We were delighted to welcome 24 students from Shotley Bridge Primary School in the UK! They spent the 3rd to 5th periods with us, and we would love to share some of the heartwarming moments from this special day.

Hearts Connecting Step by Step, Filled with Smiles

At first, the children seemed a little nervous and shy around each other due to the language barrier and it being their very first meeting. However, they are children after all! As time passed, natural smiles began to bloom, and it wasn’t long before they completely broke the ice.

• A Special and Fun School Lunch Together We also enjoyed school lunch together. Looking at each other and asking "Is it delicious?", they shared a special and tasty lunchtime experiencing Japanese school lunch culture.

• Turning the "Desire to Communicate" into Reality Our students at Degawa tried their absolute best to use the English they practice in their daily foreign language activities to communicate. Even when the right words wouldn't come out, they used gestures and body language, doing everything they could to convey their feelings! Watching them try so hard, we could feel a strong bond that goes beyond language barriers.

To the Future, and to the Wide World

This exchange was an incredibly precious experience for our children, allowing them to feel the differences in language and culture firsthand.

Our Wish for the Students We hope this experience inspires our students to develop a deeper interest in English and foreign cultures, expanding their future dreams and possibilities. We truly hope that one day, they will spread their wings from Degawa Elementary School into the wide world.

Thank you so much to everyone from Shotley Bridge Primary School for leaving us with such beautiful memories!