Japanese Sister School
Nakamura Senior High School Visit 2024
Mentone Girls’ Secondary College and Nakamura Senior High School established a sister-school relationship in 2006. The relationship we have not only supports our language studies but also promotes cultural awareness and an appreciation of each other’s culture. Eighteen students and three teachers from Nakamura Senior High School have visited us, and the time with them has been extremely successful. Both students and staff have commented on how much they have enjoyed Mentone school life and staying with our host families.
At school, the Nakamura students have been attending Year 7-12 Japanese classes. Our Year 7 students enjoyed hearing about lifestyles in Nagoya and learning about Japanese school life. The Nakamura students also gave our students some hands-on experience with calligraphy, origami, and playing with traditional Japanese toys. In VCE classes, MGSC students introduced the Nakamura students to some Aussie snacks. It was a great opportunity for our students to practise the language they have been learning over the previous years and their conversations were truly authentic. Years 9, 10 and 11 students also took the opportunity to interact in Japanese, and Year 12 students made the most of their time together to strengthen their spoken Japanese and focus discussion around the topics they have each chosen for their final detailed study assessment.
At the College Assembly on Tuesday, Stella Cameron (Year 11) has done herself proud when she welcomed and introduced our guests in Japanese, and to commemorate their 8th visit, an exchange of gifts took place. Toda Sensei (the teacher leading the tour) presented our College with a traditional clock that has the time of Nagoya City. The Nakamura students then entertained us by doing their version of an Anime dance.
Over the weekend, our Japanese guests thoroughly enjoyed doing activities with their host families, including experiencing a typical teenage party, a visit to Healesville Sanctuary, shopping, production rehearsals, ACMI. Ikeda Sensei and Takigawa Sensei enjoyed the scenery from Arthur’s Seat.
The highlight of the visit, for me, was seeing the bonds made between the students and the life-long friendships formed in such a short time. The Language teachers and the College greatly appreciate all the families who opened up their homes to host a student or teacher. The Exchange Program owes its success to the generosity and hospitality of so many of our families. Thank you!
Our students are already looking forward to next year when they will have an opportunity to travel to Japan as part of the Japan Tour 2025.
Hatsu Watanabe
Japanese Teacher