Hello, everyone!
We are WorldClassroom team of HelloWorld Inc.
On February 28, 2024, an online international exchange class utilizing WorldClassroom was held between Nishinomiya Municipal Kawaragi Junior High School in Hyogo Prefecture and Laongampittayakhom High School in Thailand.
For the students of Kawaragi Junior High School, this cultural exchange was a first experience for them, and for many of them it was the first time in their lives to speak with people from other countries. Through this opportunity, the students were able to interact directly with students of their own age from different cultures and backgrounds.
Every time before a WorldClassroom session, we have an icebreaker activity to relieve students’ tension and ease the atmosphere.
The PC screen displays the question “How are you feeling today?” and the students responded positively.
Many of the students expressed nervousness about their first online international exchange, but at the same time, many of them were looking forward to talking with students from different backgrounds.
Moving on to the exchange in separate groups, the students first began by introducing themselves. From the start, many students were actively communicating with each other in English.
There are many things we don’t know about people from different cultures and customs, and this creates many opportunities for them to ask questions. In the process of verbalizing their questions in English, students naturally acquire the skill of asking questions to others.
In addition, students will have many opportunities to answer questions from their counterparts and develop both the ability to ask and to answer. Through this two-way communication, students can deepen their cultural understanding and improve their practical English skills.
As a surprise, the Japanese students showed the Thai students handmade flags of both countries. The Thai students were surprised and very pleased. Even when communication in English does not go as smoothly as expected, it is effective to use symbols, gestures, and other forms of nonverbal communication to convey feelings.
WorldClassroom is not just about learning to “speak” English, but also about learning to communicate through non-verbal means. Students have gained many skills beyond English, including new perspectives, communication skills, and cultural understanding.
HelloWorld hopes that these experiences will inspire more students to become interested in English conversation and international exchange.
What is WorldClassroom?
It is an online cross-cultural exchange and English education platform that is widely used by over 50,000 students. Through WorldClassroom, students can meet new friends from different backgrounds and experience learning English in a practical way.
These experiences go beyond traditional classroom settings, offering invaluable insights and skills that cannot be gained solely by sitting in front of a desk!
Why not provide students with practical English learning opportunities through engaging online cross-cultural exchanges? We look forward to hearing from you.
Please feel free to contact us here.
