This document appears to be notes from a Rotary Youth Exchange Officers preconvention workshop that took place on June 8, 2017. It discusses preparing outbound exchange students, the benefits of language study in Asia, and cultural differences between individualism/group welfare, change/tradition, competition/cooperation, and other dimensions. Representatives from Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and the USA then shared their experiences. The document ends with questions about recommending Asian countries to students, unpopular host country choices, school attendance, language learning, and trying new foods.

1. Workshop 2.4 / Thursday, 8
June
2017 Youth Exchange Officers
Preconvention
Moderator: Medicare, Chang-Hsien Hsu
RI Youth Exchange Committee
Member
RID 3480 Taiwan

2. “We must always have
our outbounds well
prepared before they
are dispatched to the
hands of our
counterpartners in the
host country.”
--Walter Wyser
Senior YEO Switzerland
2

3. 3

4. 4

5. Will Asia Language Study benefit?
1. Chinese (Mandarin)
2. Japanese
3. Korean
4. Thai
5. Other
How to encourage inbounds to learn your
language as language is the most important
part of your culture?
5

7. 7
Individualismversus Group Welfare
Change versus Tradition
Competition versus Cooperation
Informality versus Formality
Directness versus Indirectness
Practicality versus Idealism
Materialism versus Spiritualism

8. JAPAN – Masako Okusu
2005–Present Member, Rotary International
Japan Youth Exchange
Committee (RIJYEC)
TAIWAN - ET, Fang-Ju Lin
2016-17 Vice Chair of RYE in District 3500
2017-18 Chair of RYE in District 3502
8

9. Thailand - Emma Suitisang
2015-2017 District 3330 Country Correspondent
Outbound Coordinator
District 3330 Chair
Thai- Philippine Committee
U.S.A. – StephenTurban
2011-2012 Youth Exchange Inbound to
D3480 Taiwan
2014-Present Founder and co-President,
The Franklin Fellowship
2016-Present Board of Directors, Harvard
Alumni Association
9

10. “Better understanding each other’s culture –
another way to peace.”

11. 1. If you want to recommend Asian countries to your OB
students, what do you think is the most difficult part that
you may encounter?
2. How do you deal with the situation that your IB students
tell you that the host country is NOT their first choice?
3. Going to school regularly is a responsibility of a high
school student. How do you make your IB students
understand and fulfill their responsibility when they are
reluctant to enter school?
4. How do you deal with the problem that your IB students
are unwilling to learn the host language?
5. If IB students don't accept your local food, how do you
inspire them into a try?