LEARNING a second language is always tricky but students at Burrawang Public have taken up the challenge.
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Starting this term, students have begun learning Japanese.
Leanne Pion visits the school each Wednesday to give the students lessons not only in the language, but to teach them a bit about the country and its culture.
"It has to be both, you can't have the language without the culture," she said.
"My idea is to try and immerse them in the class so I speak as much Japanese as I can in the classroom to give them as much practice and interaction as I can."
Studying to be a teacher herself, Mrs Pion has plenty of experience with Japan.
After studying the language in high school, she went on exchange before continuing her studies at university. She then lived in Japan for two years where she worked for the government.
"I spent so many years studying Japanese but those first six months living there was like a complete shock," Mrs Pion said.
"You really need the time living it, breathing it and thinking it to wrap your head around it."
And while students at Burrawang may not master the language, Mrs Pion said studying it was still a great way for them to learn about a different culture.
"It's just to give the kids a taste," she said.
"It's good for their mental development as well.
"Like learning a musical instrument, to think in another language is good for their cognitive development."
Mrs Pion said Japanese was an easy language to learn grammatically, but the real challenge was the three different writing systems.
The older students have already learnt a few sentences and will start learning the writing systems in the coming weeks.
For the younger students, Mrs Pion said it was more about the visual elements of the language.
They have learnt how to say their name in Japanese as well as a few basic words and greetings.
Mrs Pion has used YouTube clips of a typical primary school day and Japanese picture books to help the children learn.
"It's a good way to teach them because it's fun," she said.
"Michelle (Laval, school principal) and the others teachers are great.
"They're saying good morning and goodbye in Japanese so they're exposed to it."