A VISIT FROM ST MARY’S
The morning of Monday May 28th was very busy for Rikkyo students as, during their EC lessons, they played host to twenty-five children from St Mary’s primary school, Shackelford.
Our students had prepared a number of activities to entertain their visitors and we started with a tea ceremony, performed by H1 students, in the tea house. When asked who would like to take part in the ceremony, lots of St Mary’s students eagerly put their hands up, and their teacher chose two volunteers who then had the opportunity to taste the tea and sweets. After this, we headed to the Kendojo where our students talked about Kendo and showed the children the clothing and swords. There was also the opportunity to see some beautiful kimonos which were on display.
The next part of the morning’s activities were spent in the library where the H2 students had set up different stations to show the children how to draw Manga pictures, how to play Kendama and Koma, how to count and write to 10 in Japanese, how to write their names in Japanese characters and, outside, there was even the opportunity to try Double Dutch skipping.
St Mary’s spent the final part of their visit with the primary and middle school students who taught them how to use chopsticks, how to play Cat’s Cradle and how to make origami birds and flowers. The children also enjoyed playing Fukuwarai, and were happy to be interviewed by a number of M2 students who had spent time in their EC lesson preparing questions.
Thankfully, the weather was good and the sun was shining which meant that the pupils and teachers from St Mary’s were able to enjoy a picnic lunch in the school grounds. They sat in the shade of a large cedar tree and after eating, spent 15 minutes playing happily before the coach took them back to their school.
It was a very successful and enjoyable visit for Rikkyo and St Mary’s. Our students were able to share their language and culture whilst having the opportunity to practise and improve their English speaking; St Mary’s had a morning full of new experiences and the opportunity to meet students from a different country.
A week after their visit, we received an envelope full of ‘Thank you’ cards which the children had made themselves. They said how much they ‘would really like to come again,’ and how they thought it ‘was all fantastic.’
In the EC department we look forward to organising more events like this so that our students get every opportunity to use and improve their English skills.
