ARGYLE - Stacie Butson, daughter of Mike and Gina Butson, Argyle, and member of the Dougherty Creek 4-H club, is hosting a young lady from Tokyo, Japan as part of a 4-H cultural exchange program from July 26 until August 22. The Japanese youth's name is Reina Tanaka. Tanaka is part of a 41 member delegation visiting Wisconsin this summer through one of two partnering programs.
The programs, coordinated through the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension, bring Japanese and Korean youth to Wisconsin 4-H homes and send 4-Her's to Japan and Korea on a yearly basis. Labo, the widespread national cooperating organization in Japan, teaches English and other languages to Japanese youth in small groups that meet weekly after school. During the meetings or Labo parties, the students acquire language skills and learn to appreciate cultural understanding. Tanaka is with the Labo program. LEX, is a similar program to Labo, but offers home-stays to Japanese, Korean and Mexican youth.
After an orientation in Madison, the youth went to stay with their host families located throughout Wisconsin. The families welcome the youth into their homes and make them a part of their family for one month. The youth even share in household chores with their host sister or brother. The youth share information about their families and cultures, and everyone in the family gets an education in learning to communicate in another language.
The delegates will return to their home country with a unique experience to relate. The programs have the additional benefit of fostering long-term friendships. Many families and delegates continue to stay in contact with each other long after the home-stay ends and Wisconsin 4-Her's have the opportunity to experience a reciprocal visit with their host-brother or sister in Japan or Korea.
Persons interested in hosting or traveling with these or any other international 4-H exchange with Australia, Norway, Finland, Mexico, Costa Rica or other countries, contact your county's University of Wisconsin Extension 4-H Youth Development Educator or visit www.uwex.edu/ces/4h/ onlinpro/international.cfm
The programs, coordinated through the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension, bring Japanese and Korean youth to Wisconsin 4-H homes and send 4-Her's to Japan and Korea on a yearly basis. Labo, the widespread national cooperating organization in Japan, teaches English and other languages to Japanese youth in small groups that meet weekly after school. During the meetings or Labo parties, the students acquire language skills and learn to appreciate cultural understanding. Tanaka is with the Labo program. LEX, is a similar program to Labo, but offers home-stays to Japanese, Korean and Mexican youth.
After an orientation in Madison, the youth went to stay with their host families located throughout Wisconsin. The families welcome the youth into their homes and make them a part of their family for one month. The youth even share in household chores with their host sister or brother. The youth share information about their families and cultures, and everyone in the family gets an education in learning to communicate in another language.
The delegates will return to their home country with a unique experience to relate. The programs have the additional benefit of fostering long-term friendships. Many families and delegates continue to stay in contact with each other long after the home-stay ends and Wisconsin 4-Her's have the opportunity to experience a reciprocal visit with their host-brother or sister in Japan or Korea.
Persons interested in hosting or traveling with these or any other international 4-H exchange with Australia, Norway, Finland, Mexico, Costa Rica or other countries, contact your county's University of Wisconsin Extension 4-H Youth Development Educator or visit www.uwex.edu/ces/4h/ onlinpro/international.cfm
