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2023.11.08

Event Report] Field Trip To Meiji Jingu Shrine

Hello!

This is Aya from GLI Online.

This is the fourth field trip reported this year!

This time the destination is in Shibuya Ward.Meiji Jingu ShrineThe following is a list of the most common problems with the

First of all, what is a field trip? If you are wondering what a field trip is, let us introduce you to one of GLI's most popular events.

What is a Field Trip?

This year we went on a field trip to

Ueno, the Imperial Palace, Sky Tree, and now Meiji Shrine.

All are very popular places that attract many tourists not only from Japan but also from all over the world.

In GLI's field trips, we go to such tourist attractions and interview foreign tourists in English.

I don't speak English well enough to do interviews in English..."

My son is very shy, he can't talk to strangers..."

Some may think that this is a good idea.

However, despite these concerns, it is an event that children can enjoy and grow a lot on their own.

We saw many children gain confidence and grow in confidence at the Meiji Shrine this time as well!

Pre-Study at Hiroo School

Before leaving for Meiji Shrine, the children gathered at Hiroo School!

This time, in addition to the previous interviews, we had the added mission of guiding the tourists ourselves.

For this purpose, participants were given homework to "research Meiji Jingu Shrine"....

With the help of their families, the children have been researching Meiji Jingu Shrine.

There are 36,000 trees at Meiji Shrine."

Meiji Shrine was built in 1920."

Because Emperor Meiji was fond of wine, wine barrels were placed along with sake barrels."

...and many other trivia.

Of course, as usual, we practiced questions we wanted to ask in English and learned about manners in public places.

What was impressive in the pre-study setting was the teamwork among the children, who usually study in different school buildings and have mostly never met each other before.

Discussion of roles within the group and the order of interviews, and role-playing of actual interviews.

They were seen actively calling out to each other and working on their own.

Finally, we go to the interview!

After practicing the interview thoroughly in the pre-study, we finally arrived at our destination, Meiji Jingu Shrine!

Even on the train, the conversation is so lively that it is hard to believe that it is the first time we have met.

We hit it off so well that it was hard to believe we were meeting for the first time.

Before going out for the interview, we had a picnic lunch at Yoyogi Park to fill up our stomachs.

There were many foreigners in Yoyogi Park, so some of them suggested, "Maybe this is a good place for the next interview?" Some of the children suggested, "Maybe this is a good place for the next interview!

Eating lunch together, the team bonded more and more.

Let's go!

Meiji Jingu Shrine was the most crowded of the past four field trips!

Most of them seemed to be foreign tourists.

Children who visited Meiji Shrine for the first time were surprised at the size of the torii gate, the number of trees, and the spaciousness of the shrine grounds.

Of course, the large number of foreigners was overwhelming.

We then split into two groups and immediately began the interviews!

The first couple I spoke to were from Belarus.

When conducting interviews, there are roles within the group.

Two people took turns asking questions, two others took notes on the interview, and one more person recorded the interview on an IC recorder.

If a child had trouble communicating during the interview, other children supported him or encouraged him to speak louder! and encouraging them to speak louder!

After one interview, they cheerfully greeted each other with "Thank you!" and "Have a nice day!" and immediately ran off to the next interviewee.

In front of the sake barrels is a popular photo spot for foreigners!

Our staff members were fascinated by the children who went around the vast grounds of the Meiji Shrine, interviewing one after another.

It was hard to keep up with them!

Talking to new people for the first time is nerve-wracking even for adults, but instead of being nervous, they say, "I'm having fun!

I'm so excited! and the children are becoming more and more powerful.

I always aim to interview three tourists (three groups) during a field trip within a one-hour activity time.

This time, however, both teams were able to talk to 11 (groups) of tourists!

Presentation Time

After a quick interview time, we returned to the classroom to prepare for the presentation.

Each of them summarized the questions they had asked and the trivia about Meiji Jingu Shrine they had taught to tourists in their speeches.

Again, we showed each other our notes and listened to recordings to recall the names of people we had talked to and what they had said.

We saw them cooperate with each other.

Finally, it is time for the presentation!

With their fathers and mothers looking on, everyone tried their hand at speaking in English!

The students were able to concentrate and complete the entire process, from drafting to presentation, within an hour of returning to the classroom after the interview.

Even the children who participated for the first time gave their presentations in English at the end. When their presentations were over and they were applauded by their parents and friends, they all showed beautiful smiles full of confidence!