Hello. My name is Moeno and I’m from Japan. I can’t believe it’s already been one year since I came here. Last year I graduated my university and before I get my job as an English teacher, I could have opportunity to come and see Finish education that I’ve always interested in and wanted to see. And now I can feel my decision was absolutely correct.
During this intern, mainly I’d been acting in Mutala School and thanks to the great support by my mentor Olavi and also Risto and Tarja, I could visit other schools as well. Everyone welcomed me warmly and helped me a lot. Fortunately, I had a whole year, so I could visit every class and have my lessons mainly by introducing Japanese cultures. I was so happy that pupils have tried our cultures with all efforts and joyful and got interested in. Also we had Origami Club during some long recesses and some pupils have made several works. I really appreciate teachers for all corporations during my lessons. I’m so impressed in everything in Mutala School, for example, studying throughout project-style in a group (which is one part of new curriculum), moving school, Verso, ICT education, being a host school of so many interns and exchange students from other countries, Yrityskylä(Me&MyCity)…etc.
As I said, that’s so great to visit other schools like a tour. I visited kindergartens, a vocational school, high school and other primary schools. Each school has each theme and goal and ways of teaching and learning. It’s so precious to see the differences between Finnish schools. The main thing I’d like to bring back to Japan is that we can leave the ways of learning in the hands of pupils. Of course teachers can give them ideas and tips to reach goals at first or when they need, but after that it’s pupils’ turn. They can collect knowledge about their project and create the process to make it by themselves with teachers’ just watching over the progression of it. It’s absolutely new for me and I noticed it’s quite successful.
Thanks to all teachers and pupils and my great host family, I could experience a lot of Finnish cultures. Finnish traditional foods, watching Finnish baseball games, swimming in the lake, visiting Koli and Patvinsuo National Park, outdoor sauna at summer cottage, picking berries and mushrooms in the forest, knitting a mat with kangaspuut, visiting museum, winter sports, traditional holidays, yötön yö…uncountable! By knowing another cultures, we get to know our own cultures and countries from a different point of view so that we can notice new things about it still. And studying Finnish language gave me so many treasures.
Now I have to say goodbye. I appreciate everyone that I’ve met throughout this intern, especially to Olavi. I’ve gained valuable and amazing experiences over the past one year in Mutala School. And if you reading this now got interested in my experience or something about Japan, please let me know anytime! I’d love to help you!
Suuret kiitokset teille! Tulen takaisin Suomeen ja käyn Mutalan koulussa varmasti. Voikaa hyvin! Seikkailumme jatkuu!

Best regards
Moeno Ishimitsu