Sam Wright, a senior at The J. Frank White Academy (JFWA) of Lincoln Memorial University (LMU), will soon begin an immersive study abroad program in Shinjuku, Tokyo. For three months, Sam will focus on advancing his Japanese language skills while exploring the country he hopes to one day call home.
Sam, who has attended JFWA since 2018, discovered his passion for Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic when he started learning Japanese as a hobby. That initial spark led him to participate in the World School Forum in Tokyo in 2023. JFWA has a long-standing partnership with World School and Kanto International High School as the only U.S. representative school, a distinction that gives its students unique access to international experiences.
This time, Sam will take part in an exchange program between JFWA and Kanto Senior International High School in Tokyo. Designed to complement the World School International Forum, the program will allow Sam to study in Japan while two Japanese students attend JFWA in Tennessee.
“After attending World School, I knew I wanted to come back,” Sam said. “This program is the result of a lot of effort, and I’m so excited to immerse myself in the language and culture I love.”
While in Shinjuku, Sam will take several Japanese language courses and an English class to compare teaching approaches in Japan and the United States. He also hopes to broaden his skills by exploring other languages, such as Korean or Chinese. To fully immerse himself in the Japanese culture, Sam will live with a host family during his stay.
After graduating from JFWA, Sam plans to attend LMU, where he will major in English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) education. His ultimate goal is to return to Japan as a full-time English teacher.
“JFWA has played such a big role in helping me pursue this dream,” Sam said. “I’m grateful for the encouragement I’ve received, and I can’t wait to represent our school while studying abroad.”
JFWA is proud to support students like Sam, who exemplify the academy’s commitment to academic excellence and global citizenship.
The J. Frank White Academy is a private, college preparatory day school serving grades Pre-K through 12 on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University. JFWA is fully accredited and STEM certified by Cognia, which is the first internationally recognized mark of quality for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) schools and programs, signaling the growing emphasis on STEM education by educators, politicians, and business leaders around the world. For more information contact JFWA at 423.869.6234 or visit our website at JFWA.LMUnet.edu.
