Cultural Enrichment Activities - Fall 2025 Chigusa High School Visit Part II

On December 9, NUCB Global BBA and exchange students visited Chigusa High School in Meito Ward, Nagoya, for the second time this year. This international exchange event consisted of student presentations and interactive games conducted in both Japanese and English, providing a meaningful opportunity for cross-cultural exchange.

A total of fourteen NUCB students representing fourteen countries—Poland, the United States, Singapore, Argentina, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Chile, India, Myanmar, Mongolia, Pakistan, Japan, and Lithuania—participated in the event. In addition, nine international students from two other universities in Aichi Prefecture joined the event, making it a lively and diverse exchange. As this was the second visit of the year, following the visit last month, many participants were happy to reunite and deepen the connections they had made previously.

Part 1: Self-Introductions and Inquiry-Based Learning Presentations

The first part of the program focused on self-introductions and Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) presentations by Chigusa High School students. NUCB students were divided into small groups and joined second-year International Studies classes. Using both Japanese and English, students introduced themselves and engaged in conversation.

Chigusa High School students then presented the results of their inquiry projects, which they had been working on since April. Using tablets and presentation materials, they shared their research on topics such as food loss, waste management, natural disasters, disaster prevention, and environmental issues. NUCB students listened attentively, asked questions, and provided feedback, creating an active and supportive learning environment.

Part 2: Language Exchange Games

In the second part of the program, all participants gathered in one classroom—23 university students and 24 high school students in total. High school students introduced themselves in English, while international students introduced themselves in Japanese. Even deciding the speaking order became an opportunity for communication, as students compared wake-up times, phone battery levels, and upcoming birthdays.

Participants were then divided into eight groups to play language games created by Chigusa High School students. One popular game involved guessing a word written on a card without using designated “NG words.” The challenge increased as students had to switch languages depending on the moderator’s instructions—using only Japanese during Japanese time and only English during English time. Through this activity, international students learned new colloquial expressions such as “emo-i” and “gachi-zei,” while high school students discovered that international students knew more Japanese than they had expected.

Learning Beyond the Textbook

By interacting with peers close to their own age, both high school students and university students experienced “live” Japanese and English that cannot be learned from textbooks alone. While participants sometimes found it challenging to express themselves in another language, the friendly and relaxed atmosphere encouraged them to try, make mistakes, and learn from one another.

This exchange provided valuable motivation for language learning and intercultural understanding. Through shared activities, laughter, and conversation, students gained confidence and a deeper appreciation for different languages and cultures.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the teachers and students of Chigusa High School for hosting this wonderful exchange once again. It was a memorable and meaningful experience for everyone involved.