A Role of an Assistant as a Mediator for Students who Need Linguistic Support

Abstract

We interviewed a participant who has experience as a student who required Japanese language support and is currently employed as a Japanese language assistant at a high school. Her job description includes mediation between parents and the school, teachers and students, and students and curriculum. Our aim is to disclose what she considers the most invaluable aspect of her job. In the interview, she indicated that teaching concepts which students have not learned in their first language in both Japanese and their native language is challenging. Also, a critical factor is maintaining and improving the learning attitude and behavioral interactions of students by “breaking the invisible wall” which Japanese language learners often face in our society.