It’s a unique way for students to experience a different culture and practice speaking a different language: live with a family in a small town. It’s similar to an exchange student program, minus the exchange.
For the past 10 days, a group of Japanese high school students spent time sightseeing in Muskoka while improving their English skills thanks to Muskoka Language International (MLI).
For 25 years, Muskoka Language International, the company started by Mike Ruby and Bev MacWilliams who both grew up in Muskoka, has been giving international students a variety of learning opportunities. What began as a small initiative in 1994 has become a large Toronto-based company that brings several thousand students to more than 100 communities across Canada each year.
While the program that brought this group of students to Huntsville only runs during the summer, MLI offers other options year-round including group study tours, high school placements, and homestay services.
Fifteen students from Saitama, Japan arrived in Huntsville on July 23 after a quick visit to Niagara Falls. They have been living with host families in Huntsville while touring around Muskoka. They will return home on August 3.
The students’ host families pack them a lunch and drop them off at the Huntsville Curling Club (the program’s meeting spot) at 8:30 a.m. each day.
They spend each morning in English classes taught by ESL teacher Shannon Smith. Events were organized in Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Utterson and Huntsville and included beach visits, team sports, a community tour and memory-book making to commemorate their visit. Each student made one page filled with photos of their favourite memories in Muskoka and put them together in a book to be brought back to their home school.
MLI students making their memory books
In the evenings and on the weekend, the students’ host families provide them with more opportunities to experience local activities. Sometimes host families will pair up to do group activities with their students like going to Canada’s Wonderland or canoeing in Algonquin Park.
The group is led by the students’ high school teacher, Eric Ross, who often acts as a translator, and MLI Program Coordinator Lynlee Armstrong. Armstrong is a school teacher who has spent her last three summers working for MLI.
“It’s a really amazing opportunity for international students to come see what a small town in Canada is really like while gaining more confidence using English,” said Armstrong.
MLI Coordinator Lynlee Armstrong (left) with Rina Fujiwara
To assist with the program, there were four high school students from Huntsville, three activity assistants, and one teaching assistant.
All of the students loved Canada and were excited to share their favourite memories from the trip and what they learned while here.
“I got to go boating and fishing which was a lot of fun,” said 15-year-old student Kouga Hadori. “I learned that I can use the English that I have to communicate with people, even if it’s limited.”
“It was really great to go to Algonquin Park and see deers and squirrels, I’ve never seen them before,” said Yuna Hayashi. “I loved exploring and learning about nature that is native to Canada.”
“I’d never been on any lakes like this before last week,” said Nozomi Tanaka. “During my trip I learned how to use my English communication skills as well as a lot about Canadian culture. Since Japan has become more modernized there are some similarities but there are many cultural differences such as food.”
The students’ supervisor/teacher Eric Ross is originally from San Francisco but has lived in Japan for more than 15 years.
“I’m really lucky to have such an amazing group of young people,” said Ross. “Japanese students are really well behaved. If you tell them a set of rules and schedules they’re great at following them.”
MLI is always looking for more people to host international students here in Muskoka. Visit mliesl.com for more information.
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