Pyeongtaek Youth Experience 'Global Classroom' in Singapore and Matsuyama, Japan

Pyeongtaek International Exchange Foundation

Strengthening Global Competencies Through Youth Exchange Programs Abroad

Youth from Pyeongtaek City in Gyeonggi Province took part in international exchange programs during the summer vacation, attending classes and experiencing home life with local students in Singapore and Japan.

On August 13, the Pyeongtaek International Exchange Foundation announced that it had concluded its international exchange program for local middle school students. Participants were selected with the cooperation of the Pyeongtaek Office of Education.

From August 3 to August 8, the foundation dispatched 10 third-year middle school students to Singapore for a six-day, five-night program. Partnering with the Singapore YMCA, the students visited Saint Hilda's Secondary School, attending classes with local students and communicating in English.

The students also visited Merlion Park and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore to learn about the country's history, culture, and urban development. The program was structured as a "study tour" that incorporated English learning, school exchanges, and cultural exploration, rather than simple sightseeing.

Together with Matsuyama City in Japan, Pyeongtaek’s sister city, a mutual visit program was arranged in which 10 students from each city were paired for one-on-one exchanges. In July, middle school students from Matsuyama visited Pyeongtaek, experiencing Korean traditional culture and staying for seven days and six nights with the families of Pyeongtaek students.

Subsequently, from August 6 to August 12, 10 middle school students from Pyeongtaek visited Matsuyama. The students toured key cultural sites and experienced local life and culture firsthand by staying in Japanese homes through homestays.

A representative of the Pyeongtaek International Exchange Foundation stated, "For young people to visit foreign countries and interact with peers is greatly beneficial for developing the international perspective and cultural understanding required in today’s global era. We will continue to expand youth international exchange programs, so that young people can experience a variety of countries and cultures and further develop their global competencies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.