Japanese Student Spotlight: Caroline Laco

We’ve been overhearing lots of Japanese from our classroom at Speak! lately, so we wanted to learn more about our intermediate student, Caroline. She talks about her interest in the language and future travel plans in our latest Speak! Spotlight Interview.

“Other than hopefully passing the JLPT N1 exam (the most difficult level) I want to feel more comfortable speaking Japanese. My listening and reading skills are pretty strong, but I've always been nervous to speak in Japanese. It was more difficult when I was younger, but now I feel more confident in myself and Yukari always helps me figure out a way to improve my speaking.”

— Caroline Laco

Caroline, tell us a bit about yourself by way of introduction.

I'm a part-time nanny and a part-time fiber artist, so I am usually busy doing creative work or teaching. I'm also a cat lady and love making cute stuffed animals for kids and clients.

Could you tell us about any previous language and travel experiences? You minored in Japanese in college, correct?

I took Spanish up through high school, but I started studying Japanese on my own from age 13. One of my friends went on an exchange trip to Japan in middle school and I loved all the cool CDs she brought back and was obsessed. Yes, I started taking Japanese formally in college and minored in it. I also spent my junior year abroad in Japan attending Kansai Gaidai University studying Japanese and Japanese history.

What initially inspired or motivated you to refresh your Japanese with us at Speak!?

My husband and I were actually planning a trip back to Japan in 2020, but that was obviously canceled. With tourism to Japan open again in 2023, I decided I wanted to refresh my Japanese before we go back. I'm also excited to visit my host family in Japan! 

What do you enjoy most about your individual lessons with Yukari? What’s the focus of your course?

I enjoy just chatting about life and learning about interesting Japanese cultural events. Just the other week I learned about the tradition of grade school kids harvesting tea as a piece of cultural heritage. I've also learned about animals, festivals, and all sorts of fascinating topics! Currently I am studying for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test at Level 2, so we go over complicated grammar points and kanji. 

Yukari and Caroline hard at work at Speak!

What do you like about the in-person lesson experience? 

I like that I can ask a question about a topic I'm unclear about and instantly have it explained to me without me having to search online or look it up in a textbook. It's also easier (for me) to talk to someone in person in your target language.

What are your Japanese language goals? How do you see developing fluency enhancing your work and personal life?  

Other than hopefully passing the JLPT N1 exam (the most difficult level) I want to feel more comfortable speaking Japanese. My listening and reading skills are pretty strong, but I've always been nervous to speak in Japanese. It was more difficult when I was younger, but now I feel more confident in myself and Yukari always helps me figure out a way to improve my speaking.

Describe your experience learning Japanese with Yukari in 3 words:

Entertaining, Inspiring, Elucidating

Do you have a story to share involving Japanese? 

I obviously do not look like I speak Japanese, so many times people have been surprised that I can. I was in New York last month and used my Japanese skills to help some Japanese exchange students order authentic New York pizza. They were so sweet and excited to be studying abroad, and I told them how much I enjoyed my study abroad experience in Japan! It's a great thing to learn so much about another culture.

If you could learn another language, which would you pick and why?

Probably Slovakian, as my grandfather came over from Slovakia as a kid in the 30's but never wanted to teach his kids or grandkids because he wanted to be nothing but American as was common at the time. My parents went over to Slovakia last fall to visit some of our cousins, but they don't speak the language, It would be so neat if I could go over and speak some Slovakian with my extended family.