PUPILS at Rossendale's largest primary school have said: "Konnichiwa" to their new teacher -- Japanese student Akane Funaki.

Akane is at Haslingden Primary School until January on a cultural exchange programme to help the children understand more about the Japanese way of life.

And when she first entered the school on Ryefield Avenue she was delighted when the pupils' greeted her with hello in Japan -- Konnichiwa.

She is staying with Ann Maguire, head of infants at the school, and has spent her first week getting to know the classes before starting to teach the pupils.

Headteacher Julie Burnside said her previous school, Cornholme Primary in Todmorden, had had a similar scheme and she thought it would be interesting for the pupils at Haslingden.

She said: "The pupils have all been fascinated because Akane is such a lovely, pleasant person.

"Everyone wanted to greet her in her own language so they learned hello, goodbye, please and thank-you.

"She has been getting to know our classes. We have 19 in the school. She is also familiarising herself with our routines before she gets a time-table."

Mrs Burnside said Akane would be teaching the pupils language and about the cultural differences. She plays the Japanese instrument the Sansin.

Akane, 24, from Saitama, near Tokyo, is a graduate and worked at a book store before she decided to train to be a teacher.

She said: "I want to be a teacher in Japan in a junior school or a high school and this is good experience for me.

"Everybody has been very interested in Japan and in me! They have made me very welcome.

"I am looking forward to my time at the school and have brought with me a lot of things to show the children, Japanese games and Japanese calligraphy sets.

"I have been showing them how to make a paper Samurai helmet called a Kabuto and will be teaching them about the culture of my country and a little bit of language.

"People keep telling me this is a big school but in Japan primary schools are much bigger and the classes have 35 pupils. Each year has five classes of students whereas here there are three.

"I do not know what I am going to miss about being away from Japan. At the moment it is all so new to me."