Japanese teacher in Canada to explore her own culture

Students at Saint Michael’s School here have a new teacher–and a new subject on the curriculum.
As part of the International Internship Program, 23-year-old Yoko Niwa is spending six months in Fort Frances teaching students about her Japanese culture.
“I’m having a very, very good experience because I can learn Canadian culture and learn more about my Japanese culture,” said Niwa, who arrived here Jan. 20 and will stay until July 20.
Niwa’s path to the internship here began when she was asked questions about Japan by a foreign acquaintance and she was shocked to find she didn’t know the answers.
Determined to learn more about her own culture, Niwa took a course as a tour guide. Later, giving her first tour, she was amazed to find others were interested in what she had to teach them.
“I took them on a tour in a temple and they were very, very impressed and I didn’t expect that they would be happy to hear about all that,” she said. “By thinking over their questions, I learn more about my culture.”
Niwa arrived in Canada with some knowledge of North American culture.
“If people in Canada go to Japan, it would be very different–a culture shock,” she said. “We know a little about Canadian, American culture. We watch movies from here but less things from Japan come here and if it comes from Japan, people don’t know it does.”
Niwa and her family also lived in Canada for a few years when she was a toddler although she hadn’t been here since the age of eight.
“I could choose one of the countries I wanted to go to and I really wanted to come back to Canada,” she remarked.
Niwa has been visiting classes at the school teaching students different aspects of Japanese culture with every visit. Her sessions have included origami, using chopsticks, and counting in Japanese.
While teaching Japanese culture, she has found some aspects of Canadian culture she feels are valuable.
“I think [school] is more strict than Canada. Children have extra lessons after school from grade five or six, they have less time to play,” said Niwa.
“I like the Canadian way of teaching. They can be children, I really don’t think they have to be adults so fast,” she added. “I think children have to enjoy their childhood by playing outside.
“In Japan, the teachers just teach them but in Canada they can say their opinions and share their ideas.”
Niwa plans to pursue a career that allows her to teach people about her Japanese culture as well as allow her to learn about others.
“I like to know more about different cultures,” she said. “I want to have lots of experiences and meet lots of people. I want to keep active and I don’t want to rest . . . I want to keep going.”