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| Americans should jump at chance to learn new culture |
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| Opinion - Editorials | |||
| Written by Brian McCauley | |||
| Wednesday, 25 February 2009 08:00 | |||
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There’s no more vital tool for learning than communication. Understanding the English language is a must for business men and women, not only in the United States, but all around the world. Nowhere is this more clear than in Japan, where students are being told that it is no longer adequate to just learn English vocabulary and grammar, they also need to learn conversational English. Many Japanese instructors, though, aren’t great at English conversation either, and the result has been the creation of the Chat-Chan program, which pairs Japanese students with American video pen-pals who are willing to have conversations with them. The benefits of the program could be felt right here in Miami County, where one of the founders of the program, Jo Sickbert, has spent much of her life. Miami County residents should jump at the chance to learn about another culture and get paid to do so. It is a perfect opportunity for parents to introduce their children to a little slice of life from the other side of the world. American students all too often coast through foreign language classes, picking up only a few vocabulary words, many of which are lost a few months after taking the course. Engaging in frequent conversations with someone from another culture is the perfect way to learn the ins and outs of their language. Although the program was created by International Creators’ Organization, which is based in Japan, Americans should use it as a tool to benefit their own communication skills. For more information about Chat-Chan, visit its Web site at www.chatchan.com or send an e-mail to Sickbert at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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