Twenty-six students from the Japanese sister college of Arapahoe Community College are visiting Littleton and ACC from Feb. 2 through Feb. 15 to participate in a vacation and English program sponsored by the Spring International Language Center. The women will participate in English classes, stay in the homes of Littleton families and visit Littleton High School.

The relationship between ACC and Yonezawa Women's Junior College was established in 1991 when Yamagata Prefecture, Colorado's sister state in Japan, presented five cherry trees to the College as part of a week-long celebration of Yamagata Week. Students from Yonezawa stayed in the homes of Littleton Families during a weekend that year. 

This year, the students arrived in Littleton and met their host families on Tuesday evening, Feb. 2. They have toured the College, downtown Denver, the 16th Street Mall, the State Capitol and the Denver Museum of Science and Nature.

The students have participated in English conversation classes at the College and will continue those today, Thursday and Friday. During the weekends they are staying with their host families. 

On Wednesday Feb. 10 they will take an all-day trip to the Garden of the Gods, and on Thursday they will shop at the Castle Rock Factory Outlet Stores. On Tuesday, Feb. 9, they will visit Littleton High School.

“One of the most enjoyed activities is a day spent with Littleton High School’s Japanese classes,” said Connie Shoemaker, program coordinator and Director Emeritus of Spring International. “Michiko Bozic, LHS Japanese language teacher, creates a fun atmosphere for the exchange of Japanese and English conversation practices.”

The students’ time at ACC will conclude on Feb. 12 with a visit to the ACC president’s office in the morning and a Sayonara Party that evening, when they will share a Memory Book with their observations and writings while here. They will leave the Denver area early Monday, Feb. 15.

Host families for the students are recruited by Missy Hull, Spring International’s housing coordinator.  “Families are always eager to have the Japanese women and, in spite of the short length of their visit, they become really attached to one another,” Hull said. “When the women get ready to board the bus for their DIA departure, there are lots of tears.”   

To schedule photographs or interviews, call Connie Shoemaker at 303.797.0100, or College communications at 303.797.5709.