The College was delighted to welcome a cohort from one of our Japanese sister schools, Takayama Junior High School. This year saw 18 students involved in the program and their enthusiasm and joy in visiting Australia was vast.

Takayama students had an opportunity to interact with Year 9 and 10 elective Japanese students, beginning with an orientation tour of the College, using online dictionaries to guide their Japanese explanations of our facilities. The group attended the Senior School Assembly next, with Samarth Prasad from Year 10 welcoming the group with a speech in Japanese. Mrs Easton also welcomed Takayama and gifts were exchanged between the two schools.

The elective class students had many opportunities to engage in Japanese. A photo scavenger hunt and a find someone who activity, kept both Japanese and Australian students busily communicating in both languages. Recess and lunch were spent eating, playing table tennis and interacting with students from the Senior School. Much fun and laughter ensued with a match the Takayama to their profile and finally an Australia and Japan trivia competition.

The Takayama students enjoyed homestays with some of our College families visiting the Blue Mountains, Sydney Harbour, Luna Park and The Rocks. Many of the students commented on enjoying a BBQ meal during their stay and how much they enjoyed it. The Takayama teachers, meanwhile, visited Katoomba to see The Three Sisters and ride the Scenic Railway, but due to the inclement weather, could not see very much. They also spent a day touring around Sydney City, walking over the Harbour Bridge, visiting Mrs Macquarie’s Chair and the Opera House.

The final activity with the College was a trip to Sydney Zoo. Students saw an array of Australian animals, as well as some from around the world. The Bungarribee Workshop allowed students to hear from two Indigenous Australians and learn a bit about Indigenous culture and language. The students enjoyed hearing about the hunting weapons of the men, the gathering implements used by the women and didgeridoo sounds of Australian animal sounds. They then learned some Indigenous weaving techniques, creating a small piece to take home with them.

Finally, we farewelled the group as they then embarked on a tour of the city of Sydney before flying back to Japan.

Mrs Fiona Byrne
Languages Coordinator