Japanese Exchange Program

California offers an alternate year program - traveling to Japan on even-numbered years and hosting Japanese students and their chaperones on odd-numbered years.

2010 4-H Japanese Outbound Exchange Program

Fun - Rewarding - Educational

4-H Japanese Summer Exchange for 2010

July 7 - August 5, 2010

Fact Sheet
Slide Show from past participant
Video from past participant
http://margerymagill.blogspot.com - a blog from a 2008 Outbound

The California 4-H Program offers a four week homestay experience in Japan through a collaboration with the Labo organization. Labo, a youth development program in Japan, offers an integrated program of language learning and cultural awarenss for Japanese youth and their families. Labo's goal is similar to the California 4-H goal - to help young people to develop into well-rounded, culturally senstive, and responsible adults. Working together across the Pacific both programs focus on:

• Sharing culture, customs, and heritage.

• Learning to value diversity and show respect and understanding for others.

• Increasing language and communication skills

• Increasing an understanding of what it is like to be new to a culture.

• Developing understanding of issues related to living in a global society.

• Improving self understanding.

For students interested in learning or expanding their knowledge of the Japanese language, Labo offers a Nihongo Program (June10-August 5). Students work with a dynamic language development program and attend classes with other teens from the U.S, Canada, and Australia. Classes are held each morning and students apply their learning "out on the streets" in the afternoon. After the four week language instruction, each delegate participates in the four-week homestay.

One 2008 outbound recounts: We were asked to walk to the post office and purchase stamps for a letter. We had to use our new-found language skills to communicate with the agent."

All the Nihongo students stay in the Tokyo area. At the end of their classes they join the four week homestay group that has arrived from the U.S. and are placed with a second family. Homestay families live across Japan.

2009 4-H Japanese Exchange Summer Hosting Program

In 2009, California 4-H families hosted 18 Japanese teens and 2 adult chaperones. Japanese students came to live with a 4-H family in counties stretching from Shata to San Bernardino County.

At the end of the visit:

• A parent stated: "Our exchange student was a highly personable 12-year-old boy. He was adventurous and willing to try anything. He reminded me so much of my two sons that it made me realize just how much we all have in common in this world."
• A youth stated: “My exchange student has made me become more open to things and has made me interested in Japanese culture." 
• Another youth stated: “It is good to know that I have a friend in Japan”

4-H members and leaders who hosted Japanese students report they have learned new things about the exchange country and about themselves.

Host families were expected to:

Expectations of host families are:

• Provide the delegate with meals and lodging.
• Include the delegate in all family activities.
• Read the materials sent by the 4-H International Exchange Programs Coordinator.
• Attend an orientation session.
• Be flexible, patient, and willing to communicate both verbally and non-verbally with your delegate. Most of the participants will have limited English communication skills.
• Host sibling must keep the exchange uppermost in mind during the hosting month and make sure the delegate feels included in activities.
• Have fun!!

Pictures from the 2009 Japanese Exchange can be viewed in the Photo Gallery on-line at http://ca4h.org/photogal/thumbnails.php?album=136