For the past few years, I’ve been participating in a language instructor training course for shimakutuba (Okinawan languages) run by the Okinawa Shimakutuba Promotion Center. After completing the course, we began working together with other participants from the same course as part of a group called the “Sumamuni Shinshii (Sensei) Association,” abbreviated as SSA. As a result of these efforts, this July, we were given the opportunity to teach sumamuni to third graders at an elementary school in Ishigaki. Sumamuni refers to the local language spoken in the Yaeyama Islands, excluding Yonaguni. UNESCO recognizes it as one for eight endangered heritage languages/dialects in Japan.
This elementary school has three third-grade classes. SSA members paired up and taught sumamuni to the students. In July, we were responsible for three sessions. The lessons included simple self-introductions, learning the names of body parts, and singing songs in sumamuni. Kids pick things up so quickly! By the third week, they were cheerfully greeting us in the local language with “Kuyoomaanara!”.
Through learning sumamuni, we hope the children gain knowledge of their local community and feel proud of it. Since sumamuni is a language relatively close to standard Japanese, it would be great if this also helps them improve their overall language learning skills.
