Blog: May 2025 Update

Added Monday 16th June 2025 by Michael Davies ()

ダラムキャンパスの５月は忙しく、あっという間に過ぎてしまいました。ヨークやホーリーアイランドへの日帰り旅行、そしてプログラムのメインイベント、パリへの研修旅行など思い出に残る行事が目白押しでした。その他にも、地元の小学校へ訪問し日本文化を紹介するなど、文化活動や勉強にも忙しく過ごしています！

May has been another busy and exciting month for our Spring Programme students, with a fantastic mix of academic life, cultural exchange, and unforgettable trips. From historic cities and local museums to the heart of Paris, this month’s schedule has taken us far and wide.

We began with a Saturday trip to York, where students explored the city’s rich history, winding streets, and famous landmarks, including the stunning York Minster.

There was also plenty of time for shopping, and many students enjoyed visiting The Shambles, which reminded them of Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley — a definite highlight of the day.

Later in the month, our students headed to the Beamish Museum with Jacob and Debra. As always, Beamish provided a vivid and hands-on experience of life in the North East in the 19th and early 20th centuries. From vintage transport to traditional sweets and shops, students enjoyed stepping back in time.

 

A few days after this, several students joined Michael and Debra for a visit to a local school, where they introduced Japanese culture through a variety of interactive activities. These included origami, calligraphy, chopstick games, a Japanese language class, and even a chance for pupils to try on happi coats and yukatas.

It was a fantastic opportunity for cultural exchange and was warmly received by the school community.

Towards the end of May, students flew to France for the Pairs field trip, accompanied by Jacob, Helen and Michael. Over five days, students visited many of the city’s iconic locations, including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Versailles, and of course, Disneyland Paris. It was an exciting and memorable week — a definite highlight of the course.

To end the month, all our students visited Holy Island and Seahouses with Debra and volunteer Leigh-Ann. With fresh sea air, scenic views, and a relaxed pace, it was the perfect way to wind down after such an action-packed few weeks.

 

Alongside these adventures, regular English classes continued throughout May, giving students the chance to reflect on their experiences while continuing to improve their language skills. We now look ahead to June — the final stretch of the programme — but for now, we’re enjoying the memories of a full and rewarding month here at Teikyo in Durham.

Added Monday 16th June 2025