Student Exchange

Frankston Susono Friendship Association (FSFA) have run a successful Student Exchange Program for the past 25 years where students stay for a nine to 12 month period. We have established educational links at various levels including junior primary, primary and secondary schools, technical and further education institutions and schools focusing on special education.

Student exchange is a great way to broaden your outlook and experience a new culture first hand. By beeing home hosted you learn to adapt to day to day situations that are made more challenging by the two languages and an environment completely different from their own. You are introduced to different sports, courses and subjects that you may not of  had an opportunity to try at home.  Exchange students act as abassadors by addressing community organisations and other groups in Susono and imparting as much knowledge as they can about their home city and country.

FSFA now has an Exchange Student Award provided by a local businessman Bill Oldjohn and his company ECS Pty Ltd.  Bill is also an executive member of FSFA and has been part of delegation on a visit to Susono, Japan.

The award offers students a reimbursement of some costs such as airfare, but certain criteria must be met to be eligible.

ECS Student Exchange Sponsorship Criteria.pdf

Speech Contest

We hold an Annual Japanese Speech contest for Secondary students in Frankston and surrounding areas.  All local schools teaching Japanese participate.  Each year we have in excess of 50 students competing in three proficiency levels.  Students are required to give a three to five minute public speech in Japanese without notes. It is a great test of their language skills.