At AMICUS Elementary School, we provide support to students whose first language is not Japanese through our JSL (Japanese as a Second Language) classes, helping them develop their Japanese language skills.

Recently, we held the third
“Tsuken Elementary & Junior High School × AMICUS Elementary School JSL Class Exchange.”
This time marked our very first in-person exchange!
Friends from Tsuken Island, who had previously joined us online, finally visited AMICUS Elementary School in person.

We began with a short school tour before heading to the JSL classroom.
AMICUS students greeted their guests in Japanese, while students from Tsuken Elementary and Junior High School introduced themselves in English.
Although a little shy at first, the children were clearly excited to meet face to face and enjoyed getting to know one another again.

Our first activity was “Rock–Paper–Scissors Train!”
The students looked a bit nervous at the beginning, but it turned out to be a great icebreaker, and smiles quickly spread throughout the room.

Next came “Sugoroku”, a traditional Japanese board game.
Students from both schools were mixed into groups and played using a teacher-created board that imagined the journey from AMICUS to Tsuken Island.
Each square included local landmarks and fun questions from both communities, giving students a wonderful opportunity to learn more about each other’s cultures and daily lives.

Throughout the activities, the children supported one another as they communicated, and with each exchange, their language skills and self-expression continue to grow.

At the end, we heard comments like, “Is it already time to go?” and “I want to meet again soon,” as the students said goodbye reluctantly.

This in-person exchange once again became a memorable experience for the children, and we are already looking forward to the next one.✨