Event Report
Japanese Language Immersion Camp at Liberty High School (March 3, 2012)
On Saturday, March 3rd, the Consulate-General of Japan and the Washington Association of Teachers of Japanese co-hosted the Japanese Language Immersion Camp for High School Students at Liberty High School in Renton, Washington. 77 high school students who are learning Japanese spent a day studying Japanese through learning about the Tea Ceremony, Kendo, and Calligraphy etc.
At the beginning of the Japanese Immersion Camp, Mr. Matt Harvey who is in charge of the camp explained about the rules of the camp where students could only use Japanese. Consul General Kiyokazu Ota gave a greeting and explained about the importance of studying Japanese and how Japan is recovering after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
In the morning, cultural classes were held and students learned about calligraphy, cooking, Japanese confectionary making, Shorinji Kenpo, Tea Ceremony, Kiri-e, Stamp making, kendo, taiko and Soran-bushi dance as well as Japanese lessons on regional dialects and Japanese young people’s expressions.
In the afternoon, the Japan Bowl quiz was held in Japanese where everyone could compete on their knowledge about Japan. During break, mochitsuki rice pounding was presented and everyone enjoyed freshly made mochi. At the end of the camp, many students responded that they gained valuable experience by participating in the Japanese Language Immersion Camp with students from different schools in the area and recieved positive feedback.
