Marines break language barrier with Okinawa community members

Photo By Sgt. Cedric Haller | Lt. Col. Devin O. Licklider and Okinawa children work together to come up with a skit Feb. 22 during an English class at the Nago City Youth Center. After watching an adaptation of the play of “Snow White” performed by the Marines, the participants were in-turn challenged with creating their own sequel to the play using English and Japanese phrases. Marines and some of their family members volunteered to share a small piece of their culture by teaching English to Okinawa children as part of a Nago City Board of Education program.  

NAGO CITY, OKINAWA, JAPAN

02.22.2014

Story by Lance Cpl. Cedric Haller 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

NAGO CITY, Japan - While language is an important element of communication and cultural identity, it is only a small part of what makes a culture unique.

Fifteen Marines, along with some of their family members, volunteered to share a small part of their culture by teaching English to Okinawa children Feb. 22 at the Nago City Youth Center as part of a Nago City Board of Education program.

“The Nago City Board of Education has various programs for promoting English education, and this (event) is one of them,” said Miyuki Aragaki, a supervisor with the Nago City Board of Education.

The volunteers taught the participants how to speak conversational English using a variety of phrases.

“We are here to make sure that (Okinawa children) are comfortable speaking (English),” said Cpl. Curtis K. Brown, an event participant and ammunition technician with Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

During the event, participants watched a performance of the play “Snow White” by the Marine volunteers and parents. Next, they split into teams and were challenged to formulate a sequel to the play in which they had to include certain English phrases, and the U.S. volunteers had to use certain Japanese phrases.

The event allowed both U.S. service members and Okinawa citizens to interact outside of work or business, according to Lt. Col. Devin O. Licklider, an event participant, pilot and future operations officer with Headquarters Company, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF.

“It’s firsthand interaction, not just being in the same place (with little) interacting at all,” said Licklider. “We actually got to talk and find out what they enjoy.”

Interaction between the two groups was initially limited by the inability to fluently speak each other’s languages, but as the event continued communication became easier, according to Minami Kise, a student at Haneji Middle School.

“I was worried if I couldn’t communicate (with the volunteers),” said Kise. “Listening to English was difficult at first, but when I didn’t give up and instead focused on listening, I could understand what was said.”

The Marines found that spending time to give back to the community was rewarding as well as enjoyable, according to Brown.

“I think seeing smiles on the kids’ faces, knowing that you impacted their day, is what motivates a lot of Marines to come out here,” said Brown. “When the kids are actually engaged and laughing, (that) motivates me.”

For the participants, the event was also a pleasant and a valuable experience, according to Shuko Miyagi, a student at Nago Middle School.

“I had fun,” said Miyagi. “I enjoyed listening and speaking to the Americans in English. I learned that I could communicate with them (despite my limited) English.”

• Date Taken: 02.22.2014
• Date Posted: 03.18.2014 22:44
• Story ID: 122207
• Location: NAGO CITY, OKINAWA, JP