8月26日（土）から16日間の日程で、学生17名がオーストラリアのシドニーで研修を行いました。ホームステイをしながら、平日の午前中はシドニー大学 Center for English Teachingで英語を学び、午後は、課外活動に参加したり、各人が計画し市内や近郊を探索したりと、英語学習、文化体験等、シドニーライフを満喫する研修となりました。英語研修では、スピーキングを中心としたペアワーク、グループワークといった参加型の授業に始めは戸惑いながらも、研修後半のプレゼンテーションでは堂々と発表する様子が見られました。また、高齢者施設訪問では、“No Lifting careポリシー(看護師、介護士の腰痛予防や患者の自立支援のため)” など、日本と異なるケアサービスや器具を見学し、オーストラリアでの介護士、看護師、理学療法士の社会的立場や役割の違いなどを知り刺激を受けました。今回の研修が、初めての海外滞在やホームステイである学生も多かったのですが、多様な文化背景を持つ人たちと接し、言葉や価値観の違いを超えてコミュニケーションする楽しさを味わえたことが何よりの経験となりました。2週間という限られた期間でしたが、この研修で得た沢山の出会い、発見、体験、失敗を大切に、これからも仲間と切磋琢磨し合いながら、夢や目標に向かって欲しいです。

From August 26 2023, 17 students spent 16 days in Sydney, Australia for English learning and cultural experiences. While staying with host families, the students studied English at the Centre for English Teaching – University of Sydney. In addition, they also articipated in extracurricular activities and explored the city and its suburbs on their own initiative. In the English training program, the students hesitated at first to participate in the participatory classes, such as pair work and group work with a focus on speaking, but in the latter half of the program, they were seen presenting their presentations with confidence. During the visit to elderly care facilities, they observed care services and equipment that differ from those in Japan, such as the “No Lifting Care Policy”. The students were incentivated to want to learn more about the differences in the social status and roles of caregivers, nurses, and physiotherapists in Australia.For many of the students, this was their first time to travel overseas or to experience a homestay The best part of the experience to having the opportunity to being in contact with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and having the pleasure of communicating with them beyond the differences in language and values.We hope that the students will cherish the precious encounters, discoveries, experiences, and even failures they had during this study program and continue to work hard with their friends to achieve their dreams and goals.