Reciprocal Sister School Partnerships: Second School Year

Imagine connecting with students from another country, not just through words, but through fun and creativity. This year, we kicked off our international exchange with a twist on introductions that sparked laughter and curiosity across continents(教育部國中小學校與國外姊妹校互惠機制計畫).

This MOE initiative aims to help local schools establish sister school relationships with schools in 62 countries where English is an official or commonly used language. The plan includes online cultural exchanges and collaborative teaching to broaden students' international perspectives and language skills. Schools are encouraged to apply enthusiastically, and KMJH had the honor of being accepted into this wonderful international education program, now entering the second year of collaboration with Blue Lake.

Two Truths and a Lie

For our first exchange this school year, our partner school in California has a new teacher and students joining. Instead of the usual mundane self-introductions, we played 'Two Truths and a Lie,' which required students to be creative and highlight unique aspects of themselves, making it challenging for others to guess. First, we prepared three statements about ourselves using Canva, then shared and interacted with the students from Blue Lake on the Padlet platform. Despite the distance and cultural differences, kids at this age mostly discussed games, their favorite celebrities, and their pets.

 

National Taiwan Museum of Comics

Our school is just a two-minute walk from the National Comic Museum. The museum not only preserves traditional Japanese architecture but now also features comic art elements, making it uniquely distinctive and worth introducing to friends from abroad.

To help with this, we created a simple English guide to the museum, covering sections such as History, Location, What You Can See and Do, and How I Feel about It. Additionally, combining English with four-panel comic creation, students can use their imagination to create stories that are personal and local. They can hand-draw their comics, use Canva, or generate images with AI to tell their interesting stories.

 

The Beauty of Taichung

Through the Cultural Box and diary exchange, students have completed their personal diaries on Canva. The content includes My Hobbies, School Life, and A Tourist Spot in Taichung. Next, we will print and compile these into booklets, along with some school cultural items, local Taichung specialties like sun cakes and pineapple cakes, and send them to California. We eagerly anticipate the reactions of our partner school friends when they receive the package.

 

By blending playful interactions, cultural exchanges, and creative storytelling, our students not only showcased their unique backgrounds but also built bridges with their peers in California. As we look forward to sharing our diaries and cultural treasures, we celebrate the joy of learning and connecting in innovative ways.