Pen Pal Project

Rachel Arkoosh

PREPERATION:

These are several questions that need to be answered before a successful pen pal project can even begin.

• What’s the purpose? /How long is this going to last?
• Is this to help them with their letter writing skills based out of the textbook or is this an effort to start or fuel their genuine interest in other cultures? Make a specific time line.
• Do you want the students to write two letters or keep up correspondence for several years?
• Who is going to write the letters?
• What is the level of interest at your school? Are two students half-heartedly interested or does an entire class want to write letters? If you need to encourage some students to join, how are you going to do that (English points, extra credit)?
• Do you have any support? / Is the project voluntary or required?
• What role will your JTEs play? Will they give you class time? Will they help collect the letters? Could this be an elective class project or an English club project?
• Who are your students writing to?
• Who provides the supplies?
• Who provides paper, envelopes and most importantly, postage? Can the letters be put in one large envelope and sent to one location or does each letter have to be individually posted? Estimate what the total cost of the project is before putting the cost burden on any party. A modern alternative is pen pal e-mailing. Does your school have an internet-enabled classroom?

Your search for foreign pen pals will be determined by how many you need, age, and possibly their Japanese language ability. First, contact your old schools or the schools in your community? Are there multilingual junior high schools or Japanese language classes that want practice in your old town? Also contact civic groups and religious organizations from your home country. If the grassroots approach doesn't work, time to move to Internet sources. There are Internet sites that facilitate classroom e-mail exchanges. Resources below.

EXECUTION:

Once you have identified your participants and have a good idea how the project should work, your next challenge is communicating your plans to the students and teachers involved.

Find time to explain to the students the goal (learning about peers abroad, making friends, practicing English) so they have an understanding of what they are involved in. Explain how pen pal letters work. Use the textbook examples. Give them a model letter and ideas of questions and personal statements. Make time during lunch or after school so they can get help with their letters.

Make a very specific timeline for the students and keep them to it. Verbally tell students when letters are due and how they are supposed to hand them in (on your desk, in a box, during class on Friday). Create a bulletin board to inspire interest and remind students of when letters are due. Give yourself a little extra time in the timeline. If the project is voluntary some students will drop out and you might need the more interested students to write two letters. Tell the foreign participants when they should expect the letters to keep them in the loop and interested.

With the first shipment of letters out, it would be helpful to include an introductory letter about your students, the Japanese school system, and other basic facts that the recipients should know about to read and understand your student’s letters in context. A map and photos would also facilitate the exchange of information.

FOLLOW UP:

Keep in contact with pen pals abroad and see when letters should be returning. Write thank you notes if anyone helped coordinate the project. Make time or be available to help students understand the letters they received. If necessary, make a new time line to push students to respond.

RESOURCES:

FINDING PEN PALS

There are many websites that charge a fee or are for adults looking for relationships. Make sure you know to whom you are connecting your students to. Here a couple of sites I found useful.

LETTER INSTRUCTION

New Horizon Year 1 pg. 94, 100,111

New Horizon Year 2 pg. 24, 25, 28, 29,42

New Horizon Year 3 pg. 2,3, 20, 29

Hello,

My name is (Rachel). I am 13 years old and live in (Kami) town, Miyagi. Miyagi is a prefecture North of Tokyo. I live with my mother, father, grandmother and my older brother, Mark. I have a cat. His name is Kiki. Do you have any pets? I go to (Matsu) Junior High. I have been studying English for 2 years. My favorite subject is English I am in the soccer club. Do you play sports? After school I like to read manga. Manga are Japanese comic books. Do you know any Manga?

What is Vermont like? (Matsu) is on the ocean and surrounded by mountains. It has four seasons. The weather is snowy right now. We have a big New Years' celebration. We eat special Japanese foods. What do you do for New Years'? I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours truly,

Rachel

Topics to help students write their letters: