BoeingHigherEducationProgram

International Activities 国際活動

Activities Report activities "International Activities"

• February 27, 2015

  2015 Visiting Urawa High School Program

  

  We visited Saitama Prefectural Urawa High School for an international exchange event on Feb 27th, 2015. Five students from High School’s English Club and two teachers met with our international student Süheyla Koç.

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• February 27, 2015

  2015 Visiting Urawa High School Report

  

  Everything started with my “Why not?” reply to “Are you interested in international exchange in high school by introducing your country and your university?” question. In this context, they told me that I should make my presentation in English Club of Urawa High School. A presentation style and content were free, so I could tell them whatever I wanted. As an exchange student in Japan I have experienced the university life, but I have always wondered how the high school life is in Japan. In this regard, I thought it would be a great opportunity. But when I heard it’s a boy’s school, I hesitated a little because I was a watcher of “Gokusen” and “Rookies”. But the moment I entered the classroom, I understood that this school is not that kind of school. Everyone was studying in his place quietly. At first, I thought we were in the wrong classroom. The number of students made me disappointed. I was told that ten students would join the meeting, but I found only five students there. Actually with teachers, there were almost ten people. Then I looked in a positive way. Less people would help to create more intimate atmosphere, so everyone could talk more than two times.
  
  To introduce my country and my university was a challenge for me. I had to be careful what to tell. Because I have lived that life, that country, it was so natural for me. But what is the difference for outsiders? To find them and more importantly to transfer them properly is the most challenging part. For this reason, I used the video presentations prepared by the Ministry of Culture of Turkey and the English brochure prepared by the Istanbul Technical University. At that moment, I realized something. I was angry to Japan and Japanese people because of using only Japanese language everywhere. Even in Tokyo, which is a global city and where there are a lot of foreigners, when you need something and if you don’t know Japanese, it’s a big problem for you. Then I realized it’s the same with Turkey, too. If you want to suggest someone to watch something, everything is in Turkish. You can't even find English subtitles. In that sense, both Japan and Turkey should be more open to the world. We need to publish in different languages, so we could be understood by other people. What makes Japan so mysterious and incomprehensible is the observers who talk about Japan without knowing Japanese. They can’t learn the truth from Japanese people, so they just make their own comments and tell the others their comments. New comers come with their ideas. They also make their own comments and transfer them to others. It is an ongoing cycle…
  
  Anyway, this is not our main topic. Let’s go back to high school. I made my presentation and everyone listened it so carefully. Then they asked me questions, actually difficult questions and I did my best to answer them. After that, we made a U-system with tables and continued our conversation in a more chatting way. Once again I realized how shy Japanese people are in talking in English. Actually they know English, but they don’t have a confidence in talking. I have observed this also in IFL (International Friday Lounge in the University of Tokyo) events. These high school students are academically ranked high over the country and they are good at speaking English, but when starting to speak, they need to muster up courage.
  
  I felt myself lucky to be able to participate in such an event. Actually we could experience an international environment in this small classroom. I was a representative of Turkey, but actually everyone is a representative of one's own country by one's identity; a teacher from America, a student from Uzbekistan, a student who used to live in America, another student had an experience of Ireland, etc. I don’t even remember the rest. With different life experiences and different world-views, sometimes we discussed serious issues and other times we tried to make our childhood habits; making a carpet from candy covers… For me, it was a very useful meeting. And I thought, while I was in high school, if someone from a university had come to my classroom, especially a foreigner student, how it would have affected me, what kind of experience I could have gained. I guess we should generalize this kind of events in a sense of awareness, because the World is big with a lot of opportunities. However, we are living in our own little world without being aware of these opportunities. If we don’t know about something properly , we might think it’s so different from us and it’s frightening. There is one important thing I have realized after coming to Japan. What different nations, religions, cultures and languages we may come from, we all have one thing in common. That is, we are all human beings and live in the same world and we breathe the same air. To understand each other and to live together happily is not so difficult. We just need to listen to each other, to sit and talk. That’s all. They asked me to write a report. What am I writing? I should stop here. Have a nice day…
  

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• March 11, 2014

  Second Kofu Higashi High School Program

  

  The second visit to Yamanashi Prefectural Kofu Higashi High School startet 6:45 a.m. at the main gate of Hongo Campus on a vey chilly morning. 13 international students, two Japanese student and a School ofEngineering staff got in the bus chartered by Boeing Co. Ltd. Compared last year, almost three times as many international students participated in this program upon the request of the high school side.
  
  We were greeted by Mr. Masaki Nagata, school principal, and many academic staff. Through the sessions, both the international students and high school students enjoyed academic and cultural exchange in a friendly atmosphere. We left high school, expecting their visit to Hongo Campus, UTokyo next time.
  

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• March 11, 2014

  2014 Visiting Kofu Higashi High School Report 13

  

  　We met at 6:45 morning and left to Kofu by bus at 7:00. The bus was very spacious and comfortable. View from highway was beautiful, especially the mountains. We arrived at the Kofu Higashi High School around 10:00. The school principal and staffs welcomed us warmly and treated us with delicious Japanese-style confectioneries.
  
  　I had three discussion sessions with the students, two before lunch and one after lunch. On each session first I introduced myself and gave the students brief introduction about my country and my university life. When I was presenting, they listened very attentively. After my presentation every student talked about one aspect of Japanese culture. I was very impressed with their preparation, they had written about their topic very well and some students even had drawn beautiful pictures for my ease of understanding. Despite living in Japan for four years, I learned many new things about Japanese culture from their presentations. After the presentations we discussed about many things, including Mongolia and Japanese Culture. Although being very anxious about their English, students asked me many questions about Mongolia.
  
  　Experiencing Japanese high school students’ life was one of the intentions of the visit. As a part of this we had lunch with the students in their classroom. Also we did classroom cleaning together. During the lunch and the cleaning we talked about many interesting topics, which we couldn’t talked during class hour.
  
  　In conclusion, I would like to say how much I have enjoyed myself during the visit. I highly recommend this program to the other foreign students at the University of Tokyo.
  
  My proposals to the program:
  • The students were very eager to know about Mongolia. However because of anxiety about their English, some students couldn’t asked the questions they wanted to ask. Therefore I propose telling who they will meet beforehand. So they can prepare their questions in advance.
  • I suggest limiting students’ number in one group. There were around 15 students in the first two groups I met. Therefore the time was well divided between presentation section and discussion section. But in the last group there were around 30 students. So almost all time was spent for presentations, and we had very little time for discussion after that. In my opinion, the ideal number of students in one group is between 12 and 15.
  • Despite had written very well, the students were very shy when presenting their writings about Japanese culture. In my opinion, to make their effort in the writings more effective, it is important to make them rehearse. Of course rehearsing with teachers is best, but I also think rehearsing on their own as homework is good if rehearsing with teachers in classroom is not possible.
  

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• March 11, 2014

  2014 Visiting Kofu Higashi High School Report 12

  

  　On March 11, after we came back from Kofu Higashi High School, actually speaking, I felt very tired because of the long trip. I think not only me but also the manager sennsei (yoshiko sennsei) and the other students must be also tired. But I think it is really worth.
  
  　Firstly, I think the high school students do need us!
  
  　When I came to the classroom and met the high school students, I could feel the spring atmosphere strongly. Looking at their eyes, I could understand their desire to the future university life. Looking back my high school time, I was also so eager to have a senior sister or brother who can lead me or answer what I want to know. I am glad to be a useful senior for them now so I tried my best to enjoy my experience with them. I am not sure whether I can do give them any deep effect or not, but at least we enjoyed so much together. They are so kind and warm-hearted to me.
  
  　Secondly, it is my gratitude to the people who helped and are helping me so much in my life.
  
  　When I was in my undergraduate, master in China, the senior and professors helped me so much so much. And now in japan, my professor is so kind and supervises me a lot so that I can have these big progresses in my research now. And the Japanese volunteers teach me Japanese once a week even they have the other work have to do. And my Japanese “face” introduced by Foreigner center who is an elegant lady. We have lunch together once a week and enjoy our shared diary. On some festivals, she often gives me presents.
  
  　Because these people give me so much “gifts”, I have made up my mind to give the gifts back to the young generation like baton.
  
  　So let us go on enjoying this kind of program more! Thanks to the office who give us this chance!
  

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• March 11, 2014

  2014 Visiting Kofu Higashi High School Report 11

  

  Hi, there! It is Ted and here I am very glad to share my impression about Kofu Higashi High School Program with you.
  
  On one of the most memorable days in Japan’s modern history, 311, we, international students of the University of Tokyo (Todai), visited Kofu Higashi High School. What greeted us were the breathtaking Fujisan and fabulous Kofu Higashi High School’s staff and students. This year, 2014, each student from Todai delivered three presentations to three different groups of high school students. During each presentation, international students introduced their countries first, then high school students responded with either questions about the foreign countries or introduction of Japanese culture. The idea of the program is to encourage the high school students to speak English while establishing mutual understanding of each other’s country.
  
  Generally speaking, I had a great time during the discussion with high school students. These are a bunch of wonderful youngsters who are capable of communicating in English. From them, I saw myself at their age who was also keen to acquire English skills. If I ever had a chance to talk to them again, I would like to quote Steve Jobs: Stay hungry. Stay foolish.
  
  Overall, I personally feel honored to participate this program and also appreciate Kofu Higashi High School’s staff’s incredible hospitality. Thank you very much, Kofu Higashi High School and prayers fly to those who lost love ones in 311.
  

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• March 11, 2014

  2014 Visiting Kofu Higashi High School Report 10

  

  　Last week, I was very glad to participate in the visiting to Kofu East High School. It is a nice chance to communicate and learn from each other with Japanese young high school students. During this visiting, I introduced some situations of China, such as geography, population, nations, and I also talked about my nation: Manchu. On the other hand, I had introduced my lab, Nakamura-Takano Lab of Information Science and Technology Department, Todai. Briefly introduced my robotics major and state-of-the-art technologies in robotics. They are motivated, talk and ask questions actively.
  
  　The students introduced a lot about Japanese culture and beauty for me. Such as bento culture, kimono culture, hand writing, kendo, kyudo, May Festival, Japanese architecture, Nara Todaiji. At first, students were shy, but I talked something about movie stars and animate which they are interested in, they turned to be open. So I think when we communicate with youngs, try to break through by some pop topics would help to make friend with them.
  
  　By the way, through this visiting, I find that there is tight relationship between Japanese and Chinese culture in both ancient time and now. They two always influence and promote each other. I wish China and Japan are peaceful and friendly forever.
  

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• March 11, 2014

  2014 Visiting Kofu Higashi High School Report ９

  

  　This is Xiaozhou Jia, a first year master course student of Electrical Engineering department of the University of Tokyo. I was very lucky to be admitted to join in the Kofu Higashi High School visit on Mar. 11th. It was really a great experience and I benefited a lot from this visit.
  
  　When I attended the orientation for this visit, I learned our goal was to communicate with high school students in English, try to learn from each other. Kept that in mind, I prepared some slides about my hometown and school life. After arrived the high school, the first impression was the students all appeared to be shy, which was totally different from what I used to believe. From Japanese TV series and programs, my impression for high school students was they are genki, they love laughing and talking, which are all symbols of being young. Later on I started to talking with them, I found them very enthusiastic and serious about this event. Some of them prepared really nice presentations, from which I learned a lot about Japanese culture and society. On the other hand, it was a little bit hard for them talking with us in English without any difficulty. I encouraged them to try their best. And I told them what they need is just speaking out without worrying, some students do made their moves. I wish they could be brave in the future as well, not only on speaking English, but also on other aspects.
  
  　I remembered one student who showed me some information about Japanese bushido and Takeda Shingen, which was one of the famous bushi in Japanese history. Since I’m reading Tokugawa Ieyasu recently, I am impressed on his introduction on Takeda, which was some ideas from another perspective. We talked a little bit about this famous figure in history and I was far more than happy to find someone who shares the same interest with me.
  
  　Meanwhile, I think this program could be improved by making the group smaller. We foreigner students had to be responsible for a group consisting about 10 students. As a result, we had to make some of the part very short and some students did not talk too much due to time limit.
  

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• March 11, 2014

  2014 Visiting Kofu Higashi High School Report ８

  

  　The trip to Yamanashi was perhaps one of the most memorable trips I had been to. As soon as I knew that I will visit Kofu Higashi High School, I felt so surprised and excited because I had never been to any Japanese High School before.
  
  　After arriving at the school, I was quite impressed by seeing students’ paintings were hanged all over the school. Moreover, the surroundings of the school were quite beautiful as it was surrounded by beautiful mountains. The most important part of the trip was that I had the chance to introduce about my country to them, which I had presumed that many students might do not knew.
  
  　And I feel quite happy to let them know few facts about Pakistan, especially its history, cultural diversity, land scape and beauty etc. Interestingly, although I mostly used English (and a little Japanese too) as a means of communication,
  students were still very willing to answers my questions. I think it was all because I was not doing a formal presentation rather I had divided them into groups and
  motivated them that whichever group is going to answer most of the questions will going to be a winner. Though, they were a little shy but have good confidence and most of the students were not too much afraid of using English. However, the best part of the trip was about the topics which every student had introduced to me, which helped me to learn about Japanese history, customs and traditions, foods, anime culture etc. Moreover, each of the students had made their presentations colourful by drawing the pictures according to the topic of their presentation.
  And at the end of each students’ presentation I asked some questions related to
  their presentation, which (I hoped) helped them to be a little more open and gave them confidence to speak in English.
  
  　During the lunch break few students were a little curious to look at my lunch as they might be interesting to see what kind of Pakistani food I had cooked.
  And few students who were sitting next to me showed their food and also tell me
  it’s cooking recipe.
  
  　Summing up, I felt it was a quite unique and different　experience to get to know about high school life in Japan and it also reminded me about my own school life.
  I am also very thankful to the Principal and all staff members of Kofu Higashi High School for not only arranging our journey to the school, but also for presenting
  colourful note copies designed by students and souvenirs as well as drinks for us.
  And I am very grateful to them for providing the room for prayer too.
  
  　The only thing I wished is that the number of students in each group should either be reduced or the time for each session should be set according to the number of students in each group and, moreover, if we had some time to perform some kind of sports (or other physical activities) outside the classrooms too.

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• March 11, 2014

  2014 Visiting Kofu Higashi High School Report ７

  

  　The visit to Kofu Higashi High School was very fun and exciting experience. It was the first time for me to enter such a Japanese school and to directly interact with the students. We, the students and I, both exchanged ideas as well as opinions on each of our unique culture. For me, I learn so many things about Japanese culture which I didn’t know previously. They introduced me to nattō (a fermented soybeans), nengajō (New Year postcard), kinkaku-ji ginkaku-ji (famous temples in Kyōto), tanabata (Japanese star festival), and many more else. All of them are very special and unique. I really hope that I can experience them once.
  　
  　Also, I experienced the classroom cleaning at the end of my visit. What surprised me was that all students worked together to clean each of their own classroom. In addition, when I walked to the other section of the school building, there were some students who swabbing the school corridor floor. So, that was not just a classroom cleaning, but rather a massive school cleaning done by the students. 　That was the first time for me to see such that kind of activity which all students all together do the cleaning for almost all of the school building at the same time.
  
  　In my opinion, such kind of this visit activity is very good for the Japanese young generation. By having this activity, the students can intimately know and learn about many cultures from different countries which they may don’t learn from the school lecture. Also, it is a good way for them to practice their English. It might also be good if there was an activity-aside of formal discussion, done together between the students and the foreigners, so that both students and the foreigners can have more active interaction. One simple way is performing a traditional Japanese culture. This means that the foreigners try to perform a traditional Japanese culture, whereas the students try to explain how to do it as well as explain what the meaning of that culture is. This activity may trigger more active interaction since the foreigners should have a very limited knowledge about Japanese, so that more spontaneous and natural dialog will be involved.

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• March 11, 2014

  2014 Visiting Kofu Higashi High School Report ６

  

  　The Kofu High school visit program leaves a great impression on me.
  This program, promoted by both Todai and Kofu HS, is aimed at enhancing mutual understanding and communication between international students and local students about campus experience and motherland culture.
  
  　The visit process started from group discussion, each group consisting of one international student and around 15 Japanese students.
  
  　I prepared powerpoint slides printed out about Chinese culture, like traditional Chinese clothing, Lunyu, Mount Tai and Chinese cuisine. In China, we have various popular dumplings while fried dumplings gain popularity in Japan. Chinese Zongzi and mooncakes also attracted them so much that cooking method and the differences from Japanese origini raised their curiosity.
  
  　The Japanese students are commonly shy. We took turns to share our interests and favorite items. Luckily, in my group, an outgoing local student led the whole group very active by sharing interesting topics, likes popular Japanese comics or popular daily phrases.
  
  　After the discussion session, we had lunch with the group students. This was free time for Japanese students, so they came to chat with us, like ‘Do you like Mikasa-sann(a charming female character of a comics)’ and ‘Do you have a girlfriend’. The final part with Japanese Students was to clean their classroom. I have to say that their classroom was so clean that it took less than 20 minutes to refresh the classroom,
  
  　This program really gave an impressive memory to me. I am hoping that I can meet them again to enjoy another fabulous time.
  

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• March 11, 2014

  2014 Visiting Kofu Higashi High School Report ５

  

  　We went to Yamanashi prefectural Kofu Higashi high school to do one-day communication activity on March 11th, 2014. The main content of the activity is to introduce culture and feature of my own country to students in that school, something about my university, study process and major, and in the same time to get information about Japanese traditional activities, festivals, characteristics and things about high school students themselves. The language used in this communication activity is English, in this way, the ability to use English to communicate and speak will be upgraded, and also it is one part of high school’s international communication.
  
  　We got a warm welcome by high school teachers after we arrived there, teachers gave us notebooks which are designed by high school students, some bookmark and advertisement about school and Yamanashi. We also enjoyed delicious Yamanashi rice cakes and some soft drink. Then we listened to the teacher to understand main content and arrangement of this day activity and made sure of the thing we should do. When I first arrived at the classroom, I feel a little nervous and had no idea what to say and communicate with the students, but with the time went on, I found out the students listen to me carefully and eagerly, and they also prepared their own presentation carefully. Some one drew beautiful comics, some one made paper bird, some one did performance about Kyudo to make me understand it better. The things the presented varied from Japanese traditional Kimoto, Hinamatsuri to Kotatsu and Dogeza, some of them I had known before, but I found out some thing new and very interesting, which I did not know before from their presentation. They also told me things about Yamanashi, some delicious food, beautiful view of Fuji Mountain, I also like Yamanashi, Fuji Mountain and Yamanaka Lake very much before, and I can see they love their hometown so much from their expressions and words when they showed in their presentations. Every student has his or her own characteristic, most of the students are willing to communicate with me, and they just try their best to show me their thinking. Some students even help me to find the next classroom I should go to for I am not very familiar with layout of the school. They answered me questions and shared me their thinking and views of their own. Also there exist some students who are introverted, but this may not be his or her characteristic but not very good at using English, they speak little but when I saw the paper they prepared for this communication activity, I found out they were earnest and tried their best. Students so young as grade 1 and 2 high school students, who are willing to communicate with foreign students by using English is something happy, they tried their best to do it and the content is interesting and helpful, I find out I learn so much from this activity.
  
  　Also I got the chance to have lunchtime together with the students and to clean the classroom with them, this was a good chance to experience Japanese high school students’ daily life and this turned out to be impressive. They all took lunch made by their mothers to school, and ate it when talking about something they were interested in. In the time of cleaning classroom, they helped me to take part in the clean process and told me how to use tools and the process of clean. The time in high school that day ran so fast, at 3 they finished their day’s lesson and began their club activity, this was also the time we left there. In summary, I think although I introduced them something about my country, my university and major in English to help them learning and practicing, I learn more from them, not only the traditional Japanese cultural and matters, but also attitude and pattern of communication, living and study, this makes me call back my life when I was in high school.
  
  　I think this activity is meaningful, and high school teachers’ thinking to give students more chances to practice and use English to do international communication is also right and helpful. Every student has his or her own feature, there is no need to make introverted one to be extroverted, and there is also no need to keep the extrovert be quite when he wants to say something, everyone just keep as himself or herself and does things eagerly and earnestly, they will be successful one day in the future. High school time is always some time I think the best time of my life until now, in that time, I had no big dream or some clear target, but to do things, simple but earnest, by my own way, maybe the meaning of doing as this will be known ten or even longer years later. By this activity, I give them a chance to practice English, but they also give me a chance to know high school life in Japan, know things they are interested in and their condition of daily life and attitude of living, also I know something about Japan, about Yamanashi, it is interesting and some beautiful and meaningful things, papers they gave to me, which I will keep carefully and forever as with the day’s memory.
  

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• March 11, 2014

  2014 Visiting Kofu Higashi High School Report ４

  

  　I and other international students of University of Tokyo visited Kofu Higashi High School on 11th, March. For each 45 minutes, I communicated with over 10 Japanese high school students. Firstly, I introduced my hometown and the major I am studying in. And then, each student presented 1 special item of Japan. After all, I had them introduced about their hometown Yamanashi and did some free talk.
  
  　This event was very special to me because this was the first time for me to visit a high school in Japan and to talk with high school students of Japan. When I delivered my presentation, they all listened to me with full attention and asked me many questions. And during their presentation time, they told me many things special in Japan, such as, Sumou, Hatsumoude, Origami, Fujisan, etc. Even though this year is already the 4th year since I came to Japan, there were still many contents that I did not know before. One boy presented Bonsai, which is a traditional Japanese art that boy loves. One girl presented Origami, and even brought many pieces of her work to the class. Another girl drew really fascinating manga in order to introduce me about Bentou. I was fascinated by their passion of the things they love and their special points of view as high school students.
  
  　During the event, I found some special points of Japanese students, which are either positive or negative. Firstly, most of them do not like science very much. Each time I asked whether they love science or not, they said no. It is assumable that during their science lessons, they are force to remember those principles and equations, without being told where those principles to be use, which might let their motivations down. Secondly, they are afraid of outstanding from other students. When I asked questions, even some of them seemed to know the answers, they were not willing to raise their hands. Lastly, which is the reverse to the second point, they are very good at team work. When they were asked to move the desks and chairs, or to clean the classrooms, they always moved organized and cooperated, which is something that Chinese students cannot do.
  
  　I would like to thank Kofu Higashi High school and Boeing and University of Tokyo to provide us this chance to have communications with high school students. We learned a lot during this event. And we hope that the high school students also learned something from us.
  

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• March 11, 2014

  2014 Visiting Kofu Higashi High School Report ３

  

  　When I heard the announcement about the visit to Kofu Higashi High School and that they needed volunteers, I thought to myself that it would be an interesting and signed up straight away. Not only I was not disappointed, I was satisfied beyond expectations. It was the kind of experience that stays in one’s memory for life, and I will surely cherish it.
  
  　Perhaps some of us came in with the idea that we were representing our countries and must not bring shame on our compatriots. However, I wanted the students to somehow understand that we should look at people as people, and things like citizenships as afterthoughts. So I went in with an open mind and a ready smile, to try to get those shy boys and girls to come out of their shells. I was being as open and honest as I could, and I ended up being told several times that I was speaking too fast. In the end however, I think I was able to get through to them.
  
  　Communication is not about how good your grammar and vocabulary are. It’s about how easy you find it to express your thoughts and ideas, and how well it gets through to the other person. I sensed that the students wanted to ask questions but were a bit embarrassed and so we were not able to exchange so much. However, I believe that all they need are more opportunities in order to experience and grow.
  　I am glad that I was able to show the students, even if it was just a little bit, what lies outside the glass bowl of Japanese society. I am sure that there were many questions left unanswered or even unasked, but if I was able to instill that curiosity inside them, then I believe that I had achieved something.
  
  　We talked, we exchanged ideas no matter how hesitantly, and shared a meal together. We even cleaned up together. All of it was familiar and nostalgic to me, and yet only slightly different, as if looking at the same object through differently-tinted lenses. When you stop to think about it, although we may be looking through all sorts of different lenses, in the end we are all looking at the same things.
  　It was a short time, but very precious. As I interacted with them, I watched those young high school students and was reminded about my own time in high school. They were not so different from us back then. There are those who have dreams, and those who have not decided yet. Everyone is pursuing their own interests, whether through club activities or otherwise. Most of all, I was moved by that awkward and yet energetic youthfulness.
  
  　Towards the end of the visit, one of the students asked me, “Are there any similarities between Japan　and the Philippines?” At that time, I thought of climate and the like, so I ended up answering “pretty much nothing”. However, upon reflection, I was completely wrong. Wherever you go, people are people. People want to communicate, to connect with others, to reach out and feel a welcoming hand grasp theirs in return.
  
  　To the students of Kofu Higashi High School, find your dreams and make them reality. To the teachers and staff, thank you for arranging this event, and please continue taking care of your students.
  
  　From the bottom of my heart, I am truly thankful for this experience.
  

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• March 11, 2014

  2014 Visiting Kofu Higashi High School Report ２

  

  　Last winter, we, international students from the Friday Lounge, visited a high school which is quite a far from Tokyo. The name of the school is Higashi Kofu high school and it was located in Yamanashi, which is surrounded with mountains. Atmosphere around the school, such as, many trees, blue sky and fresh air, refreshed me but I was quite a nervous because It was the first time to teach foreign language. After talking with teachers, I went to a classroom for first year and met students.
  
  　At the first time, I thought I should keep speaking something for about an hour, but every student also prepared for a presentation about Japanese culture, such as Osechi-ryori, Samurai. Every topic was really interesting and I could learn about Japanese culture more than I knew before. After that time I talked about my country, Korea, and my school life. Sometimes I used some Japanese for students when they didn’t understand what I said but all students listened to my presentation. Also they told me their opinions about my presentation and we also talked about their dreams. I had 3 classes at that day so I could meet many students and also talked with them a lot.
  
  　Preparing time for the class, the experience, meeting students in Higashi Kofu high school, everything was impressive and made me learn many things that I couldn’t learn so far in my school. I was really happy I could learn a lot through this time and I hope I can go to Higashi Kofu high school and meet students once again someday.
  

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• March 11, 2014

  2014 Visiting Kofu Higashi High School Report １

  

  　For many of us, the disaster of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami will still be a sad memory in our minds, even now, 3 years later. Which was why I was very surprised, that this date was chosen for our visit to Kofu Higashi High School in Yamanashi Prefecture for a cultural exchange program. However, being a part of this trip has changed my life forever.
  
  　Our task for this trip was to prepare a presentation about our country and share it with the students of the school who will then present to us something about their country in return. It may seem very simple and straightforward, but what impressed me the most was the amount of effort that they put into their presentations! It was very detailed, and most of it had hand-drawn pictures to explain their chosen topics to perfection!
  
  　Usually, the image of most foreigners when it comes to communicating with Japanese students are that Japanese students are very shy and reserved, or that they don’t understand much English, and so it becomes a very formal English-lesson type of environment when speaking with Japanese students, which I feel should not be the case at all. What is special about foreign students coming to visit is not about the knowledge that they bring or possess, but the contact and the opportunity to speak with someone from a different country, which they cannot do when watching television or studying from a textbook.
  
  　And so I believe that communicating and being able to let the students know what kind of a person you (who come from a foreign country) are, is more important that what you have to say or present. I’m sure this kind of heart-to-heart communication will be cherished by then students all the more when compared to what they can learn from the powerpoint slides that we bring.
  
  　When I say this trip changed me, it has. I see the hope and joys of the students, and it made me realize that they are our future generation who must be protected and given a chance to pursue their goals and dreams, and we, as their guardians, should do all we can to help them to achieve it.
  

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• November 02, 2012

  Welcome to International Activity Program!

  

  The first IAP began with a visit of 29 students from Kofu Higashi High School in Yamanashi Prefecture on Nov. 2, 2012. After visiting Civil Engineering Laboratory in the morning, high school students joined International Friday Lounge, IFL, where international and Japanese students at the University of Tokyo meet and share lunch time, enjoying conversation together over lunch.
  On March 19, 2013, four international students from Sweden, France and Greece visited Kofu Higashi High School to reciprocate their visit in the previous year. They introduced themselves, their countries, universities, etc. Then, high school students introduced their high school days, Japanese culture and customs, etc. All of them had a wonderful day.
  The following is the report essays by the four international students.
  

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• March 19, 2013

  2013 Visiting Kofu Higashi High School Report ４

  

  Eleverna lyssnar koncentrerat och läraren Miho Noda flikar då och då in en förklaring på ett svårt ord eller en avancerad fras. Det är en varm och vacker vårdag, fönstren i klassrummet är öppna och eleverna på Kofu Higashi gymnasieskola fokuserar på min engelska presentation av Sverige. Jag inleder med att presentera mig själv och mina intressen, de svarar försiktigt på frågan vad deras intressen är. Sedan fortsätter jag med att förklara varför midnattssol under sommaren i norra Sverige innebär att det på vintern blir perioder utan sol. Eleverna fick gissa hur många soltimmar min hemstad har både under vintern och sommaren, de fick lära sig om Sveriges klimat och kultur, entreprenörskapet som bildat många framgångsrika företag, hur det är att växa upp och studera där och så även om Skandinaviens ursprungsbefolkning Samer.
  I början var många av eleverna väldigt blyga, men ganska snart tar nyfikenheten över och de börjar ställa många intressanta frågor. Det var förvånande hur mycket de redan visste och hur detaljerade frågorna var. Efter presentationen fick de hålla sina egna presentationer på engelska. De berättade om många olika aspekter i den japanska kulturen, alla väldigt intressanta, så som ramen, badande apor, anime och mycket mer.

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• March 19, 2013

  2013 Visiting Kofu Higashi High School Report ３

  

  Three month ago, me and three other friends from Tokyo University got the opportunity to visit a Japanese high school in yamanashi prefecture. The School is called Kofu Higashi high school and is located 1-2 hours by train from Tokyo. Each of us was to present ourselves and our country. We were two from Sweden, one from Greek and one from France. My job was to introduce Sweden and my life in Sweden in English to the students. Since there are a lot of students in that school, each of us had to do the presentation to four different groups that day. So basically, we did the same presentation four times that day, which was a bit tiring.

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• March 19, 2013

  2013 Visiting Kofu Higashi High School Report ２

  

  During my 6-month stay in Japan I had the opportunity to meet wonderful people and experience a culture that is miles apart from what I’ve seen so far in my life. One such opportunity was kindly given to me by Yamazaki sensei and that was the visit to Kofu high school on March 19, 2013. Following a preparation meeting at Todai, three other international students (Anna-Maria, Ola-Kenji, Camille) and I were informed about the program and our tasks: we had to make an English presentation about our countries, interests, background and how we chose to come to Japan –simple in theory, but tricky to get teenagers’ attention in practice. At least I knew I was not going to talk about any scientific or historical matters, except for the Olympic games.
  

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• March 19, 2013

  2013 Visiting Kofu Higashi High School Report １

  

  J'ai commencé chacune de mes classes en me présentant, puis en enseignant aux élèves du français simple afin qu'ils puissent se présenter de même, en français. De cette façon, j'ai pu attirer leur attention, apprendre leur nom et leur montrer à quoi ressemble le français. Après cela, je leur ai montré une carte de la France ainsi que de nombreuses photos de chacune de ses régions et de ses plus célèbres monuments, afin qu'ils aient une idée d'à quoi ressemble la France. Je leur ai aussi présenté la culture française à travers le travail de célèbres artistes, écrivains et scientifiques.
  Après la présentation de mon pays, je suis passé à une présentation personnelle plus approfondie : mon école, mes objets d'étude, mon travail à temps partiel et mes loisirs. Bien qu'ils étaient très timides, les élèves étaient aussi très curieux et m'ont posé beaucoup de questions : où j'avais voyagé, quelles étaient mes endroits préférés, quels étaient les meilleurs plats français, etc. Les élèves avaient aussi préparé des présentations en rapport avec la culture japonaise : origami, o-bon, etc. J'ai passé un très agréable moment avec les étudiants ! J'espère avoir réussi à leur donner envie de voyager à l'étranger et de visiter de nombreux pays, et j'espère vraiment que ce programme Todai-Kofu continuera à l'avenir.

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