Learning language and culture through exchanges

by Michele Sharp, Head of Languages

We recently welcomed Ryoka Tsuda back to Radford College. She was a participant in our Language Department student exchange program last year and was keen to visit the College again. A unique feature of our language exchange and study tour programs is that they provide students the opportunity to contextualise their learning of language and culture by spending time in a sister school and homestay environment.

The Language Department regularly calls on the support of our community to host exchange students and young adults in our Language Assistant program. If you are interested in becoming a host family, please complete the expression of interest at the following link: http://bit.ly/2DX1Dbc It is only through the kind support of families that we are able to offer these enriching learning experiences.

Hello, I’m Ryoka Tsuda. I came from Konko Gakuen High School in Okayama Prefecture. Radford’s sister school in Japan.
The purpose of my visit was to improve my English conversation as in the future I wish to become an interpreter.
In Radford I participated in classes and helped in Japanese classes with Mrs Fitzpatrick. I helped with Year 7 and Year 11 classes. Now, I understand how very difficult teaching is.
On the weekend I went to play and go out to eat with my host brother Oscar Wilson and several of his friends. I made a lot of new friends and made many memories.
I’m glad I could come to Radford College for 2 weeks, which turned out to be a short while. I had a great time. Thank you very much!

-- Ryoka Tsuda

From the 29th of July to the 13th of August I hosted Ryoka Tsuda from Radford’s Japanese sister school Konko Gakuen. I had hosted her last year as part of the Year 10 Japanese exchange program. She is from our sister school, Konko Gakuen. It was great to have her come back to Radford. She was able to participate in classes during the day, and after school and on weekends we were able to do fun activities like bowling and ice-skating. It was much easier to have her stay this time as we already built a relationship from her previous stay. I would suggest to all present and future Year 10’s to host your exchanges again if given the opportunity as it is a great chance to reconnect and build your language skills further.

-- Oscar Wilson Year 11

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