Fostering Inquisitive Learners

by The American School In Japan

Project Report | Apr 3, 2018
ASIJ's TVEC Heads Back to Tohoku

By Jean Ren | Advancement Database Specialist

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TVEC (Tohoku Virtual English Classroom) is a program run by ASIJ Middle School's Student Service Leadership Team (SSLT). TVEC started six years ago as a way for ASIJ students to offer help to children devastated by the March 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami. Every other week after school, students from SSLT collaborate to teach fun and interactive English lessons via Skype to two sixth-grade classes in Ikawa or Sakari elementary schools. ASIJ high-schoolers are also part of the program, teaching students from Takkon elementary school.

On Feb 9, 2018, 12 SSLT members (4 eighth-graders, 6 seventh-graders and 2 sixth-graders) ventured more than 500 kilometers to Iwate Prefecture to teach English in person to the fifth and sixth-grade classes of Ikawa Elementary School. Middle school teachers, Mr. Richard, Mrs. Gesling and Ms. Nickle, along with program coordinator Mr. Mita, chaperoned the trip.

Upon arriving in Ofunato, students were saddened to discover the lasting impact of a disaster that took place almost seven years ago. Sign boards were still bent and residents were still in the process of rebuilding their homes. However, living conditions in Tohoku had made slow but noticeable improvements since their first visit. The first year that SSLT members visited Ofunato, temporary shelters still surrounded the school. This time they were gone and replaced by more permanent facilities.

One SSLT member, Matthew, wrote of the insight and humility that he gained from being able to give the gift of education to those in need: "I have never seen a group of kids so grateful for one simple thing, learning English. It’s shocking to see how one small thing can make such a difference in one’s life." He goes on to say: "Their lives have really been taken away by the tsunami, but their optimism and brightness just inspires and touches you."

This TVEC trip reinforced ASIJ's belief that through service to local communities, our students can enrich their own education as well. ASIJ strives to continue creating more opportunities for our students to learn though service and volunteerism.

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