BST Secondary students and Showa Elementary students making udon noodles. BRITISH SCHOOL IN TOKYO
Beyond the British School in Tokyo’s (BST’s) immediate community of parents, teachers, and students, there are the two neighbouring Japanese school communities with which the school shares facilities. In Shibuya they share with SKG School and the Showa campus is actually within the grounds of Showa Women’s University.
Fostering links with both schools enriches the learning experience of BST students in many ways beyond the curriculum, with language and cultural exchanges organized throughout the year.
In October, Year 7 students visited Showa Elementary School and after breaking the ice with a Pictionary game, moved straight onto asking questions in Japanese. It was a great chance for them to practise their Japanese in a fun setting. One of the highlights this school year was the secondary school students’ visit to Showa High School where they made and ate their own udon noodles! It was great fun and everyone enjoyed practising their Japanese and English. In January, Year 4 students visited the Elementary School to introduce themselves and participate in classroom activities before inviting the Showa students back to BST to spend the afternoon in an English classroom.
In February and March each year, BST and Showa Elementary students participate in a home stay program during which the students spend a weekend in each other’s homes. It is always a great opportunity to learn about each other and make new friends.
It’s not just the students who do exchanges though. In January, science teachers from Showa Junior and High School watched a Year 10 practical science class and discussed with students and teachers the differences in the way that science is taught between the schools. It was most interesting and more exchanges are planned before the end of the school year in June. — NANCY JENKINS
