Times Advocate, 1994-06-29, Page 28Page 28 Times -Advocate, June 29, 1994
Japanese culture comes to
the classroom in Hensall
Visiting teacher helps students learn about Japan
By Catherine O'Brien
T -A staff
HENSALL - Anyone visiting
Hensall Public School recently
might have been a bit surprised to
hear students greeting each other in
Japanese.
But it was all part of internship
program that the school was taking
part in.
For the past two months visiting
Japanese teacher Makiko Hirata has
been helping students learn about
different world cultures.
Hirata has visited classrooms, not
only in Hensall, but other schools
in the area, helping students learn
about Japanese culture and food as
well as team Japanese words and
spelling.
"I wanted to learn English," Hir-
ata said of her reason for taking
part in the Japanese School Intern-
ship Piograrn. The Japanese set up
the internship program in 1979 and
has sponsored several thousand
professional exchanges between Ja-
pan and other countries including
Canada, the United States, Aus-
tralia, New Zealand, Great Britain
just to name a few.
After retiring from teaching, Hir-
ata finally had the time to con-
centrate on learning English.
This is her first time to Canada
although she has travelled to the
United States and Australia with
similar programs.
Since arriving in the country in
March, Hirata has been staying
with Hensall teacher Doris Becker
at her home in Grand Bend. Dur-
ing the day Hirata helps out the
school wherever possible.
For the students, Becker says,
they get a kick out of doing Jap-
anese crafts - especially oragami.
"They also enjoy the quizzes on
Japanese culture," Becker said.
Although language is a bit of a When talking about education
barrier, Becker said communication Hirata said she likes the way the
hasn't been too much of a problem- students here are encouraged to
As well, Hirata has had to cope think things out and explore ideas,
with the difference in weather con- 'not just memorize facts.'
ditions and population. The former high school teacher
Her fust reaction to the country also said in Japan children in ek-
was, "it's so colo and there's no mentary , schools can't wear ear-
rings. And they go to school sit
Hirata has also noticed difference days a week - although Saturday is
in the school systems. a half day.
people.
Although Hirata is &caving for
home in July, she said she enjoyed
her stay in Canada and riot only
brushed up on English. but earned
bit about our culture.
"k's riot enough to study about
other people, but to communicate
with them in order to understand
their culture," she said.
Visiting teacher Makiko Hirata helps students at Hensall Public School make origami.
•
HC Library sponsors
summer reading program
GODERICH - The official arri-
val of summer signals the begin-
ning of the Huron County Library
Summer Reading Program.
The 1994 program will be con-
tinuing
oo-tinuing with last summer's suc-
cessful theme 'Trade Up" to the
Book Leagues."
To fit in with our sports theme
various branches will award chil-
dren with Author Trading Cards
when they read a certain number~,
of books.
Similar to baseball cards, au-
thor cards contain the author's
photograph, vital statistics and a
list of his or her most recent
hits '.
Some branches will also have
special draws for prizes.
Traci Tryon, the Program Co-
ordinator, will visit the branches
several times throughout the sum-
mer for one hour programs
packed hull of stories. gam.
sodas. a.d crafts.
ibis program is sponsored by
the Hums County Library and
the 1994 Challenge Sumner Em-
ployments Experience
through the Department of Em-
ployment ape Immigration Cana-
da.
You don't have to be a sports
fanatic to be involved_
All children ages 5 to 12 are in-
vited to participated at Exeter
Branch Library, Monday July 4
to August 15, 2 p.m_. Centralia
Branch Library, Tuesday July 26,
2:30 p.m. Hensall Branch Li-
brary. Thursday July 7 to 21, Au-
gust 4 & 11, 7 p.m. Kirkton
Branch Library, Tuesday July 5
and 19, August 9 and 16.4 p.m.
Visit your local public library
for more details.
•
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