As part of the "Project Seminar A" of Faculty of International Studies of Culture Department of International Studies of Culture multilingual guide activities are carried out around Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine every October and November. This year, 34 students participated, split into groups of 5-6, and served as guides on weekends. Utilizing guidebooks in English, German, Chinese, Thai, and Korean, they answered questions from foreign visitors, such as where to find goshuin stamps and how to get to the Kyushu National Museum.
Furthermore, a "Questionnaire Survey on Tourism in Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and its Surrounding Area" was conducted. Questionnaires were prepared in multiple languages, including Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, and the survey was conducted through dialogue with visitors. The survey results will be presented in future lectures and will be used to refine the activities.
The students reflected, "We each tried to communicate in our own language, but we experienced firsthand the difficulty of not being able to get our point across. We realized the importance of understanding not only the language but also the cultural background," and "We were nervous about dealing with the situation on the ground, but we also felt a sense of accomplishment." This activity was a valuable opportunity to deepen language skills and intercultural understanding.
[Department of International Studies of Culture]
