Please join us at a special dinner to welcome new Japanese ESL students to Arizona!
Kansai Gaidai University is a four-year university located in Hirakata, Osaka, Japan. On Sunday evening, 18 August 2024, a new group of Japanese students arrived from this school, coming to Tempe for four months to study English as a Second Language (ESL).
Preston and Kumiko, along with other Tempe friends and neighbors, welcomed newly arrived Japanese students into their homes on August 18. These Tempe families participate in the OvECS Homestay program, which arranges host families for international students coming to the United States from various Japanese universities to study. The majority of these students come to study English, such as in ESL programs at Arizona State University.
These students are encouraged to participate in family dinners every day and participate in family activities. They would love to meet some Arizona neighbors and practice speaking English.
At this welcome dinner, newly arrived ESL students from Japan will meet Arizona friends and neighbors. Please practice speaking English with them. That's why they are here!
Arizona friends and neighbors who come to this event will purchase their own food from the restaurant.
The student that arrived on Sunday evening to live in Preston and Kumiko's home is Akane Murakami. She is pursuing a degree in Global Communication and Language. She is from Imabari, Ehime, Japan. Her hobbies include eating and watching Disney movies. She is actively training in karate.
Akane wrote: "I want to improve my English skills by experiencing the differences in lifestyle and cultures overseas and by talking with my host family. My favorite animal is dog. I have a one-year-old dog at home and he is very cute. On my days off, I go shopping or eat with my friends. I love to eat, and my favorite food is Yakisoba and fried rice."