学園ブログ

Our Hearts Will Go On (J3 homestay program)

Thank you for taking a moment to read our blog posts from Canada. All the students came home safe and sound, so this is the last post from our journey.  The following is from the students’ journals about the final lesson and the closing ceremony.

‘Today was the last day in Canada.  I love this English class, so I was very sad.  I decided to study English hard.  Then in the future, I want to meet my classmates (buddies) again.’

‘We were so busy at the closing ceremony. I thought the telephone game would be easy. However, it wasn’t. It was so difficult.  It’s because we don’t know many English words, so we couldn’t pronounce them well.  I want to talk in clear English, so I have to study English a lot.  If I have chances to visit other countries, I want to talk a lot and well, so I need to study English more.’

‘When I think of what I had done so far, I was not used to communicating in English at the beginning and it was very difficult. At the end, however, I thought it was good to be in Canada.  At the closing ceremony, I was sad to part from buddies and I cried.  I really want to see them when they come to Japan.’

‘Two weeks were not enough.  Erica and Stefanny gave me presents and letters.  Then I was about to cry.’

The students gathered at the Study Center one last time, but only to get on the bus to the airport. Host parents drove them and gave them big hugs. Some buddies also showed up and waved their hands till we saw them no more.

‘Not only my host mother but also sisters came to the school to see me off.  Thank you.  Our buddies also came.  Thank you so much.  I was almost crying.’

The girls were all in awe of the kindness and warmth of the local people, appreciating how patiently they listened and tried to understand them. They are now motivated all the more to study harder.

カナダでのホームステイ・プログラムは無事昨夕成田空港まで戻り解散式を行いました。ブログでは研修所での最終日に行われた閉会式と出発間際のお別れの様子を写真と生徒の日記でご紹介しました。2週間をともにしたバディーたちとホスト・ファミリーを招いての閉会式では準備したクイズやゲームの出し物のあと、研修のクラスを担当した2人の先生から全員に修了証書が手渡されました。生徒たちは学習を助けてくれたバディーたちから証書の裏に寄せ書きをしてもらい、いつまでも別れを惜しんでいました。閉会式ではバディーの1人が作ってくれた研修中のスライド・ショーのサプライズもありました。

生徒は異口同音に、出会った人々の温かさに感銘を受けたことを報告してくれました。あっという間の2週間でしたが、この2週間の体験は生徒たちの心に深く刻まれ、これからいろんな場面で考え行動するヒントを与え続けてくれることでしょう。

(引率 富田・田中)