A Week of Cultural and Educational Activities
The week was meticulously planned to offer a blend of educational experiences and cultural exchanges:
Classroom Integration: Our Japanese friends attended various classes alongside their BPC counterparts, offering mutual insights into each other's educational systems and classroom dynamics.
Student Presentations: The visiting Japanese students gave several presentations to our students across multiple year levels, providing valuable insights into Japanese culture and student life.
Language Exchange Activities: Senior BPC students engaged in Japanese and English speaking activities with our guests, allowing both groups to develop their language skills and deepen cross-cultural understanding.
Wildlife Incursion: Our Nanto High School visitors had a unique Australian experience with a wildlife incursion, where they encountered native animals, including snakes, a wombat and a crocodile!
Buddy Lunch: Japanese students enjoyed recess and lunch times with their BPC buddies, strengthening friendships over shared meals.
Interactive Activities: Year 8 and 9 students had a great time participating in engaging icebreaker games, Jenga, “Would You Rather”, and Uno with the Japanese students.
Catered Lunch in the PAC: A special catered lunch was held in the Performing Arts Centre for both BPC buddies and Nanto students.
Farewell Ceremony: The program concluded with a heartfelt farewell ceremony in the PAC, where students and staff gathered to celebrate the friendships formed. The event featured an interactive Japanese dance performance, leaving everyone with wonderful memories.
Unforgettable Friendships and Lasting Memories
Students from both schools found common ground, shared experiences, and built friendships that transcended language barriers and cultural differences. The emotional farewells on departure day were a testament to the depth of these newfound relationships, with many tears shed and promises to keep in touch.
This exchange has not only enriched our students' global perspectives but has also laid the foundation for future international connections.
A huge thank you to the host families, staff, and volunteers who made this program such a success. Your kindness and support created unforgettable experiences and strengthened the bond between our two schools.
Japanese Student Testimonials
This training program was a week full of firsts for me. It was my first time traveling abroad, my first time being away from home for so long, and my first time doing a homestay. I was filled with anxiety and nervousness. On top of that, I wasn’t very good at speaking English, so I was also worried about whether I would be able to communicate properly. However, my host family welcomed me warmly, and all my worries and nervousness disappeared in an instant.
I attended a local school with my buddy, went to the beach, and went shopping. I was able to see many different landscapes in Australia. The buildings, food, and way of life were all different from what I was used to, and I strongly felt the cultural differences. The food in Australia was very different from what I usually see in Japan, but when I tried it, everything was delicious, making it a great experience. By the end of the program, I had so much fun that I didn’t want to return to Japan.
The local people spoke English much faster than I had expected, and there were many times when I couldn’t catch what they were saying. When talking about difficult topics, I had to rely on translation. I regretted not being able to speak more English and not knowing more vocabulary many times. Through this program, I realized my lack of English skills and was inspired to improve my English after experiencing it firsthand.
This experience made me want to visit many different countries in the future.
オーストラリアで感じたこと しぶや ゆめ
この研修は、私にとって初めてだらけの一週間だった。 海外に行くのも、長い間家を離れる のも、ホームステイをするのも、全部が初めてで不安と緊張でいっぱいだった。 また、 私は英語をはなすのが苦手だったため、うまくコミュニケーションが取れるかも心配だった。だけど、ホス トファミリーが温かく迎え入れてくれて、不安や緊張が一瞬でほどけた。現地の学校にバディと 通ったり、海やショッピングに行ったり、オーストラリアのいろんな景色を見ることができた。オー ストラリアの建物、食べ物、 生活を見て文化の違いをたくさん感じた。オーストラリアの食べ物は 日本ではあまり見ないような食べ物が多かったけど、挑戦してみると美味しいものばかりでとてもいい経験になった。 最後には日本に帰りたくないと思うぐらい楽しい研修になった。 現地の人たちの英語は思っていた何倍も早くて、聞き取れないことも多かったし、 難しい内 容を話すときは翻訳に頼ってしまった。もっと英語をはなせたら、もっと単語力があったらと後 悔することが何度もあった。この研修を通して、自分の英語力の無さに改めて気づかされ。本 場の英語を知って、もっと英語力を身につけたいと思った。今回の経験を活かして、将来いろんな国に行ってみたいと思った。
Through this language exchange program, I was able to have many valuable experiences. During my first homestay, I was very nervous and initially struggled to communicate. However, when my host family told me, "This is your home, so feel free to relax," it gave me the confidence to communicate more with them.
At BPC, I attended math, English, and home economics classes. In math, we studied linear functions. In English, we wrote our own stories, and my buddy showed me theirs. In home economics, we learned about the history and production of cheese.
During lunch, many of my buddy’s friends gathered around me and asked a lot of questions. Luckily, I could understand what they were saying, so we had a great conversation. On my last day at BPC, those friends came to say goodbye and gave me a hug.
When I went out with my host family, they explained many things to me. On the day of my departure, I gave them a thank-you letter. My host mother and father were so moved that they cried. Through this experience, I realized how emotionally expressive people in Australia are. I even saw them react excitedly to small things, like rain or a rainbow.
This made me want to appreciate small moments and cherish every experience. Through this program, I was able to experience a different culture, and it inspired me to visit many countries in the future. To achieve that, I want to work even harder on my English studies.
オーストラリア語学研修を終えての感想 水口あかり
今回の語学研修でたくさんの経験をすることができました。 初めてのホームステイでは、とても緊張して初めはなかなかコミュニケーションをとれませんでした。 しかし、ホストファミリーのみんなが「ここはあなたの家だから自由にしていいのだよ」と言ってくださったのをきっかけにたくさんコミュニケーションをとることができました。 BPCでの授業では数学と英語と家庭科の授業を受けました。 数学では一次関数、 英語では自分で物語を書いていて Buddyのを見せてもらいました。 家庭科の授業ではチーズの歴史や作り方につ いて学びました。 Lunch の時間では Buddyの友達がたくさん集まってきて質問詰めにあったけど何を言っているか分かったので話が盛り上がりました。 BPCの最後の登校の日にはその友達が別れのあいさつに来てくれてハグをしてくれました。 ホストファミリーと出かけた日にはたくさんのものなどを説明してくれました。 ホストファミリーとお別れの日に感謝のお手紙を渡しました。 すると、ホストマザーとホストファザーが泣いてくれました。語学研修を通して、オーストラリアに住む人たちは感情豊かなことに気づきました。雨が降ったり虹がでたりするだけで大きく反応していたこともありました。 私も、小さな 変化に気づき一瞬一瞬を大切にして生きていきたいと思いました。また、今回の研修で異文化に触れることができ、 将来様々な国に行きたいと思いました。 そのため、英語の学習により力を入れて学習していきたいです。
Before leaving Japan, I was filled with anxiety and worries. When I finally arrived in Australia and met my host family, I quickly realized that I couldn’t speak English as well as I had hoped, which was disappointing. At first, all I could say was "Thank you," and I wondered how I would manage in the coming days. However, as I spent more time there, I was surprised to find that I gradually started understanding English naturally.
As I became able to hold conversations in daily life, I started enjoying communicating with my host family and school friends. I even found myself asking questions and expanding conversations on my own. It made me really happy to be able to communicate with people from completely different backgrounds. This experience motivated me to study English even more so that I could talk to people from different countries.
My host family was incredibly kind. They showed me wild kangaroos and koalas, took me to famous sightseeing spots, and let me try traditional Australian dishes. Every day was filled with new experiences. The breathtaking scenery, emotions, and excitement I felt in Australia will forever be unforgettable and precious memories. I feel incredibly grateful to have met such a wonderful family who welcomed me into their home.
Spending about eight days in Australia made me realize how many things I had taken for granted in Japan. It also challenged my own sense of "common knowledge." Just by crossing the ocean, I discovered a completely different world. This made me want to explore even more countries and broaden my perspectives.
I am deeply grateful to my parents, teachers, host family, and everyone who made this incredible experience possible. Choosing the international studies course was truly the right decision, and I feel so glad I did.
オーストラリア研修旅行を終えて 小西真央
日本を出発する前、 不安や心配事ばかりだった。 そしていざオーストラリアに着いてホストファミリーと会って英語を話してみたら思っていたより自分が話せないことにがっかりした。 Thank youしか言えなくてこれからどうしようと思っていたけど、1日1日と過ごしていく中で、 自然と英語が聞き取れるようになっていく自分に驚いた。日常会話もできるようになってホストファミリーや学校の友達とコミュニケーションをとることが楽しくなって自分から質問したり会話を広げたりすることができるようになっていった。 生まれた国も育ってきた環境も違う人とコミュニケーションをとれているのが本当に嬉しかったし、もっと英語を勉強して様々な国の人と話をしてみたいと思うようになった。またホストファミリーが本当に優しい人たちで、野生のカンガルーやコアラを見せてくれたり、有名な観光地に連れて行ってくれたり、オーストラリアの伝統的なご飯を食べさせてくれたり毎日色んな経験をさせてくれた。オーストラリアで見た景色や感情や感動はこれから先決して忘れられない大切な思い出になるのだろうなと思った。こんな素敵な家族と出会えたこと、私をホームステイに受け入れてくれたことに感謝してもしきれない。約8日間オーストラリアで過ごしてみて、今まで日本で育ってきた私にとって当たり前だったこと、自分のなかでの常識が覆された。少し海を渡るだけでこんなにも世界は変わるものなのか、もっと色んな世界を渡って自分の視野や世界の見方を変えていきたいと思った。こんな貴重な経験をさせてくれた両親や先生やホストファミリーや沢山の人に感謝したいし、国際科を選んで良かったなと心から思った。