Olivier

Olivier Tutor Interview

Q. Hi Olivier. You have been with Cafetalk for a long time, but would you introduce yourself briefly to the Cafetalk community?

A. Hi! My name is Olivier. I was born in Alsace in France. Since April 2011 I have been living in Nagoya. In France I used to work for a transport company, but since I love Japanese, I have been studying it since 2010. My goal is to become a master of the Japanese language. I love French puns. French is a fun language and I really wanted to teach it to Japanese people. That's why I started tutoring on Cafetalk.

Q. Originally, you are from France, but you are currently residing in Japan. What brought you to Japan, and how do you like your life here?

A. I love Japanese music and TV shows. For example, I love the Japanese rock band "LOVE PSYCHEDELICO", and as for TV shows I like Hiroshi Abe's "Trick". I became interested in learning Japanese after watching Japanese TV shows. After marrying my Japanese wife, we decided to live in Japan. Japan is a save and convenient country. Japanese trains announce even a 2-minute delay, which really surprised me. Japanese people are so polite, and I really love their culture, Sakura, and the food. Right now, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. If I ever have the time, I would love to travel all of Japan.

Q. What are you usually up to when you’re not teaching on Cafetalk? Do you have any special hobbies or interests?

A. I love just taking a walk or going to restaurants and cafes. I also like watching Japanese TV shows at home or playing with our Nintendo console. I also sometimes watch YouTube videos on my PC. But what I love the most is our cat. I love playing with him so much! He is the best companion when I'm sad or stressed.

Q. For many students, French might seem like a beautiful and romantic, but very difficult language. How would you put the minds of aspiring French language students at ease?

A. French is indeed a difficult language. There is a famous expression in French: "petit-à-petit". In English, that means something similar to "step by step". French is difficult, but I know how happy it makes me to be able to talk to my Japanese family and friends and even be able to read Kanji! One day I noticed I was able to read the whole menu in a restaurant by myself, and that made me so happy! Additionally, even if I don't speak perfect Japanese, I always want to be able to speak more! I want to read more! I'm also learning Japanese "petit-à-petit". I would love for all of my students to learn French the same way. I would like you to have fun while remembering greetings and vocabulary, practising them little by little. You can also get used to the French language by watching French movies and reading French children books!

Q. You are offering both a French Lesson and a French Conversation class. Which lesson do you recommend to which students?

A. In the "French lesson" we study French together. You can be a complete beginner or advanced speaker. I prepare exercise questions depending on the student's level. I also help my students prepare for the Japanese French examination or DELF.In my "Conversation" lesson we talk in French only.I recommend this lesson to students on a DELF A-2 level or Futsuken Level 3 (and upward).Most of my students want to talk in French but don't really have the opportunity to do so. So, let's talk in French together! We can talk about culture, movies, travelling, restaurants...!"French lesson" is for studying, and "Conversation" is for practising your French conversation skill.

Q. Finally, would you like to leave a message for your current and future students?

A. Learning a foreign language is not just about learning new words or grammar. It's also about learning about a new culture and different ways of thinking. I myself have learned so much. That's why I'm really grateful to all of my students. I have met so many amazing students through Cafetalk. I hope to see you in my classes and learn even more from you all from now on as well!

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Olivier

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