Fourteen students and their teachers from the Jenai School near Osaka have spent the past two weeks immersed in Australian culture.
The group, all girls, have been staying with families from the Banora Point School and are here thanks to the AIIU or Australian Institute of International Understanding.
AIIU local representative Kate Hurley said the group brings out students from Japan and China each year to learn more about Australia.
She said she takes the students for English lessons and they also get involved with all sorts of other activities both at their host schools and out and about.
This trip the students, aged 16-17, were able to try surfing as well as enjoying trips to the Currumbin Wildlife Sancturary and Mt Cootha in Brisbane.
“Students have to apply to come out here,” Kate said.
“Their English ranges from good to very basic but I always notice a major improvement in their English by the time they go home.
“They are able to build up confidence being with Australian families and having to speak English – it helps them so much.”
