Nantou Prefecture Shuangdong Elementary School
School Profile
| School Name | Graham-Kapowsin High School |
|---|---|
| Location | United States |
| Number of Participants | 8 people (7 students, 1 instructor) |
| Age of Students | 16 years old |
| Main Purpose of Exchange | Language learning International exchange |
School Exchange Partner
| School Name | Kobesuzurandai High School |
|---|---|
| Location | Hyogo |
| Website | https://dmzcms.hyogo-c.ed.jp/kobesuzuran-hs/NC3/ |
| Number of Participants | 42 people (39 students, 3 instructors) |
| Age of Students | 16 years old |
Online Exchange Details
| Date & Time | 3rd June in 2022 |
|---|---|
| Program | Cultural Exchanges / Recent Status Report |
| Tools used | Zoom |
location_cityFlow of the Day（JST）
| 8：50～9：10 |
Mutual self-introduction |
|---|---|
| 9：10～9：20 |
Introduction of favorite anime/singers |
| 9：20～9：40 |
Exchange information on apps and social media |
Thoughts from Faculty and Students
faceThoughts from Faculty
-
Online exchange is a wonderful activity that I would like to actively continue in the future.
Instructor at Kobesuzurandai High School:
This was my first time participating in an online international exchange, and I found it to be a new and innovative educational tool that allowed for easy real-time conversation. Although nothing beats an in-person exchange, considering the cost and ease of implementation, online exchange is a wonderful activity that I would like to actively continue in the future. It was a first-time experience for the students, but with the help of the students at Kapowsin High School, they were able to truly experience the joy and necessity of learning English through communication and empathy.
face_6 Reviews from Students
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What made me happiest was the fact that the students from overseas shared my interests.
Student at Kobesuzurandai High School:
Before the online international exchange, I was worried that I would not do well, but I impressed myself by the fact that my English was actually understood by the overseas students and they responded to it. What made me happiest was the fact that the students from overseas shared my interests. I felt that I need to further improve my English communication skills so that I can talk about even more topics the next time I have the opportunity for international exchange. -
I should get to know my own country, Japan, better so that I can spread the charm of Japanese anime to the world.
Student at Kobesuzurandai High School:
The students from the partner school seemed to have very good reactions. They were saying things like 'Good!' and 'Nice!' which kept the conversation flowing well. I would like to be able to use these quick responses smoothly in my conversations too. I also learned that many Americans are interested in Japanese anime. I felt I should get to know my own country, Japan, better so that I can spread the charm of Japanese anime to the world.
Leadup to Exchange (Japanese side)
| Details behind the process involved in making the online exchange happen | ・Participated in "FY2021 Seminar/Individual Consultation for Educational Travel to Japan" hosted by JNTO with 5 prefectures in Kansai. (10th Dec in 2021) ・After sending an e-mail to the U.S. participants thanking them and confirming their interest in the exchange, we were informed that they were interested in the online exchange and held a Zoom meeting with the representative to provide examples and details (Jan in 2022) |
|---|---|
| Advance Preparation (Faculty) | Meetings (via e-mail and online) with teachers from the partner school to determine the date, time, participating students, and theme of the exchange, as well as to confirm connections and breakout room groupings prior to the exchange. |
| Advance Preparation (Students) | Creation of name cards for self-introductions, props and questions to be used during the exchange, and display of welcome banners, etc. |
| Advance Preparation (Local Government Contact Person) | Online meetings with the partner school, checking on the progress of the preparation of exchange events in both Japan and the U.S. as needed, and providing support on how to implement the events, etc. |
| Role of the contact person at the local government | ・Support and follow-up to ensure a meaningful exchange event by connecting the two schools (Japan/U.S.) online. ・Provision of souvenirs Banners, commemorative school nameplates, souvenirs related to Hyogo Prefecture, and the mascot "Habatan" (for the number of students from the partner school) |
| When they reached out to the exchange school | 21st January in 2022 |
| When they engaged in meeting with the school | 9th February in 2022 |
| When the date for the exchange was finalized | 25th February in 2022 |
Future Areas of Improvement/Secrets to Success (Japanese side)
faceTeacher
Since the exchange was sometimes interrupted due to Internet delays, etc., we feel the need to improve the Internet environment. Also, there were times when it was difficult to hear due to the voices of other people close by.
face_4Local Government Contact Person
Online meetings to fully share information and confirm intentions will help foster good relationships between the participating schools.
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