In the 2011 academic year, the International Center of Hiroshima University held 4 exchange programs with Oasa junior high school students, international students, and Japanese students from Hiroshima University. It was part of the 2011 Hiroshima University and Society Collaboration Project B-8 “Exchange Project between Junior High School Students in Oasa and Hiroshima University International and Japanese Students”. From there, exchange has continued and this academic year HU has already held two events.



At the first “Let’s Exchange with Oasa Third Year Junior High School Students; Part 5” on July 11 (Wed), 17 junior high school students from Oasa Junior High School visited Hiroshima University. In the morning, they listened to a mini-lecture by Institute of Engineering Professor Toru Yamamoto. After having lunch in the university cafeteria, they gave a well-rehearsed report on the culture of Oasa to the (2 international and 3 Japanese) students. Then they went on the Campus Tour together with international students.



The second event was held on November 15 (Thu); “Let’s Exchange with Oasa Third Year Junior High School Students; Part 6 ～English Lesson and Cultural Exchange～”. 4 international and 4 Japanese students from Hiroshima University visited Oasa Junior High School. The opening ceremony was held in the morning, and then the students took part in first and second grade English lessons and enjoyed getting to know each other by answering students’ questions and introducing themselves in English. After lunch, they participated in the third year students’ English class with English conversation and games together. The international students who visited a Japanese junior high school for the first time said that they were impressed how hard the junior high students try to speak in English even though they are very shy, and that it was admirable that they had their own opinions.

We hope that this exchange program will help Oasa students 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 and 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.

Part5:The junior high school students introducing Oasa culture in English	Part6：A group photo
Part6:International students introducing themselves	Part6: Answering to questions during the English lesson

【Inquiries】

International Exchange Group,

Education and International Office,

Hiroshima University

E-mail: kokusai-ryugaku(AT)office.hiroshima-u.ac.jp (Please replace (AT) with @)