- Real-time interaction with people of the same age from abroad from an early age brings the world closer to you.
- By enhancing pre- and post-learning, the experience will not be a one-time event, but a memorable one.
- Fostering independence, inquisitiveness, and an SDG mindset through making friends and having fun learning
The award will be presented to a wide range of products and services that support childcare with IT,BabyTech® Award JapanThe winner of the 2021 Excellence Award in the "Learning and Playing" category was the online service, "Kindergarten and Nursery Schools in Japan Connecting Japan to the World.EN-TRY (Entry)The "Online World Connection Service" is a service that connects children to the world online. It may sound simple to say that it is a service that connects children with the world online, but it is packed with many mechanisms to pique children's curiosity about the world by providing them with a period of thorough preparation in advance! We asked Ms. Hikari Okada of Thinkalot, the company that operates EN-TRY, to give us an overview of the service, how it was developed, and what the future holds.
(We spoke to...)
Thinkalot Corporation
Hikari Okada
Experience connecting with the world from childhood
Editorial:Thank you very much for your time today. The EN-TRY World Exchange, which allows you to connect with kindergartens and preschools overseas using online, sounds wonderful! Please tell us about the concept and its appeal.
Okada:The purpose of EN-TRY World Exchange is to broaden children's horizons through online "world exchange". We believe that having exchanges with their peers overseas from an early age, when they are more sensitive and less prejudiced, is an experience that will expose them to a variety of differences and at the same time create the foundation for children's curiosity and respect for diversity.
In addition to the online exchange, the program is structured in such a way that participants can enjoy learning about the other's country and culture, and experience a preliminary program to introduce themselves, so that they can have a more intensive time when they actually interact online.
Editorial:Many parents and preschool teachers think, "I want my child to be exposed to the world from a young age! I think there are many parents and preschool teachers who think "I want to expose my child to the world from a young age," but in many cases, they don't actually know what to do. I think this will be a solution to such a problem.
Okada:When it comes to overseas exchange, people tend to think "start with English," but we believe that language is only a communication tool. We believe that the original purpose is to learn "that there are many different countries and cultures in the world" and to have fun interacting with people from all over the world. In Online Live, a puppet named "Magoo" acts as an interpreter and guide, allowing you to enjoy real-time communication, so you can enjoy the exchange without anxiety.
Two months of advance preparation time deepens the exchange.
Editorial:I would like to know more details about the EN-TRY program flow from here. What kind of programs are offered before and after the online exchange?
Okada:The EN-TRY World Exchange flow consists of the following four steps: matching, getting to know the other person, playing together (*live online), and looking back and remembering.
STEP1: Matching
Plan exchange sites and live content together according to the wishes of the preschools (also support communication between teachers in advance).
STEP2: Know your partner
Learn about the exchange countries through fun videos that can be moved and voiced, and exchange video letters with the exchange preschools to get to know each other before the live performance. Furthermore, based on the collection of ideas for incorporating different cultures in daily life, we will incorporate them into activities at the preschools.
STEP3: Play together
Enjoy actual online live performance (about 40 minutes), games, quizzes, etc. Language problems are solved by a puppet guiding you in a fun way!
STEP 4: Looking back and remembering
Use teaching materials and letters to reflect on the countries and friends you have interacted with at the school and at home to make the experience strongly rooted in your memory. Ongoing exchanges can also be
Editorial:It's a lot of fun! I thought it was great that there was a period of time to "get to know the other person" instead of just interacting with them.
Okada:Yes, we try to take a longer time (often about 2 months, depending on the school's policy) for the "getting to know the other person" period in STEP 2. Our goal is to get the children interested in other countries, learn about the world, and broaden their worldview, and we believe that the amount of interest and research they have done about the other person before the 40-minute live performance is an important factor in making the online exchange intense and allowing them to continue to personalize the world events afterwards.
Editorial:Can you talk more about each step from here?
Okada:In the STEP 1 matching process, you will decide on (1) the country of your choice, (2) the preschool of your choice, and (3) the content of the live online program. as of August 2022, you will work together to select an exchange site from among more than 200 preschools in 14 countries with few time differences, each with its own unique characteristics. As for countries, you can choose from a rich lineup including New Zealand, Australia, Gram, Kenya, India, Thailand, China, and Singapore.
Editorial:There are so many different countries!
Okada: In addition to country and region, there are also cases where matching is based on the characteristics of the preschool and the content of the event. For example, we may want to match a mixed-age preschool with an overseas preschool that has children of all ages in one class, or a Halloween event in October, in order to match children in the middle to senior grades.
Editorial:It's great to have so many options to choose from.
Okada:Once a match is made, the next step is to "get to know the person. As a rough guide, we often set a schedule to spend about 2 months (*depends on the preschool's policy) on this step. Specific activities to be undertaken at the preschool include (1) learning about the partner country through a video introducing the country of exchange, (2) exchanging video letters, and (3) introducing country-specific ideas for incorporating different cultures into daily life.
Editorial:Can you elaborate on this as well?
Okada:First, the video is a fun way to learn about the food and culture of the other country while moving your body with a fish character called "Magoo.
After learning about the other country through video materials, we exchange video letters. Here, we introduce the children's brief self-introductions and how they are spending their time at the preschool. This step helps to build anticipation and familiarity with what kind of friends they will be interacting with each other. (The video letter is created by EN-TRY based on materials received from each preschool.)
Other times, we give them advice on how to feel the world in their preschool program, such as drawing a picture of the flag or something famous from the other country, dancing a dance from that country, or trying the food of that country.
Editorial:Through this step, you are cultivating an interest in foreign countries, etc. in children.
Okada:After that, it's time to go live online. First, they greet each other in their own language, and after playing games and quizzes with Magoo, they will ask each other questions in the Q&A corner.
Editorial:It seems to be a natural way to enjoy interaction.
Okada:Yes, we do. We believe that the experience of thinking of a question, asking it, and having it answered, even if it is only a short conversation, will give the children a great deal of confidence.
Editorial:I feel that by gaining this kind of experience from a young age, we will be able to see everything in a positive light.
Okada:The children actually commented that they had a lot of fun and that they wanted to interact with the children more. I was impressed by the children's growth," and "I want to interact with them more," from teachers and parents. I was impressed by my child's growth," and "It gave me a chance to be more interested in the world.
Editorial:Can we continue to interact with them?
Okada:Of course. This is probably the case more often than not. Some preschools continue in-depth exchanges with the same preschool, while others want to expose their students to different cultures through exchanges with a different foreign preschool each time they visit.
The development of the program began with the idea of "bringing people into contact with foreign countries. Our goal is a world where international exchange is the norm.
Editorial:After hearing your story, I realized once again that it is a very comprehensive service. Can you tell us about the process leading up to the development?
Okada:EN-TRY World Exchange began with the desire of the management team members who have children to expose them to foreign countries from an early age. 2019 was the first year of the three-year process of building the service, which officially launched in 2021.
Editorial:What were some of the challenges in creating the service?
Okada:The hardest part was making connections with overseas preschools and kindergartens. We explained what we wanted to do to the overseas preschools and chose those that agreed with us.
Editorial:I would like to know how and why you applied for the BabyTech®️ Award Japan 2021.
Okada:As we continued to develop and improve the program, we learned of the BabyTech®️ Award, a trusted children's technology award, and decided to apply, thinking that winning would help us reach more people about our services.
Editorial:Thank you very much! Finally, what is your outlook for the future?
Okada:In the future, we would like to further enhance our online live programs as well as our pre-live and post-exchange programs. EN-TRY World Exchange is a program that we have created through trial and error together with everyone at the preschool. We hope to continue working with those who share our vision to create a world where international exchange for children is the norm!
Editorial:If children could have such experiences from childhood, the world would become closer and more interesting! Thank you very much for your wonderful talk today, Mr. Okada.
After the interview
With the prolonged Corona disaster and the current war in Ukraine, I feel there is a big gap between the ideal and the reality, despite the importance of "diversity" in the SDGs. When I heard about the services offered by EN-TRY World Exchange, I was impressed by its philosophy and programs. I was impressed by the philosophy and program of EN-TRY World Exchange. I believe that the experience of being in contact with foreign countries will greatly expand the world of children, and at the same time, it will give them an opportunity to objectively look at the Japan in which they live.
EN-TRY" Official Website
https://www.tal-entry.com/
Interviewing and writing:Misako Tateoka
From an IT company, she switched careers to the editing and publishing industry. Currently, I work as a freelance editor and writer, editing and writing in a wide range of fields such as travel, gourmet, and social.
What is important is "to convey valuable information to readers in an interesting and easy-to-understand manner.
He has been involved in the production of numerous magazines, including TRANSIT, FRaU, and Metro Minute.
BabyTech is always stimulated by all the services and products that I wish I had when I was a child! I am always inspired by the things I encounter at BabyTech. My hobbies are traveling, cooking, and aikido.
