Japanese language students at Sacred Hearts Academy have been using a unique method to further their foreign language skills—through the pages of a digital book sent to Japan.

The project required students to write short essays about themselves and their lives in Hawaii. They did this in Japanese, arranging it into an electronic magazine format with photos and other visual aids.

This was part of a cultural exchange project with Tokyo Sakuragaoka High School. Students from the Japanese high school created similar electronic books written in English, which they will send to Academy students.

“The purpose of the project is to communicate with a class outside of Sacred Hearts,” teacher Nami Grafia said. “I want them to use their language, as they learn; I want them to express themselves in the Japanese language and to have fun and make friends.”

Grafia met the students and teacher from Tokyo Sakuragaoka High School, while they were visiting the island. That is when they arranged the project, which is a first of its kind for the Academy.

Japanese language student and Academy junior Catherine Palmer enjoyed the international project.

Palmer said, “I think it gave us an opportunity to practice our Japanese skills that is different from the traditional classroom (method of learning).”

To view the Academy students’ digital book, visit http://data.axmag.com/data/201609/20160926/U148585_F403001/index.html