About
Since 1990, Saskatoon Public Schools has coordinated a Japan exchange program for students in grades 10, 11 and 12 with eight secondary schools throughout the city.
Students from partner schools in Takaoka and Kitahiroshima, Japan, visit Saskatoon in alternate years for six to seven days in March or May. The Japanese students are hosted by Saskatoon families and attend the respective schools of their host families. In return, sixteen students from Saskatoon Public Schools live with host families in Japan, either in Takaoka or Kitahiroshima, for a week. These students attend the school of their Japanese host and participate in a five-day cultural tour visiting various destinations throughout the country.
The exchange in 2025 will take place over the Easter holiday for 14 days in Takaoka and will include a cultural tour in Tokyo, Kyoto, and surrounding area.
Program Objectives
- An opportunity to experience Japanese culture, not as a tourist but through immersion in a Japanese family and school life.
- Practice and improve proficiency in the Japanese language.
- Experience personal growth in social skills, independence, acceptance of cultural/personal differences, and problem-solving.
Eligibility/Selection Criteria
- The exchange is open to grades 10, 11 and 12 students.
- Enrolment in the Japanese language program is an asset but not a requirement, as all students are welcome to apply.
- Interested students must have good attendance and study habits, a positive attitude toward school, and receive positive comments from their teachers and school to participate in the program.
- Participants must hold a valid passport for at least six months beyond the departure date to Japan in April 2025 or be in the process of obtaining one.
- All students are required to take a special Japanese class (12 lessons) on weekends beginning in December.
Note: Successful applicants will miss a few days of school around Easter. It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements for any course work missed while absent from school (i.e., preferably do the work before leaving for Japan).
Parents/caregivers, please contact the attendance secretary at your child's school and have your child fill out an Extended Leave form. Cost
The estimated cost for the Japanese exchange is approximately $5,500–$5,800. This includes flights, major transportation in-country, hotels, cancellation, and out-of-country medical and accidental insurance, as well as costs for chaperones. Not included in the fee are substitute costs for teacher chaperones and personal expenses, such as spending money, passports, etc. The suggested amount for spending money is $750–$800.
Each student will be responsible for the full cost of the trip and their own spending money. Fundraising activities are optional and may be undertaken by students and their families to cover the full payment.
Note: The value of the Canadian dollar at the time of the trip may alter the estimated cost.
Program Administration
The exchange is based on arrangements between Saskatoon Public Schools and Takaoka Dai-ichi High School, along with the Board of Education in Takaoka, Japan. The head chaperone for the group will be Ms. Joyce Glasel from Walter Murray Collegiate, and the assistant chaperone will be Ms. Jocelyn Dupuis from Aden Bowman Collegiate.
Apply
Interested students must
apply by September 23, 2024.
- Click here for the application procedure guidelines, which includes a list of all documentation required to apply.
- Click here to complete the application form.
Submission
All required documents, including the application form, must be submitted to "Japan Exchange 2025" in Google Classroom (the code is provided in the application procedure guidelines) by the deadline.
Contact
For questions, please contact:
Mrs. Takako Matisz
Japanese Exchange Program Coordinator
Aden Bowman Collegiate: 306-683-7600
Evan Hardy Collegiate: 306-683-7700
Walter Murray Collegiate: 306-683-7850
