The Budapest Kaiwa Circle opened its doors in 2010, and has been through many sessions so far. The aim of the conversation circle is to meet Japanese people, make friends, have a good conversation, and of course to learn about Japanese society. Different topics are given for every week, each of them allowing participants to have a glimpse at a different aspect of Japanese life.

Topics like “lifelong learning” and “man’s relationship with nature” reveals much about how Japanese think about the world. As a Japanese speaking circle, the emphasis is on the use of the Japanese language, while Hungarian is also used. If the language barrier proves to be too difficult to overcome, English can be used as a mediator; however, its excessive use is not advised.

The best thing about Kaiwa is that people go there with varying levels of Japanese proficiency, so it is an ideal place for anyone wanting some exposure to Japanese, and you can learn from the native speakers or from your mistakes a lot. It is even more ideal for English speaking people, as the circle might be useful for learning some things about Hungary, and practicing Hungarian as well.

Don’t let the classroom setting discourage you, because you won’t be laughed at if you say something wrong. Think of these sessions as going out to karaoke. You spend quality time with friends, without feeling embarrassed in front of everyone.

So, if you speak some Japanese and want to practice a little, want to meet Japanese people in Budapest, want to learn something about Japanese culture, this is definitely a program worth to check out. No pre-registration is required to attend the meeting. Have a good kaiwa!

Time and date: 18:00-20:00, every Tuesday and Friday
Location: Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Humanities Faculty, Building B, Room 242, 8th district, Múzeum körút 6-8

By László Kelemen for XpatLoop.com