Airmen participate in English exchange with Nikkei students

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marcus Morris
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  A group of 16 students from the Nikkei College of Business recently participated in a three-day English conversation exchange program here Feb. 5.

This was the third time Kadena has hosted the Nikkei College of Business, and the program focused on improving the students' English skills, while also giving them the opportunity to interact with Air Force members.

"This is a beneficial program," said Tech. Sgt. Stacey Fusco, 353rd Special Operations Group NCO in charge of knowledge management. "It allowed us to share not only our experiences and culture, but helped us integrate with the host nation and learn from them."

The students were broken up into five groups with two volunteers in each group and worked on different themes such as traveling overseas, staying at home or school and introductions during the course of three days.

"The program allows our military to support the local community by hosting a program for local students to help improve their English skills," said Keiko Toma, 18th Wing community relations specialist. "It is also an opportunity for Air Force members to interact with local students and prepare the students for interacting with their host family while studying abroad in Australia."

"This was my first time volunteering for programs like this," said Fusco. "I am grateful for the opportunity to teach the local college students and I will definitely be doing this again."