I wasn’t sure if school would be compatible with my current lifestyle. All I can say is I wish I had done it sooner.”
Nikola Tanaskovic, Japanese student
Nikola Tanaskovic is a Vancouver-based video editor with a lifelong interest in Japanese language and culture. After discovering Japanese through online videos as a child, his interest continued to grow, eventually inspiring him to take Japanese courses at UBC Extended Learning.
What led you to seek out Japanese courses?
In the mid-2000s, when I was a kid and YouTube was still in its infancy, I stumbled upon a vlog channel about daily life in Tokyo. I wasn’t very familiar with Japan outside of the very basics that we learned in our social studies class in school, but quickly found myself watching video after video and becoming very interested in the culture and customs. In the following years, I would seek out any sort of Japanese media I could find and my curiosity and interest only grew.
Fast forward to 2023, when my wife and I finally decided to take the leap and plan a two-week trip to Japan. We had an incredible time exploring the streets of Tokyo and Osaka and the nature outside Kyoto, but I couldn’t help but feel like something was missing. When our trip concluded and we returned home, I regretted not being able to communicate better with the people in Japan outside of the obvious “arigatou.” I made a promise to myself that before our next trip, I would make a concrete effort to learn the language, and upon arrival, would try to converse in Japanese as much as possible.
What was a highlight for you in the Japanese classes?
One of the main highlights was the overall classroom environment, which was both informative yet light-hearted and fun to be a part of. Rika Sensei has such a passion for teaching Japanese, which shines through in every lesson, and all of my classmates were eager to learn and always a joy to interact with. I even became good friends with one of my classmates, and we regularly meet up outside of class.
What surprised you about the classes?
Just how easy it was to fit into my busy schedule and how much fun I ended up having in the classroom environment. Even with my busy schedule, fitting in a single two-hour session (plus homework) per week was no problem. I also enjoyed how Rika Sensei found ways to keep our lessons interesting by including fun activities like having us create our own Japanese riddles or even just discussing what we did over the weekend with our classmates.
How are you applying the Japanese skills you learned in your personal life?
Apart from my goal of being able to converse with locals upon my next visit to Japan (mission accomplished in 2025), my favourite part of speaking basic Japanese is seeing people’s faces light up when I attempt to start a conversation with them in their language.
I also made some friends within the local footballing community when I attended a match in Tokyo, who have since been very supportive of my learning journey and keen to help me practice whenever possible.
Who would you recommend UBC Extended Learning Japanese classes to?
I’d recommend UBC Extended Learning Japanese classes to anyone who is curious but perhaps nervous about trying to learn something new. I had been out of school for a while when I finally made the decision to sign up, and I wasn’t sure if school would be compatible with my current lifestyle. All I can say is I wish I had done it sooner. The classroom environment is incredibly welcoming and the evening start times made it easy for me to fit into my schedule.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Language is among the best ways to connect with someone. If you’re on the fence about signing up, just DO IT. As someone who has completed all five Japanese Beginner courses, I can proudly say that Rika Sensei and Masa Sensei set me up with a great foundation to continue my Japanese learning journey into the future.