Growing up in Japan, high school students lead a very different life than those of Canadian students. They attend school six days a week, only have three weeks of summer holidays and generally don't do many household chores as it is seen as their job to study.
Thanks to a long-time partnership between the Global Partners Institute (GPI) and Notre Dame High School, Japanese students have a chance to see what it's like to be a student in Bonnyville.
“It's incredibly valuable. What happens with the program is we have our Japanese exchange students that come and spend a year with their host parents and while at the school they have the opportunity to be completely immersed in North American and Canadian life,” said Pamela Guilbault, principal at Notre Dame High School.
Now, GPI wants to give more Japanese students that experience. Currently, they are looking for three families in Bonnyville who would be willing to host Japanese high school students while they attend Notre Dame. Alberta manager for GPI Neil Hosler said while the students are with their host families, they are not guests but members of the family.
“They're here to learn about Canadian life, they want to see what a Canadian family does on a normal everyday basis. We encourage our students to help out with basic chores…when they come to Canada what we want students to do is feel they're contributing to their host family: making their bed, helping with the dishes.”
Hosler said there are two basic requirements for being a host family. One is that there needs to be at least two related people in the home, which can include single parents with children or common-law couples. The other qualification is that the host family needs to be committed to speaking clear English around the exchange student at all times due to the fact that part of the reason the students are here is to better learn English.
“We also want people who are interested in Japanese culture, as well as willing to share their own culture,” explained Hosler. “We like people that are proud of their community, proud of their town and who are willing to show the students when there are special events in town, like taking the student to Canada Day ceremonies.”
Families who are willing to host a student, but unsure of a long commitment, can set up a three or four month term and GPI will find another family to host the remainder of the student's stay. When living with their host family, the Japanese exchange students are responsible for their personal financial needs such as clothing or entertainment, but host families do receive a $600 per month stipend to offset food expenses and utilities.
Bernadette Robert and her husband started with GPI in 1996, since then the local couple has hosted 18 exchange students. She said it's time to pass on the amazing experience to another family in Bonnyville.
“I would recommend that they open their hearts and their homes to a student because it can be really good for themselves to appreciate what's around them…if they have children it's an excellent way to share part of the world with someone else as well.”
Robert expressed once you've hosted a student in your home, you create a long-lasting relationship with them. She said they still keep in touch with many of the exchange students even after they've returned to Japan.
As far as their education goes, Guilbault said the exchange students at Notre Dame participate in all the same classes as the regular students do but they also make sure students get opportunities they wouldn't have in Japan.
“We've had such wonderful experiences with our Japanese exchange students, taking them out for skiing or snowshoeing, things they would never have the opportunity to experience.”
“Notre Dame has been working with us since 1992, they're incredible, they really enjoy having our students,” said Hosler.
Both Guilbault and Hosler noted that having Japanese exchange students in Bonnyville not only enrich Japanese student's education but it's also valuable for students at Notre Dame.
“For our students here, it also allows them not only to befriend someone but to have that experience of global friendships,” said Guilbault.
Hosler added, “A lot of the schools that we utilize in rural Canada have never even seen a Japanese person, let along seeing part of their culture. By allowing international students in the schools it allows our Canadian kids to see a different perspective.”
GPI is looking for three families living in Bonnyville who would be willing to host a Japanese high school student starting in September 2015. If you're interested you can contact the Bonnyville coordinator at [email protected].
