Activate Your Japanese!

What would you do
if you were Xuan?

"That was the day I told myself
I can't be a rookie forever."

Good morning, everyone.

Let's start the meeting.

Today, we have another
new member joining us.

Danny-san, introduce yourself.

Yes.

Hi, I'm Danny.

Nice to meet you.

Can you say that in Japanese?

Hi, I'm Danny. I'm from Indonesia.

I love to skateboard.

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

Pleasure to meet you.

Why is everybody laughing?

You didn't introduce yourself properly.

But I did.

You came to Japan to learn Japanese, stop speaking in English.

Monica!

I've got a bad feeling about this.

Now, now, everyone.

Danny is a student
at a Japanese language school.

Help him if he has any questions.

So let's have a good day.

Let's get going!

Thanks, Monica.

Sumire and Xuan, come here.

Yes?

Danny will be learning
housekeeping duties first.

Sumire-san will be supervising.

Hi. Nice to meet you.

You're kidding. I can't speak English.

It's okay. He speaks Japanese.

Then he's a pain in the neck.

I've already got one of those.

I'm not a pain in the neck!

Whatever.

You'll be assisting Sumire.

Show Danny what to do
as an experienced "senpai."

He's your "kohai."

A junior colleague!

I'm Danny. Nice to meet you.

I'm Xuan.
I look forward to working with you.

Just our luck to have a newbie
on a day like this.

What do you mean?

Look at this schedule.

We've got lots of stuff to get through.

Understand? We have a full plate.

Full plate.

What?

For crying out loud.

Out loud.

What is she saying?

She's just stoked to have a kohai.

Stoked.

You're making fun of me, aren't you?

Of course not. I'm showing respect.

Honestly...
Make sure you don't mess up.

She's talking to you.

Before we clean the rooms, can you go to the linen room
and check if there are enough towels?

I don't understand.

Of course you don't.

Xuan, thanks.

Wait a minute!

I'm counting on you, Xuan senpai!

"'Xuan senpai?' That sounds great!"

What should I do?

Listen carefully.

We're going to clean the rooms.

But we need to go to the linen room first
and make sure there are enough towels.

Can you do that?

In English, please.

In English?

"I don't speak any English."

"But he doesn't understand Japanese,
so maybe I'll do it myself."

Yansu!

You were going to do the job
Danny-san was asked to do, weren't you?

Was it obvious?

Super obvious.

It's just that...

I can't get Danny to understand.

I know I should be teaching him.

Ota-san and Sumire-san are counting
on me, but I don't know what to do.

I guess you do have to
live up to their expectations.

I can't give instructions very well
because I can't speak English.

I should get Monica!

But shouldn't you be
looking after Danny-san?

You're right.

What should I do?

Danny-san is studying Japanese, right?

Ota-san said he's studying
at a language school.

Then use plain Japanese
so that he can understand.

Plain Japanese?

That's right.

Remember when you first started
learning Japanese.

Okay.

I couldn't keep up with long sentences
at the beginning.

I was often confused.

So I just need to keep it
short and simple!

Good idea.

Then good luck!

What should I do?

Okay...

Listen carefully.

We are going to the linen room.

Right.

Are there lots of towels there?
Please check.

Check the towels...

Then we clean the guest rooms.

Clean the guest rooms...

I understand.

Perfect.

You are good at Japanese, Xuan senpai.

"'Xuan senpai!' Feels good!"

Where is the linen room?

That's this way. Follow me.

"As a senpai, you need to be able to
explain things to your kohai."

"I wonder if Yansu understands that."

Xuan...?

You needed to send him alone.

Xuan senpai...

"Today's Strategy!"

Today, we'll take a look at
this scene first.

Before we clean the rooms, can you go to the linen room
and check if there are enough towels?

I don't understand.

Sumire-san's instructions were
difficult for Danny to understand.

Suppose you want to help him understand.

What will you do?

Let's look at the strategy Xuan used.

We are going to the linen room.

Right.

Are there lots of towels there?
Please check.

Then we clean the guest rooms.

I understand.

Rephrase in short,
simple sentences.

"We are going to the linen room."
"Then we clean the guest rooms."

Use short sentences,
and say one thing at a time.

Speak simply, clearly and slowly.

Thanks to Xuan, Danny was able to
understand Sumire-san's instructions.

If you see someone who needs help,
step in and offer help, like Xuan did.

Goodbye for now.

Meet Senpai from all over Japan, Tsutsu Uraura!

Let's hear about their lives.

Today's senpai is Nguyen Manh Duong from Vietnam.

Duong works at a company in Ibaraki that specializes in reinforcement work.

Rebars are vital additions to the concrete for columns and floors.

They make concrete stronger, creating durable buildings.

This company works on schools, hospitals, and more.

Duong is in charge of assembling the rebars: steel rods.

To make a sturdy building, the rods are bound together with wire.

It's important that they're firmly secured.

He fixes the rods in place at more than 1,000 spots in a day.

Speed is essential.

Over time, I've gained experience.

I can read blueprints on my own
now. So the work is more fun.

His company employs 37 people, five of whom are Vietnamese.

Of those five, Duong has worked here the longest.

He's been placed in charge of newer employees.

(In Vietnamese)
Should I secure these two rods?

(In Vietnamese)
Secure the edges first,
then do the center after that.

While living in Vietnam, Duong was inspired to learn about building.

He studied Japanese and construction for seven months, then came to Japan as a technical intern.

He later gained a Specified Skilled Worker type 1 visa.

Duong takes his work seriously.

These young people bring great
energy to the jobsites.

It's a big help.

Duong lives in Ibaraki.

Facing the Pacific Ocean, the prefecture has plentiful seafood.

There are many fish markets where buyers can find local catches.

On days off, Duong visits this market with his coworker.

We come here when we want to eat
fish, or make hotpot.

Everything is fresh and delicious.

He tries this kaisendon at a market restaurant.

It's full of fresh seafood.

It's good!

Duong lives in a company dorm with other staff members.

Today, they've invited their supervisor to share a meal.

They've prepared a Vietnamese homestyle dish: fried spring rolls.

If we all eat together, we can
understand each other better.

And we can become better friends.

Try some.

Thanks for making all of this!
Here goes.

What does their supervisor think?

Oh! Delicious!

Here are Duong's favorite words.

Failure is the way to success.

If you reflect on your mistakes, you're one step closer to success.

Even if I make a mistake,
I'll learn lots of things.

And over time I'll achieve success.

Duong hopes to pass a certification test for reinforcement work.

And, to get a Specified Skilled Worker type 2 visa with no limit on the number of renewals.

Good luck, Duong!