NATR: MAG-12 Marines teach English to local Miyazaki students

Photo By Sgt. Raymond Tong | U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Antonio Barrios, right, an aircraft ordnance technician with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, learns how to use chopsticks during a community relations event in Shintomi, Japan, Dec. 12, 2023. The event was hosted by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to encourage positive interactions between the local community and U.S. military members. Marines with Marine Aircraft Group 12 were present in Nyutabaru for bilateral training with the JASDF's 305th Tactical Fighter Squadron as part of the Nyutabaru Aviation Training Relocation program. Barrios is a native of Cameron, Texas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Raymond Tong)  

SHINTOMI, MIYAZAKI, JAPAN

12.12.2023

Story by Cpl. Raymond Tong 

1st Marine Aircraft Wing   

SHINTOMI, JAPAN – U.S. Marines with Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 12 participated in a community relations event in Shintomi, Japan, Dec. 12, 2023. The event focused on Marines teaching English to local elementary and junior high school students through a variety of instructional methods.
This was the second time ever that the Shintomi U.S.-Japan English learning program was held – an occasion in which the U.S. Marines were able to teach English through not only traditional means, such as pen and paper, but through interactive conversation as well. Building on the positive reception from the students in the previous year, local Miyazaki leaders expressed optimism about the event continuing, envisioning it as a potential annual tradition.
Mieko Izaki, a local Miyazaki leader, emphasized the significance of face-to-face conversation in the English learning process.
“It’s important to learn with face-to-face conversation instead of through textbooks or the internet,” said Izaki. “Usually, Japanese English classes focus on sentence structures and writing, [but I believe] it’s more important to have real conversations and get rid of the language barrier.”
This year, Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232 and supporting elements with MAG-12 came to Nyutabaru for bilateral training with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's (JASDF) 305th Tactical Fighter Squadron as part of the Nyutabaru Aviation Training Relocation (ATR) program.
MAG-12 squadrons' primary objective while operating out of JASDF Nyutabaru Air Base is to train away from their home station to reduce local noise impacts while enhancing operational readiness and interoperability.
Marines participate in community relations events to demonstrate interest and concern for local communities.
During the learning program, Marines were granted the opportunity to converse with Japanese children and delve into topics such as Japanese culture and shared interests.
“I decided to volunteer for this event, because I wanted to be able to get an understanding of the local culture and to be able to interact with [the local Japanese children] on a more personal level,” said U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Erick Lara, an El Dorado, California native, and a mobile facility technician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12.
Multiple community relations events, like such, were organized during the two-week Nyutabaru ATR program to foster the relationship between the Marines and local community members.
“People shouldn’t be afraid to interact with the local community and go volunteer,” said Lara. “You will not know what you’re missing out on unless you go do it. At the end of the day, we’re all people, and we’ll always find a way to laugh and smile.”
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• Date Taken: 12.12.2023
• Date Posted: 12.18.2023 22:58
• Story ID: 460201
• Location: SHINTOMI, MIYAZAKI, JP