通訳案内士ガイド試験 Examination for the National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter

通訳ガイド試験

小学校の同窓生のH君が金沢で通訳ガイドとして活躍しているという話が、同窓会通信に載りました。それに対する私の感想です。

　H君の通訳ガイドの話、とてもinterestingでした。私は英語教師現役時代にガイド試験を受けましたが、日本の地理と歴史が不得意で一回目は不合格でした。二回目挑戦の時は、大阪の通訳ガイド予備校（H君のいう店じまいした学校かも）から傾向と対策の本を買って勉強し、さらに大きな日本地図を壁に貼り、日本の北から南までの全ての国立公園の位置と特色や、一級河川や山脈名などを丸暗記しました。十和田八幡国立公園の「初荷峠（はっかとうげ）」という地点もまだ覚えていますが、数年前、初荷峠に行って、「ここが初荷峠か……」とガイド試験で暗記したことを思い出しました。

　私はガイドになりませんでしたが、H君は、水を得た魚のように、通訳ガイドにぴったりの性格だと思います。あのにこやかな顔で"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Kanazawa"とバスの中で第一声を発している姿が目に見えるようです。

　金沢の、いや、日本の文化の紹介もよろしくお願いします。I'm looking forward to reading the part 2, Dear　H.

 

Examination for the National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter

 My friend, H, from elementary school told his experience as a tourist guide interpreter in the high school reunion report. The following is my comment about it:

H’s essay about his experience as a tourist guide was very interesting. I also took the guide test about 20 years ago when I was an English teacher. I failed in my first trial which tested the applicants’ knowledge of Japanese geography and history. When I took the test for the second time, I bought a preparatory book for the examination published by a private school for the guide test in Osaka. (Probably, the same school H mentioned in his essay.) I bought a large Japanese map and pinned it on the wall. Looking at the map I memorized the names, locations, and characteristics of all national parks from Hokkaido to Kyushu. I also memorized the names of first-class rivers and volcanic ranges throughout Japan. I still remember Hakka-toge in the Towada Yawata National Park in the northern part of Japan. I visited the place several years ago, and the sight reminded me of the days when I was doing my best preparing for the tourist guide.

   I did not become a tourist guide think H is one of the most suitable persons to be a tourist guide considering his open-minded character. He took the job like a fish to water. I can vividly imagine the scene in which he says with a big smile on the tourist bus, “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Kanazawa.”

I hope he will introduce Kanazawa's culture as well as Japan's. I'm looking forward to reading the part 2, Dear　H.