With support from the University of Newcastle, three primary school teachers from Newcastle's Japanese sister city, Ube, have spent three weeks studying English on campus.

Professor Kevin McConkey, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Global Relations), presented the teachers with a Certificate of Proficiency in English at a farewell ceremony held on Wednesday.

English is set to become a compulsory subject for year 5 and 6 students in Japan. The visitors travelled to Newcastle to improve their English skills and collect ideas for teaching.

As well as studying English at the University's Language Centre, the teachers also visited a number of local primary schools and attended Japanese classes on campus.

This year celebrates 30 years of the sister city relationship between Ube and Newcastle. More than 100 Novocastrians visited Ube in April this year and a group from Japan is set to visit Newcastle in November.