ブックタイトルa-history-of-international-exchanges00

概要

a-history-of-international-exchanges00

- 45 -and how others saw them.Research projects alsoopened up new layers ofunderstanding. For example,in 1996 a venturesomeJapanese student in Dunedintackled the writings ofChaim Potok; she waswilling, as a native speakerof Japanese, studying inEnglish in a New Zealand tertiary college, to face the challenge ofunderstanding Hebrew and biblical cultural concepts, as explained by aPolish writer of Jewish ancestry, catering for an American audience. Shecoped with the challenges admirably!As understanding and friendship developed hand in hand, fun timesfollowed. A skits programme, staged by a small group of Japanese and Kiwistudents, working together, will serve as an example. In any culture, therewill be ideas and customs that people from other cultures might findsurprising or even shocking; misunderstanding can easily be a cause ofunwitting offence. In the skits presentation, the Japanese and Kiwi studentsprepared a script and acted out the social gaffes that might occur in the earlystages of cultural contact. The acting was lively, delivered with impeccablecomic timing, and the result was hilarious, producing excellent learning forthe wider audience.It is regrettable that the Miyazaki-Dunedin exchange ceased when theDunedin College of Education lost its status as an autonomous institutionand was absorbed by the University of Otago. However, like ripples reachingout across the water, the benefits of the exchange programme still reach outin the lives of everyone who was lucky enough to be involved. Manyexchangees found that their experiences significantly influenced their latercareer and life choices. The benefits still live on, in classrooms, offices,cultural centres and homes, in paid work and volunteer work, in public andprivate life, in Japan, New Zealand, Korea, America, Taiwan, or whereverlife’s pathways have led those who took part.～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～