From the Director of Summer Program

Greetings Keio Academy Friends and Supporters,

At Keio Academy of New York we have just completed our second successful summer program. As the Program Director, I have been reflecting on the accomplishments of the fifteen-day summer program. I can truly say that I am amazed at the scope and scale of our achieved goals.

The main goal of creating a short film in a bicultural setting was achieved by all of our participants. Students from Japan and the United States worked together to create a very special product. I was thankful to have been able to witness this creative and interactive process, which would result with these wonderful films.

During this two-week program the students also took language classes either in Japanese or English. The language classes culminated in a presentation to the parents on the last day consisting of skits and songs that displayed their newly acquired language skills. Also within the program there were many field trips to New York City, including a Broadway musical.

Perhaps more than anything, I was particularly amazed by how well all the students interacted and learned from each other. Their new friendship bonds will last long after the program ends. This was evident by the abundance of tears and hugs as the bus left campus on the final day, as the students from Japan headed to the airport.

The program truly exceeded its goals of fostering bilingual and bicultural ties between Japan and the United States in a creative, fun, and academic setting.

Warmest Regards,
Edward Consolati

サマープログラム事務局ディレクターより

参加者、保護者の皆様及プログラム運営にあたってご協力いただいた皆様、

お陰様で第２回慶應義塾ニューヨーク学院バイリンガルサマープログラムを無事終了する事ができましたのでここにご報告申し上げます。5月、6月には新型インフルエンザ流行の影響でプログラム開催が危ぶまれた時期もありましたが、光栄にも参加者希望者のキャンセルも2名のみ、引き続きプログラム実行に向けて多くの方々からサポートをいただく事ができました。また、この様な状況の中で皆様のプログラムに対する熱意及び期待を感じ、改めてプログラム成功に向けて大きな責任を自覚致しました。その後、6月に入りプログラムの準備もほぼ順調に進み、無事開催日を迎えることができました。そして先のプログラムディレクターのレポートにあります通り、参加者皆様の満足度の高い、充実したプログラムを実施する事ができました。ご参考までにプログラム終了後にいただいた参加者及び保護者方々の感想をご紹介させていただきます。

尚、2010年プログラム開催に向けて引き続きご協力及びご支援を宜しくお願い致します。

Ryuta Ohtani

Feedbacks from Participants and Parents/
参加者・保護者からのフィードバック

"大変満足度の高いプログラムでした。クロスカルチャーな環境で、充実した企画・内容であり、他に例を見ない素晴らしいプログラムだったと思います。大変満足しています。 学校の立地、環境、教育・指導方針、安全健康への配慮などすべての面で好印象を受けました。子供を託したい理想の学校と思います。"
(The parent of Anna, 15, from Sacred Heart of Tokyo)

"Thank you to everyone for such an amazing two weeks. This program opened my eyes to a world that goes beyond my dreams. Now I see my love for art can go well beyond animation. I really enjoyed the camera work and creating a film. I have always dreamed of going to Japan and now I feel that hopefully it could be in my very near future. I really loved the way of life at the academy. Everything so organized and structured to be both educational and interesting. My mom thinks it's cool when I speak Japanese to her. I can't wait to attend next year's summer program. Miss you all."
(Omar, 15, from Mamaroneck High School)

"This past 2 weeks was very exciting! Thank you so much! If you came to Japan, let's play everyone! I miss you... この２週間、沢山友達ができたり、自分でも信じられないほど英語を使って話したし、沢山笑って、最後は沢山泣いて...数え切れないほどの経験をしました。本当に楽しかったです！スタッフの皆さん、インターンの皆さん、本当にありがとうございました。ずっとずっとこの２週間のことは忘れません！"
(Manami, 15, from Keio Chutobu)

"We were very happy with the professionalism and care that all Keio employees provided the campers. All of our questions and concerns were addressed. Keio staff showed enthusiasm and concern for the campers' well-being.  "
(The parent of Hayley, 14, from Turn of River Middle School)

初日から「帰りたくない!!」と思うような楽しさでした。友達もたくさんできたのでとても嬉しいです。別れるときは、本当に辛かったです。普段の生活ではなかなかできない体験ができました。NYに住んでいる私にも楽しめる内容で、とても充実した2週間でした。
(Mayuko, 14 from Harrison High School)

"The summer cross-cultural film camp at Keio Academy raises the bar to new heights on how to creatively and successfully blend cultures for children at an age when most teenagers want to be only with their friends.  For two weeks my daughter, whose only prior connection to Japan had been through manga and anime, was immersed in Japanese language classes, film-making workshops, Udon cooking classes, talks by big-name Japanese film makers, art, games, sports, and hanging out time with a remarkably diverse group of both American and Japanese kids. Both my daughter and I couldn't have been happier with the experience, and now Olivia is more interested in Japan's culture and language."
(The Parents of Olivia, 13, Greenwich High School)

"I seasoned two weeks of summer at a unique and incredible camp. Not only that, but a bilingual camp. I learned so much there in just two weeks. I also made unique friends from half way across the world! I learned the bicultural difference between America and Japan. I really thought the video production was incredibly riveting. Making and sharing our bicultural videos of our choice was one of my highlights of summer.
Keio Bilingual Summer Program was really a fantastic experience to have during the marvelous summer break. This camp is definitely impossible to be forgotten. All my friends I made, the memories we had, will always be at Keio. This camp was two weeks of action, and a learning experience that I will never feel a second of regret."
(Paula Motsenbocker, 14, Keio Academy of New York)

Paula is one of the two 2009 Aratani Foundation Nikkei-jin (Japanese-American) Scholarship recipients attending Keio Academy of New York. Applications are now being accepted for candidates for 2010 the Aratani Foundation Nikkei-jin Scholarship. For more information about this scholarship, please visit our web page: http://www.keio.edu/english/tabid/294/Default.aspx

Lastly.../最後に...

This summer program was made possible by generous supports from:
このサマープログラムの開催にあたり、以下の記念事業及び法人の皆様にご協力いただきました。

Design the Future Funds, 150th Anniversary Commemorative Project of Keio University
ITO EN (North America) INC.
Nippon Express USA., Inc.
Nippon Express Travel USA., Inc.
NTT America, Inc.

>>Download PDF Version