Twenty students from Isahaya, Japan—Athens’ Sister City—and ten students from the local area are currently participating in the Chinzei Gakuin–Tennessee Wesleyan Language and Culture Program, a two-week immersive experience centered on language, community, and cultural exchange.

     The program is now in its fifth year – started by Dr. Elizabeth Ruleman in 2019 – and is hosted on the Tennessee Wesleyan campus. Running from July 13 through July 26, the two-week program is designed to provide Japanese high school students firsthand exposure to the culture and language of Southern Appalachia, while also fostering cross-cultural friendships between residents of the two Sister Cities.
    This year’s cohort includes twenty Japanese students, ten carefully selected local high school or college student resident ambassadors, two chaperones from Japan, and a host of helpers from Tennessee Wesleyan, the Athens Sister City Committee, and local organizations and churches.
Leading the program are TWU faculty and staff members Dr. Elizabeth Ruleman, Dr. Ana Barrios, and Ersa Henry, who all share a passion for cross-cultural exchange and student development.
     In addition to language instruction and cultural workshops held on the Tennessee Wesleyan University campus, students participate in a wide range of enriching activities and excursions across East Tennessee. Highlights from the two-week program include a storytelling session and doll-making demonstration with a Cherokee artisan, traditional Appalachian folk music around a firepit, and hands-on lessons in Cherokee history and art. The group explored important cultural sites such as Red Clay State Historic Park, Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, and Fort Loudoun.   

 Students also enjoyed a full-day excursion to Rock City and Chattanooga’s Riverfront, a creative writing workshop, nature hikes, and an Appalachian quilt-making session. Social and recreational activities like a YMCA night, bracelet-making, and a lakeside afternoon at a host family’s home helped foster community and friendship among participants. A visit to DENSO, as well as events hosted by the Athens Sister City Committee including a city welcome, pool party at the university president’s home, and dinner with local host families deepened cultural understanding and showcased the hospitality of the Athens community.
     When the two weeks of the program conclude, the Chinzei-Gakuin students will return home with something much deeper than new vocabulary. They will, of course, take with them a deepened confidence in their English language skills, but also a lifetime of memories, friendships, and experience that spans across continents. The Tennessee Wesleyan family is proud to continuously play a part in fostering global connections and looks forward to continuing the Chinzei Gakuin–Tennessee Wesleyan Language and Culture Program for years to come.