The 12 th World Meeting at Nanbu elementary school

International Friendship Department

The 12th World Meeting

at Nanbu elementary school　　

Time: November 12 (Fri.) 8:30~13:00
Place: Nanbu elementary school

The 12 th World Meeting was held at Nanbu elementary school to have a new look at Japanese cultures, to understand cultures in the world, and to exchange with foreign lecturers.
Twelve foreign lecturers from ten countries were invited and fourteen NIA staffs joined.
All the pupils (920 persons) attended. Detailed number of pupils is 450 for 1,2,3 graders (15 classes) and 470 for 4,5,6 graders (15 classes).


NIA staffs and lecturers held a preliminary meeting to make arrangements about the agenda in the principal’s office.

The opening ceremony began with the pupils’ spirited “Yosakoi” dancing in the auditorium.
The lecturers introduced themselves, and then they were asked various questions by pupils. Some pupils put an eccentric question that induced all to burst into laughter.

Jamaica

Jamaica is located in the Caribbean Sea and has a population of two million and seven hundred thousand. It has the beauty of nature. Watching pictures on the screen, the pupils attentively got explanations of Jamaica.

China

China has a population of one billion and three hundred million. It is eleven times as many as Japan. The country is twenty six times as large as Japan. In China, some kanji may be read in different way from Japan.
The pupils were listening to the lecturer attentively.

the United Kingdom (UK)

The lecturer introduced the national flag of UK and English language. He gently told “English language also has many regional dialects just as Japanese one has”.

the United States of America

Showing pictures of the pupils’ favorite animals, the lecturer taught what we call them in English. It was a friendly class.

Mexico

Showing colored pamphlets, pictures, cloths, and the national flag of Mexico, the lecturer introduced Mexico in full of facial expression.

Thailand

The pupils attentively got explanations of the national flag of Thailand, Thai language, and the weather of Thailand.
Some pupils were taking notes on the lecture.

Malaysia

Showing the map, the lecturer introduced Malaysian culture, language, and industry. The weather of Malaysia is mild all the year. There are a lot of Japan’s overseas enterprises in Malaysia.
After the introduction, the pupils sang a familiar song in chorus in Malaysian language, tried on a native costume, and enjoyed playing game. It was a pleasant program.

Peru

Peru is on the opposite side of the earth from Japan. The lecturer asked pupils “Do you know the Inca Empire?” She introduced the world heritages in Inca, Peruvian culture and food.
The pupils got interested in Peruvian game properties and tried on a native costume. It was a pleasant and memorable class.

Korea

Korea is familiar with its movie, soccer and volley ball.
The lecturer explained that Korean people wrote their own name like this in Hangul. The pupils were listening to the lecturer interestingly.

Turkey

Turkey is a middle east country where spreads over Asia (the Anatolia Peninsular) and Europe (the Balkan Peninsular). The capital of Turkey is Ankara. Turkey has a population of seventy five million and about 99% of people are Islamic. These introductions are quite new to the pupils.
They were interestingly listening to the young lecturer.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong was returned from UK to China fourteen years ago. A million-dollar view of Hong Kong at night is very famous. Hong Kong has a population of seven million and an important position of Southeastern transportation. Do you know the meaning of “one country, two systems”? The pupils just marveled at the lecturer’s lots of explanations. They learned much from the history of Hong Kong.

the United States of America (USA)

The lecturer talked about Halloween. Halloween is an American festival which is annually held on November 1, to celebrate an autumn harvest and to ward off evil spirits. Disguised children parade the streets and coax neighbors to give candies, saying “trick or treat”. This is associated with ancient farmers who paraded to receive foods for the festival. The pupils were listening to the lecturer, flashing their eyes. Last of all, the pupils were delighted to make a colorful paper mask.


After the class, the pupils became friendly with the lecturers and had lunch together.