KORIYAMA, Fukushima -- During his school days, Aoi Fujita had an aversion to studying, until his mother forced him go to a local remedial learning center that offered free tutoring.
　The 19-year-old Fujita, now in his second year at the University of Tokyo, has returned to the center where he developed a love of learning as a form of payback after being one of the upward of 1,000 students who have been helped since it opened about seven years ago.
　The aim of Terakoya Koriyama, located in a room in Koriyama's community hall, is to support elementary and junior high schoolers who have fallen behind in their studies, with former teachers among those tutoring them for free.

　教員ＯＢらが講師を務める無料の学びの場「寺子屋郡山（郡山市）」の利用者が延べ１０００人を超えた。勉強が苦手な小中学生を支援しようと本格始動して約７年。今秋には卒業生の藤田葵さん（１９）＝東大理科１類２年＝が講師として応援に駆け付け、「勉強の楽しさを伝えたい」と自身の好奇心を伸ばしてくれた寺子屋に〝恩返し〟の日々を送っている。

　Starting this autumn, Fujita has been earnestly devoting himself to the task of tutoring, hoping to convey "a joy of learning" and pique the students' curiosity.
　Fujita himself started going to Terakoya when he was in his first year of junior high school at the urging of his mother. At that point, he deplored studying, and was hardly enthusiastic about getting tutoring. "At first, I didn't get into it," he recalled.

　郡山市中央公民館の一室で子どもと向き合い、熱心に勉強を教える藤田さん。母の勧めで寺子屋に通い始めたのは中学１年生の時。それまでは勉強が全く好きではなく、「最初は気乗りしなかった」と振り返る。

　However, rather than focusing on getting answers right or passing tests, the tutors emphasized the thought process involved, and Fujita found it fun to think about problems and find answers on his own, guided by their method of teaching.
　Before he knew it, he no longer felt like a bad learner. In his second year in junior high school, Fujita entered Fukushima Prefecture's math Olympics and won a silver medal. At that moment, he became aware that he had developed scholastic ability.

　だが問題の答えや結果より、考える過程を重視する講師の教えに、自分で考えて答えを導き出すことが楽しくなった。いつの間にか勉強に対する苦手意識はなくなった。中学２年生で県数学五輪に出場すると銀メダルを獲得。学力がついていることを実感した。

　Terakoya officially started in April 2014. The Koriyama city government cooperates in administration, and the tutors come from various backgrounds, including a former high school principal, an English interpreter and a Buddhist priest. It is a gathering of adults who want to share their specialties and experience with children.

　寺子屋が本格始動したのは２０１４（平成２６）年４月。運営には市が協力し、講師は高校の元校長や英語の通訳者、寺の住職など多方面にわたる。専門的な知識や経験を子どもたちに還元したい大人が志願して集まった。

　The type of students also varies greatly. There are those who like studying, those who have trouble learning, and those who for personal reasons have stopped going to school. The style is to basically have the students study on their own and ask tutors questions on things they don't understand.
　"I hope the students grow through experiences that build their own strengths and potential," said Terakoya head Takashi Tomita, 73, a former school superintendent in the prefecture.

　通うのは、勉強意欲がある子どもや勉強が苦手な子ども、不登校の子どもなどさまざま。自主学習を中心に分からないことを講師に聞くというスタイルで、会長を務める元県教育長の富田孝志さん（７３）は「自分の長所や可能性を自分で伸ばす経験を積んで成長してほしい」と期待を込める。

　As he was studying at Terakoya, Fujita said he had begun to think, "Someday I want to come back here to teach how to study."
　That wish eventually came true. Someone with ties to Terakoya, having learned that Fujita was back home because the University of Tokyo had gone to online classes during the pandemic, invited him to come on staff and he immediately accepted.

　寺子屋で学ぶ中、藤田さんは「いつかここに戻り、勉強を教えたい」と思い始めた。その願いがついにかなった。東大がコロナ禍でリモート授業のため、実家に滞在していることを知った寺子屋関係者に誘われ、すぐに引き受けた。

　Fujita said there were times he found it difficult to teach how to study, but he remained positive. "I want to support the children's development in my own way."
　To children who struggle to learn, Fujita offers this advice: "It's important to think about what you are not good at. It's also enjoyable to be able to find that out. Finding fun aspects of your own is the secret to overcoming your weaknesses."
　As for his future, "Someday, I want to use the knowledge and experience I gained at Terakoya to develop technology that can be of help to others," Fujita said.

（　Translated by The Japan News　）

　講師として勉強を教える難しさに悩む時もあるが、「子どもたちの成長を自分なりに応援していきたい」と前向きに取り組む。勉強が苦手な子どもには「どこが苦手なのか考えることが大事。それを発見できるのも楽しさ。自分なりの楽しいポイントを見つけることが、苦手克服の秘訣（ひけつ）」とアドバイスする。将来は「寺子屋で得た知識や経験を生かし、誰かの手助けができるような技術を開発したい」と藤田さん。今日も子どもたちと向き合い、勉強の楽しさを伝えている。

　【　２０２１年１１月１３日付・福島民友新聞掲載　】