Mishima International Relations Association (MIRA)
Mishima International Relations Association (MIRA) sponsors events and services to promote and improve international relations between foreigner residents and citizens of Mishima. To foster mutual understanding, MIRA not only promotes cultural exchange with foreign sister cities but also organizes various interesting events in cooperation with the city administration of Mishima and a large corp of volunteers.
Foundation
MIRA was established on April 23rd, 1992
Members
462 private members, 22 groups and 111 corporations (as of January 5th 2000): 595
Sister Cities
Pasadena , California ,USA(since1957) New Plymouth , Taranaki,New Zealand(since1991) Lishui, Sekko, China(since1997)
Annual Eevents:
January; New Year Party
This party is for members and foreigners staying or living in or around Mishima. In the joyful discotheque and in other programs, participants are able to make friends with people from various countries, for example, the USA, England, Australia, New Zealand, Peru, the Philippines and others. March; Junior High School Students Delegates to New Plymouth Seven delegate, chosen from students of junior high schools in Mishima, along with two winners of the English speech contest organized by MIRA, are sent to New Plymouth. The city government of Mishima provides a 200,000 yen subsidy to each participant. July and August; Sending Students to Pasadena We send two students between the ages of eighteen and twenty-three to Mishima's sister city, Pasadena, for about a month between July and August every year. Eligible participants are citizens of Mishima and have passed written and oral tests of English. Mishima City gives each of the successful candidates 180,000 yen as a subsidy.
Receiving Students from Pasadena
One to three college students from Pasadena stay at the homes of Mishima citizens for about a month between July and August every year. The students teach English at summer courses for conversational English during their stay in Mishima. We are always looking for host families and ask anyone with an interest in international exchange for help.
Summer Course of Conversational English
We hold the Summer Course of Conversational English 12 times in three weeks for about one month between July and August every year. We have four classes for beginners (level equivalent to the first grade of junior high), basic (level equivalent to the second grade of junior high), general beginners (level equivalent to the third grade of junior high and to the first grade of high school), and general intermediate (level equal to the second year of high school).
The members of the Mishima Intermediate Relations Association and the citizens of Mishima can join the course. Both Japanese instructors and foreign college students who are from Pasadena City teach the keys of conversational English, so you can understand it easily.
September and October; MIRA Friendship English Speech Contest
This English speech contest has two sections. One is for junior high school students and the other is for high school students, college and university students and adults. The winners of both sections can join the March trip to New Zealand with the delegation of junior high school students of Mishima for a home-stay.
Only residents of Mishima are allowed to enter; those who have lived abroad for more than one year or have been to the sister cities of Mishima as a delegate of Mishima are not eligible to win the first prize.
Courses for Teaching Japanese
The first term; September and October
The second term; from January to March
Members can learn how to teach Japanese to people from other countries using only Japanese. It is a popular course because you will learn how to teach Japanese to any foreigner, even if you can't understand their language.Let's enjoy learning Japanese
We would like to help foreigners living in Japan learn JapaneseStudy schedule
1 term includes 10 one-hour lessons, once a week
Fee
3000yen(1term)
Info
Mishima International Relationship Associations
Tel /Fax 0559-76-1020
How to join MIRA
There are three kinds of memberships: for individuals, groups, and corporations. Anyone can join MIRA regardless of age, sex, nationality or address if you fill out the application and pay the annual fees (individual: 3,000 yen, group: 5,000 yen, and corporation: 10,000 yen). Your membership is valid for one year from April 1 to March
Every MIRA member will receive the newsletter, MIRA Tsushin, four times a year, and can participate in all events like the language course and the friendship party.
Edited by Chris Bowen