By Ms Lisa Bourne, Languages Teacher

As part of their BSSS Society and Community unit on Travel and Tourism, Year 11 Japanese students heard from a guest speaker from the Australian National University (ANU), Mr Takuya Kojima. Mr Kojima, a respected academic with a deep understanding of contemporary Japanese society and culture, delivered an engaging and thought-provoking presentation that offered students insights into current trends and challenges in Japanese tourism.

The session was not only relevant to the unit's themes but also highly beneficial for language development. Mr Kojima skilfully incorporated the vocabulary and grammatical structures the students had been learning throughout the year, reinforcing their classroom learning in a real-world context. The students were given a comprehensive overview of the shifting dynamics within Japan's tourism industry, from the impact of over-tourism in cities like Kyoto, to the recent rise in interest in rural and sustainable travel options.

Students gained a deeper appreciation for how societal issues intersect with language and culture and found the session to be both inspiring and informative, prompting thoughtful discussions and reflections afterwards on their approach to their own inquiry task assessment. Mr Kojima's ability to weave together complex topics with accessible language and engaging visuals made the talk impactful and meaningful.

We look forward to welcoming Mr Kojima back in the future for further collaboration.