Japanese students to exchange cultural programme with Nepalese
2006-9-4
By A Staff Reporter

LALITPUR, Sept 3: A group of Japanese students from Seiwa College of Japan has arrived here for a two week long Nepal Japan Student Cultural Exchange Programme, which is designed to educate the Nepalese students adopting the Japanese teaching model within the same cultural framework.

Fukui Seiji, Professor faculty of Humanities of Seiwa said, "Though the programme has been launched formally, its groundwork was prepared three years back."

Under this programme, Japanese students who want to develop their career as teacher will come to AIMS academy, stay with the students, learn about their family backrounds, cultural beliefs, diatery habits & try to be famaliar with behaviours and apply the Japanese teaching model in Nepalese Context.

Choosing the Aims Academy as partner organisation, Prof. Seiji said, "I had visited Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu University and even Pokhara University but due to insurgency at that time, we had not been able to move out of the valley. AIMS seems to be ideal as it has managed to provide education ranging from preprimay to college level." Seiwa college which believes on "Global vision at local standard " provides specialized education in early childhood education.

Commenting on early childhood Education in Nepal he said, "Here teachers force the kids to read, write and try to overburden them unnecessary homework. In the early age they should be given a chance to work and play according to their will. They should know even to quarrel so that they will not repeat bad habits in the future. But Nepalese teachers want to tighten them with the rope of discipline."

To meet the growing need of English education, Seiwa has offered its students English as a second language. To provide this education Seiwa has choosen Laos Port college which is founded by Austrilian lady with financial support from American government. Revealing the secret Prof. Seiji added, "Expensive lifestyle and high price of American Institution is not ideal for Japanse but Education of American Standard at price lower than Japanese is appreciable. In Laos we got this opportunity."

Seiwa college is planning to expand its cultural exchange programme in Myanmar. Bangladesh, Sri lanka & India.

The college has also sent its students to observe the situation of childern in these countries including Thiland.

They are planning to replicate the Asian experience in the African nations as well.

The students of 3rd and 4th year are eligible to take part in this exchange programme. Students are responsible to bear the cost in this program.

Students trio who were here last year said the innocent and smiling face of Nepalese children and their warm, cordial and polite behavior has attracted them.

Teraoka Masahiro, Takeshita Koji, Matsuoka Rie, Ishibasi Mayuko Uchino Akane, Miyake Emiand Tosa Yuko are the first group to be famalirized with Nepalese culture under this programme. Prof.Dr. Imazuya Naoko a dietician in the College faculty is also joining the team.

Inter cultural Center Kathmandu has taken initiation to establish a cultural tie up between two institutions. Four Japanese and one Chinese students had visited AIMS last year also.

AIMS has developed a special package for the Japanese students to familarize them with Nepalese language, Nepalese history, culture, customs including dances, music, religions, and food habits. Aims Principal T.R. Dhakal said, "We are providing them the opportunity to observe the socio cultural background of Nepalese children."

The academy has made arrangement to observe and visit the street children transit and care home. For direct interaction in friendly and open environment, they have arranged to have a picnic programme at Nagarkot. Principal Dhakal had visited Japan under this programme.