Welcome to the new home page of NACOS International Institute located in beautiful Honolulu, Hawaii. NACOS is a communication-based institute specializing in English and Japanese language instruction.

The main goal of most language students is to be able to speak and understand their target language proficiently. The NACOS experience was designed to achieve these goals without the hours of individual vocabulary and grammar study required of the traditional student. Subjecting students to this quite artificial learning system often produces students who know the theory behind a language, but cannot speak it or communicate effectively. Those students who are afraid to speak because their language is not perfect quickly realize that, in reality, a "perfect communication" can be achieved with less-than-perfect language skills. NACOS gives students real language experiences that go beyond the classroom.

Our students create their own language world by focusing on personalized instruction and learning materials. NACOS also provides students with short but meaningful experiences which will become the foundation for language becoming a part of their lives. This not only provides them with knowledge of their target language, but also the motivation and desire to continue learning. We believe that it is possible to lay a strong foundation for this by effectively utilizing a short time period, a few key resources (people, facilities, and location), and personalized learning materials.

The NACOS Experience

An essential part of the NACOS program is our "Nagaya Project," which affords students an opportunity for continued use and acquisition of their target language. Students write a "Self Portrait," and later submit short stories about their lives. These are translated from the students' native language and are utilized as a tool for communication on a very personal level. Using these student-specific materials, we tailor our lessons to each individual. By repeating and practicing these translated versions of their "Self Portrait" and short stories, the students become familiar with vocabulary, expressions, and language patterns that relate directly to them. They become comfortable with self-expression in their target language and are thereby empowered with the skills necessary for more natural, fluent communication in the future.

We also provide a continued service to students through our "Nagaya" website. Former students are able to send further short stories to NACOS' innovative site. They may also access it for news about their fellow students and the people they got to know during their time at NACOS. In this way, students enjoy and benefit from the program long after it is over.

Weaving language into your life

In Japan, long ago, the NAGAYA was common as a place to live for the common people. This was a place where many families lived together under one roof in a long, one-story house. Each family occupied a small, minimalist room within the nagaya. Here, under the landlord's care, they lived a lifestyle in which each of these families would help and share with one another. Although these people did not have material wealth, they were people with spiritual wealth. I would like all of you, as part of the NACOS nagaya, to grow deep roots while experiencing either Japanese or English in your daily lives.

What is the NAGAYA?

　ＩＴ（情報技術）を中心に進められる高度な情報化の到来は、グローバル社会で、必然的に、共生の実現を求めています。対立から共生への道です。二十一世紀は、実りあるコミュニケーションこそが、共生社会達成への課題であると思われます。それぞれの国と地域の伝統や文化を尊重し、理解することが前提であり、コミュニケーションの役割は、最も大きな意味を持つと考えます。世界中の国々が、孤立・対立することなく、共に助け合い、支え合う世界を目指したいものです。

　ところで、積極的な国際会議や組織的展開で、多くの成果が収められていますが、市民レベルのコミュニケーション成果こそが、共生への成否を決めることになります。言葉の異なる人達が、それぞれに、自分の感情、人柄、本音や気持ちを、言葉の壁を超えて伝え合うことができたなら、もっとお互いに理解を深め、その国の人達に対する偏見や誤解を信頼に変えることができると思います。

ことばのうまさが先行するのではなく、こころが先行します。