Based on the Memorandum of Understanding on Education between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Advanced Education of the Province of British Columbia and the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education, a seminar for Tokyo Metropolitan school(s)/high school(s) teachers who are interested in international exchange among students in their schools was held on Monday, 19th March, 2018.
Some representatives from related organizations including Christine Callahan, Second Secretary at the Embassy of Canada to Japan and Avrom Salsberg, Managing Director, Representing the Government of British Columbia in Japan, attended the seminar.
The speaker of the seminar was Prof. Doug Hamilton, PhD and Head, MA in Educational Leadership and Management Program - International at Royal Roads University who has an excellent academic career in the field of educational administration and leadership. The theme of the presentation was “Building Inclusive Learning Environments: Intercultural Learning in Action.”
Based on the condition that the Tokyo board of education has been promoting international exchange activities among students, he talked about the importance of intercultural learning and some tips for teachers and school administrators when they engage in intercultural education.
Here are just some parts of his talk of the day;
- Intercultural learning and global citizenship are interconnected and they are both important.
- Making quick assumption for actions of others who are in different cultural norms should be avoided.
- Because intercultural learning benefits everybody it should be engaged by the entire school.
- As the effect of intercultural learning, students see diversity as a part of their daily life and they become to see things from various different aspects.
- Team work is effective in intercultural learning.
- When there is a language barrier among participants, represent the materials in multiple ways for instruction by teachers and for presentation of opinions by students.
- To involve cultural marginalized students in classes and school life, support by classmates as a “buddy” is effective.
Through feedback of the seminar, high satisfaction was shown by the participants. Support for activities of teachers and schools related in international exchange, Tokyo Board of Education will hold this kind of event, including seminars and workshops.
