Yamate High School Student Exchange Program This is a year-long, reciprocal exchange program for students who are studying Japanese. Students attend Yamate High School, a private co-educational school, in Yokohama, Japan and receive special Japanese as a second language instruction as well as attend regular classes at Yamate. An Alberta student is billeted with a host family in Japan, while a Japanese exchange student is billeted with the Alberta host family and attends high school in Alberta. Alberta /Ritsumeikan Reciprocal Student Exchange Program This is a simultaneous exchange opportunity for high school students. Prior instruction in Japanese is not required. Students receive special Japanese as a second language instruction as well as attend regular classes at Ritsumeikan, a private school in Japan. Emphasis is on learning Japanese language, culture, history, geography, traditional arts, and traditional sports. The Alberta student is billeted with a host family in Japan, while a Japanese exchange student is billeted with the Alberta host family and attends high school in Alberta. Yamate High School Student Exchange Program - Short Term This is an annual program that rotates by region (Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer).In April, approximately 200 Yamate students come to Alberta for two weeks. They are billeted with Alberta families and attend classes in their host school. In July, Alberta students pay a return visit to Japan and stay with Japanese families. All costs in Japan are covered by Yamate High School.