At the end of summer vacation, 31 children spent two days with international host families living in Okinawa.
In collaboration with HelloWorld, American Engineering Corporation (AEC) supports a homestay-style international exchange program that gives children in Okinawa the opportunity to stay with international host families.
The second “Machinaka Study Abroad sponsored by AEC” program brought together 31 elementary and junior high school students from across Okinawa.
From “Nice to Meet You” to New Connections
At the Welcome Ceremony, the children met their host families for the first time.
Although some appeared nervous at first, smiles gradually spread across the room as the children and host families began talking with one another.
Each child had a different reason for participating.
Some joined because they wanted to use English more. Others hoped to become more comfortable with English.
Although they were taking part in the same program, each child had a different reason for being there.
After the ceremony, the children headed to their respective host families.
Over their one-night, two-day stay, they communicated in English and experienced cultures and customs different from their own.
Two days later, they returned with smiles on their faces.
Differences in Access to Experiences
Experiencing cultures from around the world.
Speaking in English with people from different cultural backgrounds.
Spending time with people outside one’s usual social circle.
These are experiences that can be difficult to encounter in everyday life in Japan.
At the same time, children’s access to such opportunities can vary depending on factors such as their family’s financial circumstances and living environment.
One way to reduce these differences—sometimes referred to as the “experience gap”—is to create more opportunities for children to encounter something new close to home, rather than limiting such experiences to overseas travel.
As a company that supports local communities through its business, AEC also considers what kinds of opportunities we can provide to the next generation growing up in those communities.
Supporting the “Machinaka Study Abroad Fund sponsored by AEC” is one such initiative.
Without leaving Okinawa, children can meet people from different cultural backgrounds, use English, and encounter different cultures and perspectives.
Together with HelloWorld, we are helping create opportunities for children to have experiences like these.
What Lies Beyond These Two Days
During their time with their host families, the children not only communicated in English but also encountered differences in everyday cultures and customs.
Unlike learning English in a classroom, this experience gave them the opportunity to speak with others, express themselves, and make an effort to understand the people they met.
What each child felt and discovered through the experience will undoubtedly be different.
Using English for the first time.
Discovering a new culture.
Meeting someone new.
We hope that each experience from these two days will become an opportunity for the children to try something new in the future.
AEC will continue to value its connections with the communities where we operate while exploring ways to provide the next generation with opportunities to encounter new experiences and take on new challenges.
■Featured on Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting (QAB).
県内の小中学生が外国人の家庭へ 英語で交流「まちなか留学」スタート – QAB NEWS Headline
