A NEW culture has come to Lowton High School in the vision of Japanese trainee teacher Michiko Takahashi.

The 24 years-old has a packed programme of events during her stay and is busy teaching Japanese culture, poetry, and even origami, the ancient art of paper folding, to pupils.

She will also be visiting a number of local primary schools and Wigan and Leigh College as part of her own study of the British education system.

And in Lowton High School her time will include talking to youngsters about modern Japan and even school geography lessons are directed at Japanese life.

Michiko, who is staying with Lowton High School Head of Humanities Mrs. Joy Smith and her councillor husband Peter, Leader of Wigan Council, is also keen to learn about another side of British life - pop culture!

Mrs. Smith said: "Michiko is a delight to have at school and as a guest in our home. She is keen to teach and also to learn, and she is improving her English all the time.

"She is also studying creative teaching methods in England and says she loves British pop culture, so I'm sure plenty of our pupils will be keen to enlighten her on who's who in the local pop scene in Manchester and around the region.

"She is here under the Intern Programme in which Lowton first became involved three years ago. Two years ago we had a Japanese businessman visit us and that was interesting, but Michiko is showing us a totally different side of Japanese life.

"I believe the visit is very important because it gives our pupils, as well as Michiko herself, the opportunity to see each other's point of view and look at each other's culture."

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