The Hiroshima University International Center organized the first and second International Exchange of the Region and the University-Program “Let’s Exchange with Oasa Third Year Junior High School Students; Part 1-2!”

This academic year, The International Center of Hiroshima University plans to hold 4 exchange programs with Oasa junior high school students, international students, and Japanese students from Hiroshima University. It is part of the 2011 Hiroshima University and Society Collaboration Project B-8 and is called “Exchange Project between Junior High School Students in Oasa and Hiroshima University International and Japanese Students”.

At the first “Let’s Exchange with Oasa Third Year Junior High School Students! Part 1”, on July 12th (Tue) at 10 a.m., 34 third-year junior high school students from the Kita-Hiroshima Municipal Oasa Junior High School took a bus and visited Hiroshima University. There the students listened to a trial lesson on “Life's Diversity” held by a researcher of the International Center. Later, they ate curry and rice at the Hiroshima University cafeteria. In the afternoon, they met 4 international and 4 Japanese students of our university and had a campus tour from a student-guide of HU. The junior high school students were surprised to see such a large campus. Some of them said things like: “I’m looking forward to going to university,” “I realized that there are different ways of thinking in other countries,” or “I would like to exchange more often with foreigners”. All in all, they went back to Oasa with many different impressions.

The junior high school students listen to a trial lesson

The junior high school students communicate with international and Japanese university students

During the campus tour, the students got up on the roof of the Administration Bureau Building and received explanations

The second event was held on August 21st (Sun) and was called “Let’s Exchange with Oasa Third Year Junior High School Students! Part 2 – International Exchange and Recycle”.7 international students of Hiroshima University visited the Oasa Junior High School. Unfortunately, that day it was raining, but the international students collected and separated the recyclable garbage of the region together with all of the 78 students of Oasa Junior High School. Later they ate curry and rice made from Oasa products together, and the international students introduced the culture and history of their home countries to the junior high school students and local people. Although the junior high school students were a little nervous, they enjoyed the cross-cultural exchange and said things like: “I learned a lot about many different languages, economies and cultures,” “I hope they will come again,” and “I was surprised about their excellent Japanese”. On the other hand, the international students said: “In our country, we only distinguish between combustible and noncombustible garbage. There is a lot about separation we should imitate in our home country” and “It is great to have environmental education even for children.” They seemed to learn many things about the Japanese education and environment.

Recycling activities

The students communicate during lunch

The international students introduced the culture of their home countries

The next exchange program will be on October 23rd, and the international students will join the Oasa Harvest Festival and enjoy Shinto music and dance numbers and nature-based experiences. On November 22nd, they will take part in the cooperative education performance day of Oasa Junior High School and Oasa Elementary School and plan to exchange with the Oasa students by giving them English lessons or introducing their home country’s culture.

We hope that this exchange program will help the Oasa students to understand various values and be more positive about communication by having contact with foreign cultures. It is our wish that the international students of our university will be able to learn about things like Japanese culture or the environment, which is difficult to teach only in the university classroom, by experiencing cultural exchange with junior high school students and the local population.

【Inquiry】
International Exchange Group, Peace/International Office, Hiroshima University
TEL：082-424-4541
E-mail：kokusai-ryugaku(AT)office.hiroshima-u.ac.jp
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