The UH Mānoa College of Education (COE) School of Teacher Education (STE) has been working to increase inbound place-based experiences for visiting exchange students. Through the STE Global Outreach program, students and faculty from schools in Kyoto, Hokkaido, and Hiroshima engaged with students and faculty from UH Mānoa as well as local public and private schools.
STE hosted eight teacher candidates and three faculty members from Bukkyo University for their annual teacher preparation field study exchange. The STE-led school visits provided opportunities for them to see early childhood education in action as well as to understand the PK through university experience. The group participated in tours and activities with the UH Mānoa Children’s Center, the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE), Hanahau’oli School, Hōkūlani Elementary School, and Waipahu High School (WHS).
At WHS, they were greeted by an ʻoli, received handmade leis, practiced speaking with the AP Japanese language students, and enjoyed a three-course lunch at the schoolʻs Marauder Cafe. At Hōkūlani, they taught a cultural lesson on language and dance. They also collaborated with PACE on a maker space lei workshop.
Each year, students from Hiroshima and Hokkaido visit WHS, which has been taking part in sister school exchanges for nearly 15 years. The students from Japan spend two weeks learning what it is like to be a student in Hawaiʻi. This year, STE enhanced the exchange by providing “A Day in Mānoa” facilitated by STE Instructor Patricia Massoth.
Feedback from a Bukkyo student:
“Through my training in Hawaiʻi, I was able to become aware of many of the preconceived notions I had. It was a very valuable experience, as I learned that educational concepts that I take for granted in Japan differ depending on the country and culture. While there are differences in educational methods and environments between Japan and Hawaiʻi, I felt that the desire to care for children is common and that the foundation remains the same. I was also moved by the wonderful value of ʻcherishing the present,ʻ which I felt in Hawaiʻi. Through this training, I felt a stronger desire to learn more purely and to learn more, and I felt that I wanted to gain a variety of experiences in the future. Going forward, I would like to treasure the lessons and insights I gained from this training and apply them to education that values each and every child.”
Feedback from WHS students:
“Experiences like the Bukkyo visit mean so much to me because they make learning Japanese feel real and personal. Being able to connect with others through the language, even in small conversations, gave me a lot of confidence and reminded me why I started learning in the first place. It pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way and showed me that growth happens when you’re brave enough to try. I left feeling more motivated, more connected, and proud of how far I’ve come.”
“The small visit of being able to pair a person from Bukkyo University with a Waipahu Student was proven to be tremendously beneficial as I was able to have one-on-one conversations with them in Japanese, and have real-time feedback on my conversation skills. All in all, it was a wonderful and supportive experience. I loved it, and I believe that it was able to further develop my Japanese skills.”
“Personally, I really enjoy experiences like the Bukkyo University exchange as they’ve helped me develop and gain confidence in my language skills with all the interactions we have with the students. As an example, not only did I get to present in front of the Bukkyo University students and professors, I also had the opportunity to tour with them all day, have a luncheon together, and just had fun, leisurely conversations overall.”
“Despite the language barrier, students from both sides made a sincere effort to communicate, understand one another, and learn about each other’s cultures and lifestyles. I realized that meaningful connections aren’t built on perfect language skills, but on curiosity, patience, and a willingness to try. Even when conversations were challenging, our shared determination made the experience rewarding. More than anything, the day gave me greater confidence—not just in my Japanese, but in my ability to build international relationships.”
