Language is no barrier for students at Caroline Chisholm Catholic College who are learning Japanese by speaking directly to pupils in Japan.
The Palaygo program, created by the Language Discovery Company, allows the students in Braybrook to communicate face-to-face, in real-time, with peers from the Jonan Gakuen school in Osaka.
Switching between English and Japanese, students practise newly learnt words, phrases and pronunciations with their overseas counterparts through one-on-one chats, using the platform.
Language Discovery Company chief executive Frank Noda said students’ reactions to the program have been positive.
“When students use the language they’ve learned in real-life situations with peers of a similar age, they become genuinely excited and engaged,” said Mr Noda.
“They begin to see language not just as a subject, but as a fantastic tool for expressing their thoughts and interests.”
The educational partnership between the two schools was launched at Caroline Chisholm Catholic College on Tuesday, June 17, with the Consul General of Japan, Tokuro Furuya, and Maribyrnong mayor Prideep Tiwari making appearances at the event.
Mr Furuya said he was pleased to see the students engaging with the program.
“I’m happy that many students are learning Japanese and about Japanese culture, as it forms the foundation of Japan-Australia relations,” he said.
The program has benefitted from the similar time zones of Australia and Japan too, providing students with more opportunities to connect with each other.
Year 9 Caroline Chisholm Catholic College student, Adrian De Abreu, said his Japanese language skills have improved since using the technology.
“The aides in Palaygo help us to pronounce words as well as knowing what we are pronouncing, making it easier to communicate, especially as we have just learned the language,” he said.
“We are able to build connections with native Japanese speakers, talking to them daily across the world and this has helped me to understand a lot more about their culture.”
Mr Noda said there are plans to expand Palaygo “to include Chinese language learners and schools across Chinese-speaking regions in Asia and beyond.”
