2015 Japanese Intensive Weekends at IPU New Zealand Tertiary Institute In 2015 IPU New Zealand (formerly IPC Tertiary Institute) hosted close to 100 year 11, 12 and 13 students from 26 schools across New Zealand, at the Japanese Intensive Weekends. We thank the Sasakawa Foundation for their generous support in funding these events. Students made their way to Palmerston North (those travelling from afar were offered travel subsidies) for a full weekend of Japanese language and culture immersion, and got a taste of university student life at IPU New Zealand. These weekends were an excellent opportunity not only for students to build on their Japanese language and experience new Japanese customs, foods, and sports, but also to meet fellow learners of Japanese from IPU New Zealand and schools around NZ, and make friends with the native Japanese speakers studying at IPU New Zealand. Students enjoyed everything from 寿司 sushi, お好み焼き okonomiyaki, and even traditional Vietnamese cuisine making, 剣道 kendo, 対抗 taiko drum workshops, and 琴 koto (Japanese harp) and 三味線 shamisen (Japanese guitar- like instrument) performances, to 茶道 tea ceremony, Japanese sports, 書道 shodo (calligraphy), 折り紙 origami, and 甚平 jinbei/浴衣 yukata wearing. In the classrooms Japanese teachers さいとう先生 Saito Sensei and たにわき先 生 Taniwaki Sensei catered for students of all levels, from beginner level through to more advanced students, increasing students’ knowledge of vocabulary, grammar, and Japanese social etiquette. Students also had the chance to experience other areas taught at IPU New Zealand, taking taster classes in TESOL (Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages), International Relations, and Mandarin Chinese. The Japanese Intensive Weekends were a great success, with many students coming to a second, and even a third weekend throughout the year. Several of the year 13 students who attended came away convinced that IPU New Zealand was the best option for them to pursue their Japanese studies, alongside TESOL and International Relations, and have since applied for enrolment in the Bachelor’s degree in 2016. See our Facebook page for photos of the 2015 Japanese Intensive Weekends: IPU New Zealand: https://www.facebook.com/IpcTertiaryInstitute Participating schools: North Island Awatapu College (P Nth) Gisborne Girls’ High School Hamilton Girls’ High School Heretaunga College (Wgtn) Hutt Valley High School Lynfield College (Akld) Lytton High School (Gisborne) Kapiti College Karamu High School (Hawke’s Bay) McAuley High School (Akld) Napier Boys’ High School Orewa College (North Shore) Pukekohe High School Rosmini College (Akld) St Mary’s Diocesan School (New Plymouth) St Matthew’s College (Wairarapa) Tauranga Boys’ College Taumarunui High School Tawa College (Wgtn) Upper Hutt College Western Heights High School (Rotorua) Westlake Girls’ High School (Akld) South Island Ellesmere College (Chch) Lincoln High School (Chch) Marlborough Boys’ High School Southland Boys’ High School .