On Sunday, August 24, 33 students from Class 3 of the first-year IM Course departed from Kansai International Airport, marking the start of their one-year study abroad experience in Canada. Many parents came to the airport to see them off, and the students embarked on their journey with warm encouragement and high hopes.

Currently, 58 students are enrolled in the first-year IM Course. As part of the program, they will spend one year studying abroad in either Canada (Northern Hemisphere), or Australia and New Zealand (Southern Hemisphere). This group of 33 students is headed to Canada, timed with the beginning of the new school year there. In preparation for departure, the students listened to experiences shared by their senior peers and made thorough preparations.

While in Canada, each student will attend a different local school and stay with a host family, naturally using English in their daily lives and experiencing Canadian culture firsthand. There may be moments of confusion due to language barriers or cultural differences, and some may feel uncertain living away from home. However, this year-long experience is a valuable opportunity not only to improve language skills but also to foster independence, adaptability, and cross-cultural understanding.

Because of the long duration of the program, students will likely face challenges and uncertainties. Yet, by overcoming each hurdle on their own, they will surely discover the meaning of their personal study abroad journey, gain broader perspectives, and achieve deep personal growth. We sincerely look forward to welcoming back the 33 students of Class 1-3, enriched with new experiences and learning from their time abroad.

At Kansai International Airport before departure — IM Course Class 1-3 students taking their first step toward the future with their peers.