2017 Japan, Korea and China Trip
On Friday 24 November, fifteen Darwin High School students and three teachers departed Darwin for the 2017 Japan, Korea and China Trip. The students had the adventure of a lifetime experiencing the culture and languages of each country.
By teacher Mariko Ruzsicska
Japan, Korea and China Trip is a language and culture immersion program for students who are learning Japanese and or Chinese.
The students participated visited three countries over 23 days and had opportunities to participate in various activities in each county. In Japan, Students visited a mega-city: Tokyo and observed and experienced a busy cosmopolitan life. In Osaka the students visited Kishiwada High School and exchanged language and friendship. It was the one of the best experiences for the students engaging with Japanese High school students, discussing Japan and Australia, and making friends. It was very difficult to say good bye. In Kyoto, the students visited famous Kiyomizu Temple in Kimono and participated in a Tea ceremony.
The students visited Korea before moving to China to see and compare how culture and language gradually changed from Japan to Korea to China.
In China, students visited Tian’anmen, the Forbidden City and The Great Wall. In addition to historically important areas, the students visited Tianjin to see rapid economic growth in China. The students also participated in Chinese cooking and had relaxing time towards the end to reflect on their experience in three countries.
The experience empowered students and made them ready to explore further.
By Japanese Beginners student Joanna Mcdowall
I had an amazing experience on the study trip, and I would definitely recommend it to the other students studying a language. The country I enjoyed the most was Japan and the activities I liked the most were viewing the Autumn leaves display and visiting The Golden Temple and Kiyomizu-Dera Temple. We also visited Kishiwada High School where we talked with the students who were learning English and participated in a club activity which was a really fun day. In South Korea, we visited Seoul Tower and made our own kimchi to take home and in China, we saw the Forbidden City, made Chinese food and visited Tianjing for a day. Overall, the trip was a good experience to learn about the language I am studying and it was good to put it to use in the country.
By teacher Nick Ergos
At the end of Semester 4 in 2017 I had the pleasure of escorting an amazing group of language students to Japan, South Korea and China. I watched the students immerse themselves in the culture and language of the countries they had before this trip only experienced through textbooks and classroom resources.
The students were able showcase their language skills by taking turns in leading the daily excursions. They were responsible for buying tickets for the whole group, ordering food and drinks as well as guiding everyone to their destination. All of the students performed admirably and showed initiative and leadership when we were out and about.
For me personally, one of the highlights of the trip was a visit to Kishiwada High School which is nestled in beautiful Osaka, Japan. Our students had the unique and privileged opportunity to interact with their Japanese peers in a variety of activities that included language lessons, Judo, Karate and a Tea Ceremony. The students walked away from the experience with new friends and connections that will last a lifetime.
The trip also included visits to many historical and cultural locations of great significance in all countries. In Japan this included visits to Meiji Shrine, Shibuya crossing, Osaka castle, Golden Temple in Kyoto, Arashiyama, the wearing of a kimono and a walk around Kiyomizu Temple and Fushimi Taisha.
In South Korea we visited a royal palace, went up to Seoul Tower to enjoy the views of the city, undertook Zen Buddhist Mediation at Myogaksa Temple as well as a K-Pop experience and participated in Kimchi making.
In China we went to Tian’anmen Square, the Great Wall, taking a ride on a rickshaw through the Hutong of old Beijing. We took a day trip to Tianjin, visited the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven, and we everyone enjoyed a Chinese cooking class.
The experience was incredible and the students and I would like to thank Mariko Ruzsicka and Marnie Foster for organising this amazing trip of a lifetime.
