimpse.
Mandarin Chinese
When you visit the Mandarin Chinese in Room 8, you can expect to test your knowledge with trivia questions. You will be able to play language games, learn and taste authentic Chinese tea. There will be opportunities for you to create beautiful paper art through their paper cutting and paper folding activities. You will also be able to memorialize your experience by taking a picture in the selfie corner. The Chinese tutors and students look forward to seeing you there!
French
When you stop by the French in Room 2, you will have the opportunity to test your French spelling skills by participating in a spelling bee. Likely, you will be invited to travel to Paris to learn about the Eiffel tower and build your own model. And you will also be able to discover a bit of French gastronomy as you visit Café Paris, located in the same room. The French team has organized to play games like pétanque outside of the CLL, on the lawn next to the fence. They certainly look forward to having you!
Japanese
A visit to the Japanese in the Lecture Room will take you on a journey to Japan. You will be invited to participate in karaoke and cosplay activities. There will also be activities for you to test your knowledge of Japanese trivia. You will have the opportunity to participate in chopstick games, and attend origami and calligraphy workshops. The Japanese tutors and the Japanese learners look forward to welcoming you to their room.
Spanish
When you visit the Spanish in Rooms 11 and 12, you will explore Latin American culture. There will be opportunities to dance during their Latin dancing and Zumba sessions. Your knowledge of Spanish will be tested in their translation competition. If you are interested in learning Spanish, you will have the opportunity to take a mini Spanish lessons. And for the singers among us, you will be able to sing along to Spanish karaoke. The Spanish section and their students look forward to seeing you!
Yoruba
Visiting the Yoruba section in Room 5, promises to be quite an experience. You will be invited to attend an Afrobeats performance. Yoruba fashion will be on display during their fashion show. You will be able to view original works of art in their art exhibition, and explore your creative side during their art and craft activities. There will also be Nigerian food such as jollof rice, fufu, efo, dodo and suya. The Yoruba section looks forward to welcoming you!
Now as we said before, this is just a glimpse. There will be a lot more to discover from these languages and our other taught languages, Arabic, English as a Second Language, German, and Portuguese. So don’t miss out. Admission is free and Open House is a family-friendly event. The 2023 Open House, however, is not the end of our 25th anniversary celebrations. Beginning on March 28, our Diversity Latin American Film Festival begins. See our event page for trailers and more information. In the months to come, you can also expect Japanese cultural events, Chinese New Year Drawing, and much more…So be sure to connect with us on our socials to stay abreast of the various activities.
The CLL turns 25!
The CLL turns 25 this year! It feels like just yesterday we were celebrating our 20th anniversary! Where has the time gone? The old adage is true, time flies when you’re having fun! Of course a lot has happened since our 2018 celebrations. And this, all the while navigating a pandemic and a sharp transition into emergency remote teaching. Despite these unexpected events, and changes in staffing, the CLL continues to strive to achieve excellence in teaching and learning. We are most grateful for the dedication and vision of our founders and former directors: the then Campus Principal, Professor Compton Bourne, Dr Sylvia Moodie-Kublalsingh, Professor Beverly-Anne Carter and academic stalwarts such as, Dr Lancelot Cowie.
We are extremely indebted to a host of enthusiastic tutors who chose to make the CLL their home back in the late nineties. Nicole Taylor (French), David Assing (French), Alexis Figuera (Spanish), Anne-Marie Pouchet (Spanish), Gail Ganpat (Spanish), Renata Dowden (German), Kazuko Rankine (Japanese), and Sujata Chandra (Hindi), to name a few. Of course, the CLL’s academic thrust could not have been achieved without the administrative support of equally dedicated staff. We thank individuals such as Patricia Mannette, Nisha Mottilal, Nicole Dehere, Roopchand Choon, Evelyn Ruiz, Stella Marshall and Jaunita Edwards.
Our Achievements
What exactly is the significance of turning 25? In the regional, higher education sector, 25 years might seem miniscule. After all, the UWI celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. In 2021, the Faculty of Food and Agriculture celebrated 100 years of the region’s rich legacy in agriculture. Regardless, our silver anniversary offers us a time to reflect on our accomplishments, on our stakeholders and our future. Our 25th anniversary deserves to be celebrated with much pomp and fanfare. The CLL is the only university language centre in the Caribbean region. We have taught a diverse selection of non-specialist, foreign language courses, as well as English as a Second Language. These foreign languages include Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Korean, French Creole (Patois), Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Yoruba. During the pandemic, we designed and began the delivery of the first blended, foreign-language courses for undergraduate UWI students in the region. Indeed, the CLL has come to be known as a unique, UWI institution that offers high-calibre courses and a fun, multicultural experience to all who enter its doors or join us remotely.
Regional and International Reach
Of course, the multicultural experience we offer, cannot only be attributed to our foreign-born and highly-proficient, Trinbagonian-born tutors, but also our learners. Our students are of different nationalities, ages, and come from a wide variety of socio-economic backgrounds. Over the years, we have had learners from the Bahamas, Barbados, Botswana, Brazil, China, Colombia, Dominica, England, France, Germany, Iran, Japan, Martinique, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, St. Lucia, Papua New Guinea, Venezuela and more. Our reputation extends beyond our physical building and into the local and regional corporate sector. The CLL is the institution of choice for many corporate institutions seeking foreign language training for their staff.
We have had the esteemed privilege of teaching Spanish to all levels of staff at Caribbean Airlines, Central Bank, Citibank, Petrotrin and Nestle. In addition, we have also provided tuition for the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), various local ministries such as the Ministry of Health, Ministry of National Security, and many others. Additionally, we have taught English as a Second Language to a cohort in Saudi Arabia, as well as, Business Spanish for Nestlé in Jamaica and Spanish for Specific Purposes for PADF in Aruba and Curaçao. The CLL thus continues to build on its legacy of academic excellence, underpinned by a spirit of entrepreneurship and relevance.
Anniversary Events: January – February
Now, what activities can you look forward to in this milestone year? Under the new directorship of Dr Nicole Roberts, we aim to continue in our trajectory of excellence. Therefore, we plan to celebrate our legacy with a series of cultural events around our foreign languages. The first of which, takes place on January 27, 2023. We invite all those interested in Hispanic culture to view the livestreamed book launch of our Founding Director, Dr Sylvia Moodie-Kulalsingh. The event is a celebration of the research and publications of Dr Sylvia Moodie-Kublalsingh and will highlight a trilogy on Trinidad Hispanic Culture. The books, Parang Cancionero, the Cocoa Panyols of Trinidad, and Maljo, Bush Teas and Secret Prayers are available for purchase on Amazon. The event promises to be insightful as the influence of Spanish culture on Trinidadian culture will be discussed.
The Languages for Life 2023 Competition will take place during the month of January. Secondary school students in forms 4 – 6, will be invited to reflect on the theme, Foreign Languages: A Gateway to the World. They will be encouraged to think about the personal, academic and professional opportunities that open up to persons competent in foreign languages. They will also think about how foreign languages help us navigate the world. Students will be able to present their thoughts via posters, short films, spoken word pieces or essays. The competition ends at midnight on February 27, 2023.
February – March
From February 27 to March 1, the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics, (DMLL) UWI and the Centre for Education Programmes (Language and Literature Department), UTT in partnership with the Institute of Critical Thinking, UWI and the Centre for Language Learning, UWI, will engage in a collaborative outreach programme. This initiative seeks to raise foreign language teachers’ awareness of the role of the mother tongue and second/foreign languages in their classrooms. It will also inform and raise awareness among stakeholders of The UWI’s newly implemented Foreign Language Policy. The theme is, Every Teacher is a Language Teacher.
Undeniably, the highlight of our cultural activities this semester will be our triennial Open House! The theme for Open House 2023 is Explore the World with the CLL. As is customary, we look forward to welcoming our UWI community, members of the public and secondary school students on March 24 and 25 to the CLL. We hope, you will come prepared to engage in entertaining, cultural activities, play games, sample new foods, and expand your knowledge and understanding of other cultures. As this year’s Open House will also celebrate our 25th anniversary, we intend to take you along on an unforgettable journey with us! Never been to an Open House? View our 2018 Open House album here.
There’s so much more planned for this year, but we’ve already said so much. Our advice to you is to be sure to follow us on our social media platforms to keep up-to-date with our events. Like, subscribe and don’t forget to share with your friends and family. We look forward to an exciting year of activity with you!
Instagram: @centreforlanguagelearning | Facebook: @clluwista | Twitter: @clluwi | Flickr: @clluwista | YouTube: @clluwista
Twenty years of Japanese language teaching
Sakura, anime, manga, sushi, karate…Twenty years ago, these words were likely unfamiliar to Trinbagonians. Nowadays, not only are they familiar, but other elements of Japanese culture appear seamlessly interwoven into our ever-evolving Trinbagonian culture. Who would have thought the Green Market in Santa Cruz would have been the venue of a Manga and Anime Day? Yes, that happened and it was a smashing success! So how did we get here? It’s hard to say, especially since our area of expertise is foreign language teaching and not anthropology. However, since 1999, we at the CLL have been doing our part to provide quality Japanese language instruction to meet the growing, local interest in Japan and Japanese language and culture.
Early beginnings
The CLL is proud to be the only Japanese-language teaching institution in Trinidad and Tobago. Our foray into this realm began in January 1999, under the tutelage of Mrs Kazuko Rankine, née Tsunoda. Rankine sensei, though petite in stature, has an unparalleled dedication to the Japanese language and culture. She is a recipient of the longest-standing Japanese award, the Order of the Rising Sun. This honour is conferred on individuals “who have made distinguished achievements in international relations, the [sic] promotion of Japanese culture, advancements in their field, and the [sic] development in the [sic] welfare or preservation of the environment”. During her time at the CLL, Rankine sensei demonstrated excellence in her teaching practice, and kindness and dedication toward her students. She often met with them in the Alma Jordan Library, outside of their scheduled Japanese classes, to discuss Japanese culture.
In 2004, Ms Tsubura Kawasaki, joined the CLL family, bringing along with her, her expertise in teaching Japanese to Speakers of Other Languages. While Rankine sensei adopted a more traditional teaching style, Tsubura added a modern flare to Japanese pedagogy at the CLL. Students benefitted from both teaching styles with their tag-team approach, especially at the higher levels. During her time at the CLL, Tsubura immersed herself in the Trinbagonian culture, picking up local parlance, developing her taste for local cuisine and her appreciation for a good “lime” much to the delight of her students. Perhaps it was her openness toward others that further peaked our students’ curiosity about Japan and Japanese people.
Tsubura was also no stranger to outreach and research activities. She was an active and willing participant in the CLL’s triennial Open House event. She also contributed to the CLL’s research project entitled, Language and Competitiveness – Positioning Trinidad and Tobago for Sustainable Development. All this, while pursuing postgraduate studies. Having returned prematurely to her hometown, Tokyo, Tsubura maintains her Trinbago connections. She often spends time with new or seasoned JET participants whenever her schedule allows.
Reaching new heights
In 2009, the CLL welcomed its third native Japanese teacher to its ranks, Mrs Shiho Arakawa. Originally from Kyoto, Shiho’s presence at the CLL serves to further enrich the program’s quality. Seemingly reserved, underneath her unassuming gaze is an adventurous soul, who once sailed across the Atlantic Ocean! Shiho is dedicated to providing authentic experiences to her students. At the 2015 Open House, dressed in a kimono, she performed a traditional tea ceremony. She organized the First Annual Japanese Language Speech Contest, which is designed to give CLL students and self-taught learners of Japanese an opportunity to produce and present a short presentation in Japanese. This contest has become a hallmark event at the CLL, with the number of participants and attendees increasing each year. The fifth annual contest takes place on September 30 at the CLL. Reserve your tickets here. She also spearheaded the project to establish the CLL as the only venue of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) in the southern Caribbean. The JLPT is one of three international foreign language certifications available at the CLL. The next sitting of the JLPT is scheduled for July 2023.
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It is undeniable that this trio took Japanese language teaching at the CLL to new heights. In 2015 their assiduous efforts were rewarded when representatives of the Japan Foundation, following a 2-day visit to the CLL, invited us to join the JF Nihongo or “Sakura” Network. The CLL thus joined the ranks of 127 organizations “who work collaboratively to ensure the quality of Japanese-language education worldwide”. Read this UWI Today article for more. Shortly after joining the “Sakura” network, in 2017, we became a member of the Central America and the Caribbean Japanese Education Network. Since then, we have been working with other member countries to promote and improve Japanese language education in the region. The first place winner of the First Annual Japanese Language Speech Contest, Mr Christian Jalim, represented Trinidad and Tobago at the regional contest organized by that network in 2018.
Perhaps even greater evidence of the excellent standard of Japanese teaching was the addition of three CLL-taught Japanese learners to the Japanese section. At different instances, during the period 2016 – 2021, Ms Monifa Blondell, Ms Anastasia Ramjag and Ms Christenne Lyons, locals, former Japanese students and JET alumnae, joined the ranks to meet the increased demand for Japanese teachers at the CLL. Once more the CLL’s high-calibre Japanese language-teaching was recognized. In 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan bestowed the CLL with the Commendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan. This highly prestigious award recognizes “outstanding achievements in international fields, in recognition of their contributions to the promotion of friendship between Japan and other countries.” Read this UWI Today for more.
Moving forward
The CLL’s contribution to Japanese language-teaching and the promotion of Japanese culture is far from over. In 2019, the latest Japanese tutor, Ms Misato Noto joined the CLL family. Although relatively young in her teaching career, Misato’s mild, hardworking yet humorous disposition makes her a true asset to the CLL. In the 2021-2022 academic year, she was unexpectedly tasked with overseeing and delivering the entire Japanese programme. Misato rose to the challenge. Her performance surpassed expectations. She clearly demonstrated that she understood the legacy entrusted to her. Misato delivered beginner and lower-intermediate classes to over 100 students. Furthermore, she whole-heartedly collaborated on the organization of the Fourth Annual Japanese Language Speech Contest. Today, despite emerging from the pandemic and undergoing administrative changes, the Japanese program is still robust. This semester, there are four groups in the three language levels available at the CLL, representing a total of 65 students.
We warmly look forward to the continued growth of the Japanese program here at the CLL. It is our pleasure to be the conduit through with Trinbagonians gain linguistic proficiency in the Japanese language. We recognize that this proficiency for some is the key to unlocking study and work opportunities in Japan. For others it gives the personal satisfaction of being able to enjoy their favourite anime without subtitles. And for others still, it opens up a new world, of love, of travel, of food and much more. Whatever the reason, it certainly has been an amazing journey and we anxiously await the new chapters ahead. And who knows? Maybe the next tangible celebration of Japanese language teaching at the CLL will be something everyone can enjoy?
