Residents, including youngsters, will soon have the opportunity to learn Japanese in school.

Japanese and Portuguese are now among the offerings at the International Language Institute (formerly the International House of Languages), bringing to seven the number of languages taught at the Canal Road school.

"Nowhere on the Island is offering Japanese. We are the only ones,'' said Riquette Bonne-Smith, director and founder of the Institute.

"This is really exciting,'' she said. "We have an excellent teacher coming from Japan who was a teacher there.

"Her coming on board will enable us not only to offer language classes but we will also be able to organise seminars for the business community.'' "The seminars can focus on cultural aspects and give business people and others some insight into Japan,'' she added.

"I think it is important for people to be equipped with other languages, especially in the workplace.'' Mrs. Bonne-Smith is also enthusiastic at the prospect of having children learn Japanese.

"We will monitor the children's progress in the language to see if we should teach more oriental languages in the future,'' she said.

While the Education Ministry has long been criticised for the absence of Portuguese in the school curriculum, Portuguese as spoken in Brazil or if preferred, as spoken in Portugal, is now available at the Institute.

Study trips will broaden children's understanding and enjoyment of languages, according to Mrs. Bonne-Smith. Trips to Germany, Italy and France are already planned for the upcoming school year.

"Being surrounded by the language makes a big difference,'' she insisted.

"It becomes active. The children don't just go on holiday, they go in groups and classes to learn the language.'' A proponent of the immersion method of learning a language, Mrs. Bonne-Smith admitted that it has been very challenging for her to find people who can teach at that level.

"I am so eager to get the right people on board so that we can build and build,'' she said.

Classes begin at the Institute on September 13 and run through the school year.

Anyone interested in learning, Spanish, Italian, French, German and now Japanese and Portuguese can contact the Institute on 296-5676.