Twenty students from year 10 in Newport High School had the opportunity to travel to Japan in February 2025.  For over half of the students this was their first experience of going abroad, and the trip became an opportunity to not only enhance their education, but to experience a new culture and develop their language skills. 

We spoke to Lina, Kiara, Mia, Chaylun, Elisia and Hannah, and their teacher Siân Vaughan about their incredible experience: 

 

What were the aims of your project?

​Siân Vaughan: “The aims of the project were to give our students cultural exposure, first-hand experience in using their language skills, and educational enhancement across the curriculum including technology, science, art and history. In addition, this was an opportunity to promote personal growth in our students, who lack confidence in unfamiliar situations and to give them career inspiration and aspirations by looking at the advancement of technology.”

 

How did the students prepare for the trip?

Siân Vaughan “Prior to the visit, all students had a Japanese lesson hosted by the Japan Society, where they were taught basic phrases along with the dos and don‘ts in Japanese culture.  They were able to put into practice what they had learnt and realised how important it is to make an effort to learn the basics.”

 

How were the students selected for the opportunity?

Lina: “We had to create a presentation based on the similarities and differences of lifestyles in Japan and UK, to present it in front of the class. It proved our commitment because obviously it was quite out of a lot of people’s comfort zone to do this. Our teacher picked a selection of people and then there was an interview process.”

 

Was it anyone’s first experience of travelling abroad?

Siân Vaughan: “Of the 20 students, less than half had been abroad with 2 never owning a passport before.   The adventure started in the airport for more than half of the students as they had never flown before.”

Kiara: “It was my first time going abroad and first time getting a passport. I felt very scared at first. But then, when it actually happened, I don’t know why I was so scared, to be honest.”

Mia : “It wasn’t my first time abroad, but it was my first time on a plane, so I was a bit nervous about that. That was a big step for me. But when I got on the plane, I realised it wasn’t really that bad.”

 

Can you tell us about visiting the school in Japan? 

Siân Vaughan: “Students experienced what life is like in a Japanese school by spending time in a middle school in Aichi Prefecture.

Initially, both Welsh and Japanese students were shy, but this soon changed after they started to work together.  The language barrier wasn’t an issue, and they still had fun with basic English and Japanese.

Japan always does well in the PISA league tables and students were expecting school life to be very different.  They came to realise that school is based on respect and that the classroom is very traditional and not high-tech as they had initially thought.  Having the connection with the Junior High School has allowed our students to remain in contact with their peers.”

Chaylun “It was really different to our school. When we first went there, everyone was very welcoming and they were really kind.”

Mia: “In the school we played some of their traditional games and we all got to rotate around the classroom. We stayed in the classroom for lunch and we got to experience what it was like to eat there as well.  Lunch was served by the students and at the end, we all cleared everything away and the students brushed their teeth afterwards. We ate rice and fish with a miso soup and had a carton of milk.  This is very different to what I eat every day in school and is so much healthier!  The memory of being in a Japanese school will always stay with me.  It was such a great way to see how students the other side of the world learn.  They are very respectful and they even clean their own classrooms!”

 

What other activities did you take part in during the trip? 

Chaylun:  “We went to a lot of different shrines and temples and we really experienced the culture and traditions within Japan. We also went to a sushi making class and we did the tea ceremony, which was very traditional, where we drank matcha tea and tried this red bean paste and dessert.”

Siân Vaughan: “We also had the opportunity to visit the British Embassy in Tokyo where the students learned about job opportunities outside of the UK along with understanding the role of an embassy and the importance of promoting Wales across the world.  This undoubtedly inspired a vast majority of our students, who are now thinking about the opportunities ahead of them.

Following our meeting with representatives from the Welsh Government International Office, one student is aspiring to be a representative for Wales in China (her dad is Welsh and mother is Chinese) and is already thinking about university courses.”

Lina: “After meeting the representative at the embassy I realised what a broad range of jobs there is, and it really emphasised the importance of knowing a second language. It really showed me that me that there was so much more I could do with different degrees.”

 

What did you learn from your experience in Japan? 

Lina: “We developed our time and money management skills.  Aside from this, I think that it really taught us how to be more social and confident, and after going through all of that independently, you have a sense of accomplishment.”

Chaylun: “I guess it made me want to experience more traditional things. Being out in a different country, obviously, I was really nervous to speak Japanese, but once I was there, I became comfortable. And it’s made me really want to go out and venture to new places.”

Siân Vaughan: “As the visit progressed, the students confidence increased and they were using their Japanese skills whenever possible.  I could hear everybody saying ‘arigato’ and ‘konichiwa’.

Simple tasks such as checking-in at the airport, to communicating their food likes and dislikes to waiters, has been transformational for the students.  Whilst in Japan, they had plenty of opportunities to organise themselves and deal with a range of situations such as shopping by themselves and asking for help at the hotel.  As trivial as it sounds, these have made a big difference to our students.”

 

What has been the wider impact of the Taith project?

Siân Vaughan “The students never thought they would have such an incredible experience and absorbed every opportunity and experience whilst in Japan.

They have become more confident in their everyday lives and can communicate more effectively with their peers and adults alike.

All of the students said that the trip has made them want to travel more and that they would love to visit Japan again in the future. The trip opened their eyes to the different opportunities out there after finishing school.

We have been able to share our experiences in assemblies and in lessons and this has aroused curiosity amongst our students.  It has shown our students that anything is possible and that the temples, shrines and castles are real and not just something you see on TV.

Unemployment is a big problem in our area, and I whole-heartedly believe that the project will, and is, starting to break the cycle and is inspiring the students to think about careers abroad or the travel and tourism industry or even STEM to name but a few. How many people in Bettws can say that they were inspired to be a in certain profession because of a school exchange to Japan? ”

 

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