SEAHOLME Primary School students were turning Japanese last week. They really thought so.

Future linguists donned traditional Japanese costumes and martial arts outfits in a Japanese cultural celebration to highlight a Japanese teacher exchange program.

Seaholme Primary School hosted 10 student teachers from Nagoya’s Women’s University for two weeks.

The students taught Japanese language classes and hosted cultural activities such as origami classes, dance classes, hiragana, calligraphy exercises and Japanese songs to reinforce language retention.

Asian education co-ordinator Rodd Issell said the student teachers were working with children and staying in home stays to enhance their English language skills.

“The kids absolutely love it,” he said.

“Kids are gregarious anyway, the opportunity to mix with these girls, they relish the opportunity, they love the company and learning the language,” he said.