Riverwood Language Students Travel To Japan

SANDY SPRINGS, GA - Riverwood International Charter School: Five students and one teacher from Riverwood International Charter School traveled to Japan in June 2017 for a two-week language and culture immersion experience. Jordan Allen, Celine Al-Noubani, Robert Breeser, Holly Hunsaker, Jose Portillo, and Holly Hunsaker, all Japanese language students at Riverwood, flew to Tokyo to start their summer adventure. In Tokyo, they visited museums and palaces, tasted Japanese cuisine, and shopped. One of the most impressive sights was from the top of the Tokyo Skytree, the tallest structure in Japan. While in Tokyo, the students stayed at the National Olympic Youth Center.

The students then traveled to nearby Shizuoka Prefecture to begin their home stay program, attending Inatori High School and experiencing Japanese day-to- day and family life. In addition to attending classes, the students learned about Japanese flower arranging, calligraphy, and martial arts, and volunteered at a preschool. They aided their host families with cooking and other daily routines, and accompanied host “siblings” to classes and activities. After the weeklong home stays, the Riverwood students boarded the Shinkansen (“bullet train”) to Kyoto, where they visited temples, shrines, museums, and other sites.

Riverwood Japanese language and International Baccalaureate (IB) teacher Dr. Azusa Callaway noted, “In the classroom, I try to provide authentic contexts for my students to practice Japanese skills and increase knowledge of Japanese culture. However, it is difficult for them to connect what they learn in class with Japan since they don't have many occasions to interact with Japanese people in Atlanta. Travelling to Japan is an invaluable opportunity for my students to interact with real people, see real things, and experience daily life. They have acquired a cultural awareness and understanding they cannot get here at home.”

Jordan Allen, a 10th grade student in Honors Japanese at Riverwood, appreciated the cultural differences he experienced in Japan. “When I got to Japan, I noticed the airport was quieter than those in America. The trip opened my eyes to an entirely new perspective about how people treat each other. I loved the culture so much; I didn’t want to leave.”

The students travelled to Japan with Callaway as part of the Laurasian Institute’s New Perspectives: Japan program. In the past year, Riverwood sponsored student travel to Nicaragua, Spain, France, and Japan. In an effort to continue supporting the school's international studies and IB curriculum, Riverwood is in the process of planning additional international trips for the coming year.

Image via Riverwood International Charter School