On June 30, 2024 (Sunday), HelloWorld Inc., which advocates the vision of creating a society where it is natural to have friends in one country each around the world and the railway-crossing social implementation consortium 'JTOS,' collaborated to hold the 'Machinaka ENGLISH QUEST,' a new international exchange program that allows elementary and junior high school students of all nationalities to communicate in English and clear missions as team at Shinjuku Central Park. This is the fourth initiative of 'JTOS,' which aims to elevate Startup companies' advanced technologies and ideas for problem-solving to social implementation.
Event summary: This program is a fieldwork of approximately three hours where 3 to 6 children form a group and, together with foreign adults (guides), use English as a common language to take photos at designated checkpoints, as well as clear multiple missions of varying difficulty levels as a team. The children participating do not have to have proficient English skills, so it naturally increases communication through body language, facial expressions, and other forms of non-verbal communication, promoting mutual understanding and improving English skills.
Background and Purpose: HelloWorld Inc. promotes the broadening of children's perspectives and the fostering of attitudes toward actively learning and international exchange by offering homestay experiences in the homes of foreigners living in Tokyo and Okinawa and hosting various new international exchange programs such as 'Machinaka ENGLISH QUEST.' This is the first opportunity to recruit children without limiting it to Japanese, and publicity will be done through transportation media such as JR East Japan, Tokyu, Odakyu, and Seibu. According to 'Survey on Awareness of Coexistence with Foreigners*,' nearly 70% of respondents answered that 'troubles arise due to differences in culture and customs' or 'troubles arise due to language barriers.' By advancing efforts with HelloWorld Inc., we aim to contribute to problem-solving and realize a vibrant route with diversity as a railway company. *Survey by the Immigration Services Agency (Publicized in March 2020)
Image: Event Image
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In addition, in the "Survey on Awareness of Coexistence with Foreigners※," nearly 70% of respondents answered that they had experienced trouble due to cultural and habitual differences and language barriers. Regarding this as a challenge to achieving a multicultural society, we aim to contribute to problem-solving and realize a vibrant and diverse community along the railway line through our efforts with HelloWorld Corporation as a railway company.
※ Survey by the Immigration Services Agency (released in March of Reiwa 6)