DUNSBOROUGH Primary School students are learning to write Hiragana in a bid to make pen pals with students from Busselton's sister city Sugito.
The schools grade four and five students have been busy hand writing Hiragana letters to send with their Japanese teacher Brendan Mills to Sugito at Easter.
Mr Mills is visiting a junior high school in Sugito to personally deliver the letters.
He said Dunsborough was kicking the project off and hoped it would add an element of interest to learning another language.
Dunsborough Primary School year four student Ava Sproule said she really enjoyed writing her letter and was looking forward to a response.
"I hope I hear from a girl and she tells me what it is like to go to school in Japan," Ava said.
"I'm also really looking forward to getting to know somebody from another country."
Ava's class friend Josh Beaton is also excited to find out about his pen pal.
"I asked him lots of questions," Josh said.
"But it was quite difficult writing the questions because a little English word is a huge word in Japanese."
City of Busselton Relationships Officer Tonia Kilian said the project was a great way to foster future exchange students for the year 9 programme.
"Year 9 Busselton students visit Sugito and spend time with a family, the Sugito students then stay in Busselton with a family.
Ms Kilian said the 2015 Student Exchange Programme was looking for a male group leader.
"The successful applicant will be expected to play a significant role in selecting up to 15 students to participate in the programme preparing, as well as accompanying them, to Japan," she said.
For more information about the role contact Mary-Lee Kemp on 9751 2113 or 0429 700 551.
