Testimonials

Working with Gold made hosting Japanese students easy. As a teacher, nearly all of the organising was covered by Gold staff, which made for a smooth exchange that fit our busy teaching schedules. Our students benefitted a lot from this exchange, with many keen to host again next year.

Sharon Carleo – Japanese Teacher, Ocean Reef Senior High School

I have worked with GOLD Educational Tours on a number of occasions and every experience has always been positive. They are extremely supportive, professional and nothing is too much trouble. Always very quick to respond to any questions or queries. Systems in place are very efficient and respectful. Owing to excellent communication and organisation on all levels, programs are well run with students from both Australia and Japan enjoying family and school experiences together which lead to lasting memories and friendships.

Brooke Gray – Bunbury Senior High School

Thanks to Jason’s excellent exchange program. My Japanese language students have the great opportunity to experience of practicing their Japanese language skills and they build a life-long friendships with Japanese visitors through the exchange program. 

Jaeik Jeong – Mt Lawley Senior High School

Thank you Gold Educational Tours for organising a long awaited (due to Covid restrictions) inbound Japanese tour group to our college. It was enjoyable and enriching for our students and visiting students to get the opportunity to interact through a variety of activities, and get to know each other. It was also awesome to meet with all the main people supporting the tour. The coordination of the event from top down was smooth, well thought through and flexible where required. We are looking forward to more inbound and outbound exchange events in the years ahead.

Philip Chadwick – John Forrest Secondary College

Having worked with Jason and his staff at Gold Ed Tours for more than 10 years now by choice is the result of professionalism, well constructed and flexible programs and complete support whenever required. This relationship will no doubt continue for years to come.

Kurt Regan – Ridgeview Secondary College

Our students loved having the Shimodate students with us for the four days. Their visit generated a lot of excitement and enthusiasm, and we are very keen for the next exchange program. Please pass on our thanks to both Yatabe sensei and your coordinator Shiho. Yatabe sensei was very easy to work with and Shiho’s support was greatly appreciated.

Lee Ellis – Japanese Teacher, Churchlands Senior High School

Ocean Reef Senior High School was looking for an experienced partner to help build a strong connection with Japan and bring to life the value of the cultural experience for our school community. Gold Educational Tours facilitated the process with professionalism and care in working with the students, families and school staff. In every step of the process, the team at GIL were well organised and communicated effectively with everyone involved, to ensure a rewarding experience. Hosting students is now part of the fabric of our learning program and school culture.

Adrian Lee, Deputy Principal, Ocean Reef Senior High School

Penrhos College welcomed 7 short-term exchange students from a variety of high schools throughout Japan. The exchange students shadowed their host sisters at school, attended lessons, participated in special events and spent a period of one to three weeks just like a typical ‘Penrhosian’. Some of the exchange students even presented in classes such as HASS (Japanese history) and Maths (showing how they calculate without a calculator!). The highlight of their exchange was the visit to Junior school, where the Year 4 and 5 Penrhos students played traditional games, made origami masterpieces and even sang a Japanese traditional song with the very excited exchange students. The girls were hosted by not only students studying Japanese, but also the wider community.

The host families took the students to various places such as Rottnest and Margaret river on the weekends, and by all accounts, a rich rewarding experience was had by both parties. Having the exchange students in the College, wearing their own school uniforms, lifted the profile of Languages, with many non-language students enquiring how they can become part of the program. I received a huge amount of positive feedback from teachers who had the students in their classes. Thank you very much to the host families and the Penrhos students who generously welcomed the students into their homes and families. We are positive it was rewarding experience for both parties, and we hope some life-long friendships have been established. Jason Hutchinson and his team at Gold Educational Tours were truly professional. From the initial meeting and receiving of the exchange student profiles, until the final day the students attended our College, communication was very open, details and procedures were clearly explained and any queries were always promptly responded to. The exchange students were matched very appropriately to their host sisters/host family, with many families expressing their interest to be part of the program again. Any apprehensions we may have had about getting involved in the exchange program were soon alleviated with Jason personally visiting the College and discussing the exchange process. We are very keen to continue our business relationship with Gold Educational Tours.

Scott Haddrell, Head of Languages, Penrhos College

Study tours have been an integral part of our Asian Hub for several years and the Japanese Study tours we run in conjunction with Jason Hutchinson of Gold Educational Tours have been a large part of this. Jason and this team have been fabulous to work with over the course of six years. His team’s experience in working with both secondary and primary schools has meant that there is a fundamental understanding of how schools operate and the special needs schools have. GIL has effectively consulted us and developed and adapted aspects of the program where necessary. All these factors have been essential for the smooth and effective running of the tours, which is particularly vital given how busy the school year is and how important it is to meet the needs of the school community.

Home-stay families have, without fail, provided positive feedback about GIL Tours’ organisation and the impact of the study tours on their families, often signing up to host again. Feedback has included positive comments about the information they have received about the student before their arrival, as well as the program itself. The Sayonara Party, organised effectively by GIL, is also seen by all as a fitting climax to the tours and inevitably ends in teary farewells. GIL provides an effective opportunity for cultural and language exchange, short of going to Japan. Families are also often in contact with the visiting students after the study tour, another indicator of success.

Since joining the study tours program, Jason has also been responsive to staff and students’ needs by offering other opportunities. This has included extension activities, most recently a school incursion which included a range of Japanese cultural workshops run by Japanese people within the Perth community. Another major opportunity offered by GIL is a Scholarship Exchange Program, which was developed in consultation with schools in Perth and Japan and sponsorship from GIL and Japanese businesses. Our school has benefitted from this, with one of our students having been selected for a study scholarship in Japan in the 2014/15 Christmas Holidays and being able to host a Japanese student in 2015 for a similar time-frame. All reports were very favourable, inspiring other students to apply in the future. In summary, the study tours run by GIL have been an invaluable form of cultural and language exchange and have evolved into other excellent learning opportunities for our students. Jason’s team works effectively with all parts of our College community. The income generated by the tours has also been a good way for our College to promote, support and sustain language learning. It has been a very effective partnership which we intend to continue.

Karen Vardy, Head of Languages, Woodvale Secondary College

If you want to create the perfect opportunity for your students to experience Japanese culture and practice their Japanese language skills in Perth, you should try Gold Educational Tour’s exchange programs. They provide us problem and hassle free exchange programs and organise practical and exciting schedules for both Japanese and Australian students. I have been working with Jason, the Director of the company, for the past 10 years and I have never thought about working with other company. On behalf of my students and school community, I would like to thank Gold Educational Tours for the experiences that they have provided to us to build friendships with Japanese students. I look forward to many more exchanges.

Jaeik Jeong, Japanese Teacher, Mount Lawley Senior High School

Jason and his team at Gold Educational Tours are very efficient and professional and attend to all the exchange students as well as the teachers needs. I have asked them many questions and always get a quick friendly response. When they come to our school I can sit back and enjoy the experience with the students and not have to worry about anything. Working with GIL is easy and support is always there.

Ruth Tateishi, Japanese Teacher, Kent Street Senior High School

August 2011 was a special time for us at Leeming Senior High School because we were given a chance to work with Jason and Keiko from Gold Educational Tours to host a group of students from Japan. Leeming Senior High School has a long history of exchange programs with Japanese schools but this was the first exchange we have ever worked with a company other than liaising directly with teachers in Japan. It was great having a mediator from the Australian end because our needs were well understood by Jason. Our parents felt comfortable because they could contact Jason directly on some matters and myself directly on other school related matters. The administrative work felt lighter than usual. Jason visited the exchange students daily and that was reassuring to the Japanese students. A delightful experience in all!

Leeming Senior High School students visited Japan in the October holiday this year. In Nagoya, Nara, Hiroshima and Osaka we were overwhelmed by the warm welcome of the Japanese students we hosted – just 2 months ago! One student travelled eleven hours on a bus from Ibaraki ken to meet us at the Universal Studio in Osaka! The seeds of friendship we have sown are blossoming. There is nothing more rewarding than witnessing students learning from each other, breaking down physical distance, language and cultural barriers triumphantly.

Annie Mayes, Teacher in Charge Languages, Leeming Senior High School

Mandurah Senior College has had the pleasure of being involved with Gold Educational Tours for several years now and I have nothing but praise for them. My students have blossomed through these exchanges, and genuine friendships have resulted, that are now continuing through Facebook, emails and visits. Jason is very passionate about these exchanges, and his professional approach to all communications and briefings, puts both parents and students at ease immediately. A simply outstanding company who genuinely care about the students.

Rod Westerveld, Japanese / Tourism Teacher, Mandurah Senior College

Working with Jason and his team at Gold Educational Tours has been great for my Japanese language students and other students and teachers at my school. We always look forward to the next group of Japanese exchange students as they experience wonderful cultural interactions both in the classroom and during break times that they wouldn’t usually and learn not only about Japan and the people, but about themselves and their own culture. It fosters tolerance, pride in themselves and their own country, as well as providing opportunities for my Japanese language students to use the language they have learnt. Jason and his team make a point of making regular contact by phone and visits to offer support while ensuring things are running smoothly, so you know they take pride in a positive experience for all parties. They are more than willing to contact host families if needed and assist the school in any way possible if required also. Finally, the financial reward offered to our school is very fair and much better than most companies of similar operation. Although not the main motivation for using Gold Educational Tours the payments we receive provide wonderful fund-raising for our now bi-annual study tours to Japan, allowing students to have the experience of a lifetime at much less cost than what would be if we used a different agency to bring Japanese exchange students to our school. We are extremely grateful to Gold Educational Tours for this.

For a little effort, the rewards of using Gold Educational Tours over other such organisations to enrich the experiences of your students are well worth it. Do your school a favour! I highly recommend them and haven’t looked back since switching to Gold Educational Tours for our new school’s second group of exchange students and after using other companies at my previous schools. I’m more than happy for anyone to contact me by email on kurt.regan@education.wa.edu.au for a second opinion or if you have any questions.

Kurt Regan, Japanese Teacher, Atwell College

I have had the pleasure of working with Gold Educational Tours for the past two years. There was always help and support available from the company. I recommend the program as it is a great way for Australian students to learn about Japanese culture firsthand from Japanese students. Most of my students who hosted Japanese students are still in regular contact with their exchange students and a few of them are even planning trips to Japan to stay with their exchange students.

Tanya Hallett, Japanese Teacher, Lesmurdie Senior High School

Since 2010 we’ve developed a very successful partnership with Gold Educational Tours. Jason Hutchinson leads the company and constantly impresses us through his efficiency and understanding in organising the projects we’ve been involved in.

Carmel Agnello, Asian Hub Coordinator, Woodvale Secondary College