TEACHER EXCHANGE JAPAN

INTERNATIONAL TEACHER EXCHANGE IN JAPAN

During the recent school holidays, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in a teacher exchange program in Japan through the Australian Education Union (AEU) and the Shizuoka Education Union.

As part of the exchange, I stayed with a local host family and visited their primary school, providing a unique insight into Japanese culture and education. It was fascinating to experience daily life from a local perspective and observe the strong sense of community within Japanese schools.

The exchange also included an educational conference where teachers from Australia and Japan shared ideas and discussed common challenges facing schools. Topics included student attendance, truancy, student wellbeing and the increasing use of technology in education. It was valuable to learn about different approaches and consider how schools in both countries are responding to similar issues.

One of the most interesting aspects of the visit was learning about the structure of the Japanese school day. Students begin school at 8:00 am and have their first meal break at midday. School lunches are prepared on-site, and students take responsibility for serving meals to their classmates, helping to develop independence and a sense of responsibility. The school day concludes at 3:00 pm, with many students then participating in extracurricular clubs and activities.

Outside of the educational program, I was fortunate to visit several iconic Japanese cities, including Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Each city offered its own unique blend of history, culture and innovation, making the experience both professionally enriching and personally memorable.

The exchange provided a wonderful opportunity to build international connections, gain fresh perspectives on education and bring new ideas back to our school community. I am grateful for the experience and look forward to sharing some of these insights with students and colleagues.

Emma Turner