Tagara High School
Tagara High School received one foreign exchange student from Canada. This is the second time Tagara High School has received an exchange student, the first time being December last year.
On the first day, we welcomed her into her buddy’s (her host family’s child’s) class. We all had a lot of fun with the quiz her classmates had prepared about Japan and the school. We also had her give a self-introduction at the school assembly, and her buddy, the members of the international exchange committee and the principal each gave welcome speeches.
During her stay, she joined her buddy's classes in subjects such as Math, Chemistry, P.E. and Japanese. In English, she talked about Canada to the other students. In a video showing daily life in Canada, everyone was able to get a feel for the country and realized some differences between Canada and Japan. In the selective art class, she also experienced a calligraphy lesson. It was quite difficult for her, but with the help of her classmates, she was able to improve.
She also participated in club activities after school. When experiencing the tea ceremony, she seemed a little put off by her first taste of the tea, while also overwhelmed by the solemn atmosphere. She also participated in the Japanese Taiko club, which only just formed this year. The instructor showed her how to properly hold the drum sticks, and she learned to drum the rhythm that is unique to Japanese Taiko. She was very impressed by her first experience of the sound that Japanese Taiko produces.
On her last day, she gave a farewell speech in the class's homeroom. The students gave her presents they had made from colored paper for this day, and in the end, it was a very emotion-filled farewell party.
Additionally, it was a very full week for both herself, her buddy and schoolmates, including time spent after school to visit Shin-Okubo's Korean Town. It was a valuable experience for Tagara's students to build a friendship that goes beyond cultural boundaries.
Tokyo Metropolitan Fujimori High School
Fujimori High School has been deepening its international relations by receiving short-term foreign exchange students for the past few years. This is the reason some students apply to enter the school, and those who wish to participate in the initiative have high expectations for it. The school was not expecting to receive any foreign exchange students this summer, but they were able to do so after speaking with the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education, and continued their international exchange this summer, also.
With regards to host families, there was a great deal of interest from students, and the school ended up receiving one male student and two female students from the United States.
In their school-life, the exchange students joined their host family "buddies" in their usual activities. The exchange students sat beside their buddies in their classes in order to participate in their usual lessons. Some teachers also devised original lesson plans, such as teaching traditional Japanese culture as a special lesson. It was an excellent opportunity for Fujimori High School's students to gain an understanding of different cultures by interacting with the exchange students after school and through their presentations of their home country. The exchange students also participated in club activities after school, and they had the opportunity to experience parts of traditional Japanese culture, such as Karate and the tea ceremony.
The exchange program has become very meaningful for the students at Fujimori High School, especially looking forward to the Olympic and Paralympic games.
It was also a good opportunity for the students to use this experience to communicate using English in lots of different situations. The foreign exchange students were only here for a short time, but we believe it was a valuable experience for our students, who were able to effectively communicate with the exchange students and overcome the language barrier.
Tokyo Metropolitan Matsugaya High School
Matsugaya High School received two foreign exchange students from Idaho, the United States, for five days. They participated in regular classes from the first day. However, as they did not know any Japanese, the students sitting next to them moved their desks together and actively helped them during class. In English classes, they supported the teacher, helpfully answering questions that the Matsugaya students had.
Since they made a request to experience all sorts of different club activities, on the first day, they participated in the Japanese Taiko club, on the second, the tea ceremony club, and on the third day, the ESS (English Speaking Society) club. In each of the clubs, the members explained what they were doing in English, and in doing so, deepened their relationships with the exchange students.
On the final day, a farewell party was held in homeroom, and our students gave presents made from colored paper to the exchange students. At the party, everyone ate somen noodles and shaved ice that they had made together with the exchange students. Our country and language may be different, but by spending time together and sharing the same experiences, the distance between us shrunk over the five days.
Chofu-minami High School
Chofu-minami High School welcomed two exchange students from Canada.
On the first day, we held a welcome ceremony, organized by the student council. After the student council officers greeted the exchange students, we saw a Kendo performance by the Kendo club. The students then gave a speech in English, conveying their welcoming feelings.
The exchange students experienced traditional Japanese culture in the form of the Japanese tea ceremony.
After the tea ceremony club served our guests, they received an explanation on it.
Although it was a hot day, the exchange students seemed to enjoy the beauty of Japan in the silence of the tea room. They also seemed to enjoy the Japanese sweets and the green tea.
This is a photo of their Kendo experience.
They seemed to be hoping to give it a try, so we taught the excited students the basic movements used in Kendo, so they could experience it for themselves.
They were only with us for a short time, but both our students and the exchange students seem to have gained an understanding of each other's cultures.
