Last week the third-grade classes participated in a special English class with the Hibarigaoka Gakuen Kindergarten classes.

The focus was a smoothie shop conversation where the third graders were the shop staff, and the kindergartners were the customers.

With the kindergarteners limited knowledge of English, it fell onto the third graders to guide them through the conversation and teach them the necessary English needed to order their smoothies.

It was a great to see all the third graders trying their best to help the Kindergarteners so that they could feel like they spoke English.

In the end it was a great experience for both sides with the Kindergarteners overjoyed that they could speak English and the third graders feeling a greater sense of responsibility from providing the support needed. Hopefully this sense of responsibility will be helpful for them as they move into the upper grade levels from next year.