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Ryogoku Tourism Explored: Successful English Summer Camp in Collaboration with Sumida Ward Board of Education
From July 29th to August 2nd, Lakeland University Japan (LUJ) hosted a dynamic and engaging English Summer Camp, in collaboration with the Sumida Ward Board of Education (BOE). The five-day program, which ran from 9 AM to 4 PM each day, offered junior high school students a unique blend of classroom learning and fieldwork research focused on the theme "Tourism in Ryogoku."
The curriculum, crafted by Jessica McDonald, and the project coordination by Yuko Takamatsu set the foundation for this collaborative effort. The English lessons, held in the morning, were expertly led by LUJ instructors Shey Weaver and James Parker. In the afternoons, students embarked on fieldwork activities under the guidance of LUJ undergraduate students Jocyne, Emmelie, and Ayumi.
Thirty-three junior high school students from ten different schools in Sumida-ku participated in the camp. The students engaged in research on Ryogoku's tourist attractions, conducting interviews with visitors to learn what drew them to the area.
The camp included educational field trips to notable local sites such as the Hokusai Museum, Yasuda Garden, and the Sumo Museum, all within easy walking distance of LUJ. These excursions provided students with the opportunity to experience Ryogoku's rich cultural heritage first hand.
This information was then compiled into detailed reports, which the students presented in groups during a presentation contest. The winning teams from each class competed against one another on the final day, showcasing their findings and English skills.
This initiative, which received media coverage on NHK (Japan’s national news station), aimed to inspire students to enjoy using English and to foster an interest in overseas cultures. A student reflected on the experience, saying, "I was able to talk to a foreign teacher and realize how well I can speak English." The mayor of Sumida-ku, Tooru Yamamoto, and several other key members also visited to say hello and observe the camp. Mayor Yamamoto has frequented LUJ often showing his support.
The English Summer Camp was a natural extension of LUJ's successful English Club, held twice a month on Saturdays and now in its second season. LUJ remains committed to providing enriching educational experiences and looks forward to more opportunities to work with the Sumida Ward BOE to enhance English language education for local students
