With the 60th anniversary of the sister city relationship between New Westminster, British Columbia, and Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture, approaching in 2023, the second online exchange event connecting youth from both cities and countries was held. Reflecting feedback from participants who felt they didn't have enough time to talk in the previous 60-minute session, this time the event was expanded to a 90-minute slot.
Of the 33 participants, those who had attended the first session seemed quite comfortable with the exchange in both languages. On the other hand, the new faces who joined for the second session looked nervous at first, but they warmed up within 10 minutes, and after the session ended, some said they wished they could have talked more.
According to the participant survey, 50% of respondents said they "wanted to study English/Japanese more," and 94% commented that they "would like to participate again."
The Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce plans to continue holding events that connect many young people as part of its sister city project. The next event is scheduled for September 2022.
Planning: Karen Baker-MacGrotty
Operated by: Mari Kato
New Westminster in BC, Canada and Moriguchi in Osaka, Japan will mark their 60th anniversary of the first sister cities between Canada and Japan in 2023. The Japan Canada Chamber of Commerce has conducted the second Youth Online Session for young participants from Canada and Japan on May 14th, 2022. It was expanded into a 90-minute session reflecting feedback from the participants of the previous 60-minute session.
Out of the total 33 participants, some from the previous session seemed to be more relaxed and used to talking in both English and Japanese. New participants were a bit nervous at first; however, they didn't need 10 minutes to start enjoying the interaction.
According to the post-session survey, 50% of respondents said they now want to study Japanese/English as a second language while 94 % of them are already interested in coming back to the next session.
JCCOC will continuously offer a series of events to connect youth in Canada and Japan under the sister city project in the future. The next Youth Online Session is scheduled in September 2022.
Organizer: Karen Baker-MacGrotty
Facilitator: Mari Kato
<Scenes from the online exchange meeting>
