The International Exchange Programme 2020 Getting to Know Japan through TOHO High School

This year’s International Exchange Program was organised by the ELC Ambassadors Club on 10 November 2020. It was purposed to propel students towards acceptance and understanding of an array of different cultural and community perspectives. Though the recent pandemic has discontinued many school activities, it did not stop our students from connecting themselves with the students from Toho High School in Nagoya, Japan. 

The first ever online International Exchange Programme was hosted by Emily Wong Wei Lyn (J3 Wellington) and Yong Kai Seng (J3 Chicago). A total of 49 students from Hin Hua High School and 11 students from Toho High School participated in the programme. Mdm Boo, Vice-Principal and Head of ELC, and Mr Yasunori Ito, Manager of International Department, Toho High School, graced the event by sharing their utmost gratitude and honour to meet each other via Google Meet during these unprecedented times. 

Prior to meeting each other online, 8 groups of Hin Hua students were formed and tasked to film a video of their interests to showcase Malaysia. Many of the participants showed their interests in Malaysian cuisines such as Nasi Lemak, Nyonya desserts, Bah Kut Teh, and many more. Other groups recorded their learning experience during the pandemic, Malaysia heritage sites, Manglish, and the daily life of a Hin Hua student. The Toho students, on the other hand, filmed their school which provided great insights into Toho and Japanese cultures.

The students from Toho and Hin Hua spent a lovely afternoon chit-chatting, asking questions and sharing their interests with one another. Although there were some technical difficulties at the beginning, it went smoothly afterwards.  They took turns to talk about their videos and they were very enthusiastic to get to know one another. At the end of the session, they even exchanged their social media accounts in order to keep in touch in the near future.

This unconventional event has given our students some thoughts to share:

The pandemic is worrying and the uncertainty of the Internet in one’s home is probably the biggest challenge in organising this kind of event. However, this international exchange programme has brought two worlds closer together. The students, teachers and organisers of the event were very happy with how it turned out and this method of exchanging is definitely a blessing in disguise in exposing students to the power of the Internet. As Confucius once said, “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”