Students participate in cultural exchange

Thirty-four Japanese students recently flew 5,355 miles across the Pacific Ocean to be welcomed by Samo students in the Japanese language program. The students, from Happy Science Academy Kansai Senior High School near Kyoto, explored American culture by spending time at Samo on Mar. 20 and 21.The students were able to visit because of Japanese teacher Akiko Sato’s previous job at Osaka Sangyo University, a private language school. At the beginning of the school year, Sato met with M-House Principal Elias Miles and Japanese teacher Emily Kariya who immediately supported hosting the exchange students.“While they were here, [the Japanese students] met [Samo] students who were taking Japanese 1-4 and AP classes, and enjoyed a language and cultural exchange during those class hours,” Sato said. “On Friday, they shadowed students from third to sixth period with their [Samo] buddies and visited various classrooms.”According to Japanese 5 AP student Sarah Aldana (’15), the Samo and Japanese students were able to exchange cultures and customs. Samo students learned about Japanese mannerisms in homes and schools, such as taking off shoes at the door and wearing slippers only in certain parts of the house. Meanwhile, the Japanese students learned about American eduacation and culture.“[The Japanese students] got to experience American schooling and the American school schedule,” Aldana said. “I took my buddy to cheer practice and when the team ran our routine — she was really excited to see that.”For Noelle Kumasaka (’15), another shadowed student, meeting with the Japanese students was a learning experience unlike any she has had in the classroom.“I learned that I had to speak slow and clear and that when she spoke, I needed to be a better listener,” Kumasaka said. “[I also learned] that actually speaking the language to a native speaker is much different than learning from a textbook. I mostly tried to speak in Japanese and she would speak English so we would both practice and learn off of each other.”After meeting the exchange  students, Kumasaka not only became a better Japanese speaker, but was inspired to travel the world.“I thought this was a good experience for me,” Kumaska said. “It motivated me to study harder because I really want to be fluent one day and visit Japan.”osherman@thesamohi.com