Graphic by Sesame Gaetsaloe/ The Choate News
On May 10, Readers United began hosting weekly online conversation classes with middle school students in Japan in response to school closures caused by Covid-19. The club, founded in 2016, was originally created to explore reading with younger students in Wallingford, but as the pandemic continues to negatively impact educational opportunities globally, Readers United took the initiative to connect with and mentor students at Katoh Gakuen Gyoshu Junior High School and Gunma Kokusai Academy in Japan. Reflecting on the club’s outreach, Readers United President Sakura Hayakawa ’21 said, “As Covid-19 ceased the flow of people, we felt the need to bridge nationality for cross-cultural communication.”
In each weekly session, Choate tutors and their tutees from Japan discussed cultural, social, and political topics in breakout rooms for 40 minutes before reconvening as a large group for ten minutes. The discussions surrounded current events and topics suggested by the Japanese students, including the differences and similarities in the Japanese and American culture, Japan’s high levels of mask use reflected by its collectivist society, and the significance of the Black Lives Matter protests.
Both the students in Japan and the tutors from Readers United have enjoyed their discussions. According to Hayakawa, the Japanese students commented that they enjoy learning about life in the U.S. They also believe that discussing societal issues provides more perspective on how they can be solved. Similarly, the tutors of Readers United provided positive feedback, especially in regards to how tackling relevant issues with students from another country allowed them to recognize their shared humanity.
In particular, the participants have felt that the open discussion sessions have provided insight into different cultures, lifestyles, and backgrounds. Hayakawa recalled, “Before such interactions, students from the two countries found it difficult to imagine each other’s lives, but these weekly meetings allowed us to transcend borders to deepen mutual understanding.” She added, “The discussion of culture allowed us to acknowledge how we come from the intersection of cultures and how it enriches our lives.”
With the positive feedback and high interest from students and tutors alike, Readers United is planning on maintaining the connection via weekly meetings throughout the school year. “We will continue as long as there is interest and need for us to do it,” Hayakawa said.
