【Practicing a long-term curriculum that incorporates international exchange into the classroom】

This is Sato from LTG English School! This time I would like to share with you an activity I conducted at Kitami Fuji High School in Japan, where I work as a teacher, to incorporate online international exchange into the classroom throughout the year.

(For more information about LTG Sato's background, please click here.)

【From "learning" to "teaching" as a teacher (Sensei)】

For about two years, the high school where I work has been holding a short-term "Online International Exchange Event" utilizing the devices (iPads) that each student has and the Wifi environment installed throughout the school building.

In this short-term "Online International Exchange Event" last year, Japanese high school students had a one-month opportunity to have a one-on-one English conversation with a native teacher (online), interact with other high school students of the same generation (about 30 students in total), and finally, the students themselves became teachers and taught "Japanese" to the children from overseas.

The students' faces were full of confident smiles as they experienced being called "Sensei," or teacher, by children of their own age from overseas who listened to their explanations with sparkling eyes.

It was a moment when we saw a new form of international exchange hat is possible in these times of COVID-19.

【From a one-off event to a long-term curriculum incorporating international exchange】

Through such efforts, this year we are working with a high school in Baguio City (Philippines) to realize a "PBL - Project Based Learning" class that weaves international exchange into the curriculum throughout the year.

Specifically, we are promoting a "Tomodachi Session" in which students work in groups toward a common theme and conduct research as a collaborative learning experience with Filipino students.

＜Features of Tomodachi Session＞

1. Not just "learning English" but "learning in English
2. Not only English conversation, but also research, group study, and other cross-disciplinary learning.
3. Not only learning from people from overseas, but also teaching Japanese language and culture as a Japanese teacher.

【Tomodachi Session#1 - Tour Guide -】

The first session of the "Tomodachi Session," in which we became tour guides and introduced each other's cities, was recently completed.

In this two-month project, we started by introducing ourselves to each other. We then interviewed each other about like what we would like to see if we came to the countries, what we would like to do there and so on and made a presentation for the tour guide.

＜Learning English is not the goal＞

In preparation for the presentation, each group, consisting of one Japanese and three Filipino students, had to communicate in English, and although they struggled at first, they tried to communicate and understand what others wanted to say.

On the day of the presentation, the students seemed very nervous, but after each presentation, they expressed their relief and joy at the feedback and reactions they received from the Filipino students.

【Toward a more cross-disciplinary learning program】

The most effective point of the "Tomodachi Session" for students is not only "being able to talk with people from other countries.

Students can also learn the elements of "how to make presentations," "how to use ICT equipment," and "how to discuss (debate)" in parallel.

On the other hand, there may be those who think, "Isn't it too much of a burden? " or "It's too much work…?"

However, they showed a respect to Japanese students' work and tried to understand what they were trying hard to say".

【Utilizing Google Chrome】

This Tomodachi Session will be a more advanced and intensive collaborative learning experience.

Since this is not a "connected via Zoom and talk and done" activity, but this is more like a collaborative effort by students from different countries to create something, a highly synchronized communication tool/application or equivalent is needed.

Therefore, Sato currently believes that "Google Chrome" would be very effective.

Multiple people can edit a single document or sheet at the same time, and comments can be left, providing an environment suitable for this program.

We will be preparing for the start of the second "Tomodachi Session #2".

【Creating "One Classroom" Even Online】

Friendships were formed between Japanese and Filipino students through this program, and some Filipino students were asked questions from Japanese students in "Tomodachi Session" almost every time.

The Filipino student became the focal point of the group, bringing smiles to both Japanese and Filipino students and creating an atmosphere in which everyone seemed to be in one classroom.

This project provided a wonderful environment for Filipino students who wanted to learn Japanese and talk with Japanese people. It was a meaningful "international exchange" where we were able to learn from each other.

It is precisely because we are now unable to go abroad due to Corona, we would like to continue to create programs that can serve as models for various international exchanges even after Corona.

【More about us (LTG ENGLISH ACADEMY)】

At LTG English conversation classes, we first familiarize students with English and eliminate their resistance to "speaking English" with the goal of learning "English that can actually be used."

For more information about LTG English School, please click here.