交換留学生の帰国 Exchange students return home
ドイツ、ブラジル、スウェーデンからの留学生３名が１０か月の交換留学期間を終え、帰国しました。３人は高校1年の２学期より本校で学び、ほぼすべての授業に参加しながら、週に４時間日本語の授業を履修しました。さらに、サイエンスクラスでの探究活動の成果を堪能な英語で発表するなど、多くの生徒にとって大変良い刺激をもたらしてくれました。この間、本校生徒のホストファミリーに大変お世話になりました。ホストシスターとなった生徒は留学生との英語でのコミュニケーションと文化交流を通して、語学力の向上はもちろんのこと、友人のような、また家族のようなかけがえのない関係を築くことができたと話していました。
最終登校日の週の全校朝礼では流暢な日本語でお別れの挨拶をし、昼休みには全校生徒に向けてプレゼンテーションを行いました。留学期間の集大成であるプレゼンテーションのために、日本語の授業担当の教員と何度も練習を重ねました。当日は緊張の面持ちでしたが、本番は堂々と発表を行い、終了後には山脇を旅立つ寂しさのあまり涙を流す場面もありました。３人のプレゼンテーションには、山脇学園で関わったすべての人たちへの感謝の気持ちがあふれていました。
その後校長室で執り行われた修了式では、学校長より修了証が授与されました。
帰国前、彼女たちが「語学上達の一番の近道は、友達を作ること」と言っていたことが印象的です。「日本に来たばかりでまだうまく日本語を話せなかった頃、山脇の友達が諦めずにたくさん話しかけてくれたから、『早く日本語が話せるようになりたい』と思って頑張れた。」という彼女たちの言葉から、山脇生の温かさと留学生との心のつながりを感じました。山脇生もまた校内で様々なことに挑戦し頑張る留学生たちの姿を見て、背中を押されたことでしょう。言葉や文化の垣根を越えたかけがえのない友人ができたことは、山脇生にとっても留学生にとっても生涯の財産になることと思います。
Three international students from Germany, Brazil, and Sweden have returned to their home countries after completing a 10-month exchange program. They had been studying at our school since the second semester of their first year of high school, attending most classes and taking 4 hours of Japanese language classes per week. In addition, they presented the results of their science class exploration activities in fluent English, which was very stimulating for many of our students. We would like to thank the host families of our students for their great hospitality during that time. The students who hosted said that through cultural exchange in English, they not only improved their language skills, but also developed a deep relationship, like friends and family.
During their last week of school, they gave a farewell speech in fluent Japanese at the school assembly and also gave a presentation to the whole school. Their presentations were successful due to their efforts practicing many times with their Japanese teachers. The international students shared their deep gratitude with everyone at Yamawaki Gakuen.
At the completion ceremony held in the principal’s office, the three students received certificates directly from our school principal.
Before returning to their home countries, I was impressed to hear from the international students the following: “The best way to improve your language skills is to make friends. When I first came to Japan and couldn’t speak Japanese well, my new friends at Yamawaki never gave up on me and spoke to me a lot. Thanks to this, I could work hard because I wanted to communicate in Japanese with them as soon as possible.” I felt the warmth of the Yamawaki students and their deep connection with the international students. I am sure that our students were also encouraged by the efforts of the international students who were trying their best at our school. I am sure that the invaluable friendships they made through language and cultural barriers will be lifelong assets.