Event background

Connecting with the world from our hometown​

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Organization of this event is deeply connected to my background.

I was born in Fukui, spent my middle and high school years in the United States,

and then came back to Japan to attend university in Tokyo. Living as a student in

three different environments: rural Japan, the US, and a big city in Japan, made me realize one thing.

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”Opportunities for hands-on learning vary greatly depending on where you live"

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This is true especially when it comes to "international exchange" or "using English in real-life settings". Even if you want to participate in workshops and seminars, many people who reside on the rural area eventually give up simply because they are too far away. This to me, felt like such a waste. Therefore, using my background as both a returnee and someone who grew up in rural area, I wanted to create a space where high school students in Fukui can "connect with the world" and explore fields of study they rarely encounter without needing to travel far away. 

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The big theme of this workshop is "Gender"

It may sound like a complicated or unfamiliar topic. But it is actually stands close to our daily lives. You may notice questions like:

• Shouldn't we have more freedom in choosing what to wear to school?

• Why are dress codes differ depending on gender?

• Why are「girls in STEM」treated as something special？

• Who decided that boys shouldn't cry？

• Should guys always pay for dates? 

 

These everyday discomforts ("Moya-Moya") are valid questions to the society. 

The topic of "Gender" isn't deeply discussed in compulsory education. Why not take these small doubts, personal experiences, or social biases you notice, and talk about them with other high school studnets, university students who has international backgrounds, and working adults in Fukui?  

 

Using English as a tool for learning

The goal of English study often focuses achieving high scores in proficiency tests like Eiken or schools exams. In such tests, memorization plays a big role, while real-life conversation practices are limited. 

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Through this event, we invite you to shift from the usual approach of "learning English itself" to "learning in English". Even if you are concerned for the language barrier, we will divide discussion groups according to their English level and preferences, so that you can talk with others comfortably. 

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An event created by students, by students 

This workshop is organized by university students who truly want to share meaningful conversation with high school students. It is not a "class" prepared by a teacher. Because of the closeness in age, sharing personal experiences and opinions would feel natural and easy.

 

By looking at our hometown, Fukui, through the lens of "Gender x International Perspectives", what new insights can we see? What we value most is nurturing the ability to form and express your own opinion. There is no right answer. Let's explore the small questions and expand our thoughts of our society. 

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