The upper level Japanese classes have been given an opportunity to learn about their target language in a more creative, technological way. For many years, Japanese classes have done a pen pal project, sending emails and gifts to their pen pals in Japan.

Japanese language teacher Yoko Harada said, “I started the pen pal assignment in 2006 when we went on a trip to Japan. The classes that have participated in this exchange project are the combined class of Japanese IV and V and Japanese III Honors.

“I found classes for the Japanese IV and V through a web site called epals.com and for more than five years, we have been exchanging with Fuchu Nishi High School in Tokyo. However, for Japanese II, I had a friend in my hometown in Japan that introduced me to an English teacher from New Zealand.

“Language is a tool that everyone uses in everyday life. Nowadays, many people use the Internet to send letters. I would like my students to use the target language as a tool to communicate with people who speak it in a real, authentic way. Thanks to technology, the world is getting smaller,” she said.

“The more one gains interest in the country, people and culture at a personal level, the better one’s language skill will be. What students learn in classrooms with the teacher and textbook is not always enough so this is one of the ways students can learn Japanese.

“In Japanese IV and V class, we exchanged school videos. Watching their school is such a great resource for the students. They learned so much more than when I teach about uniforms, the school facility or the language itself.

“When I was a high school student, I was very interested in learning English and I used to have pen pals. At that time, I was writing many letters by hand, and it was always exciting to receive letters, pictures and gifts from overseas U.S. and East Germany (at that time). I was just happy because I could use what I learned in class outside of classroom and at the same time, I can make many friends. It is very nice to be able to make friends in the country where the language is spoken,” said Harada.

Students who did this pen pal project learned a lot through this lesson.

Junior Dominique Dold said, “Although I take Japanese IV, this is my first time doing the pen pal project. This project gave an opportunity to both our class and the class in Japan.

“When we sent our emails, we had to write in Japanese then add a couple questions in English. After receiving a reply to our emails, we noticed that the class from Japan did the opposite; they wrote in English and added a couple questions in Japanese. The way our project was formatted gave a chance to practice both our target and native language,” said Dold.

Sophomore Pamela Nishida said, “This project was a great opportunity to put what we had learned to use. Yoko sensei had us write our own letters using any grammar that we have learned in the past. When we were done writing a rough draft, she corrected to make sure it was presentable.

“I hope that next year we can do this project again because I really enjoyed it,” said Nishida.

Along with exchanging emails, both classes also sent Christmas cards and gifts.

Junior Sara Tashima said, “I am in Japanese IV, but this was my first time doing the project. I sent my pen pal an adorable bunny pencil and coin purse. After a while, I received aburatorigami, an oil blotting paper.

“I like the idea of exchanging gifts because we both got something from foreign countries. In all, this project was fun because I had someone to practice my Japanese skills with and made a friend in the process,” said Tashima.

Sophomore Isabel Lee takes Japanese II Honors but plans to leave for Singapore in the second semester.

Lee said, “Since I leave on Monday for Singapore, I wanted to spend more time with my class and finish watching the video that the class from Japan had made for us. I think that this project was fun but educational.

“Since I am moving to Singapore, Yoko sensei and I have talked about Skyping with her Japanese classes so that they could not only see what Singapore is like but also maybe have a chance to have a pen pal exchange project with my Japanese class in Singapore,” said Lee.