The Language Teacher
September 2002
A Chapter in Your Life
Michelle Nagashima
English Department Coordinator, Katoh Gakuen
This issue features a very special school. With Mombukagakusho's reforms sweeping the educational system, it is important to know what schools are doing. The editors warmly encourage you to submit an 800-word report on your chapter in Japanese, English, or a combination of both.
Shizuoka--A Unique Location
Shizuoka Chapter will again play host to the annual JALT International Conference this year. The people of Shizuoka Prefecture will once more welcome people from all over Japan to the conference. Shizuoka is an excellent place to live for any family due to the number of educational institutions, both public and private, that offer excellent programs for students.
With so many schools in the prefecture, the population of teachers in the prefecture is rather high. An easy shinkansen commute into Tokyo each day, this prefecture offers families a great location, nestled in lush green mountains on one side and the ocean on the other, as well as excellence in education. At the eastern end of Shizuoka is a city called Numazu. Numazu has a rather large non-Japanese population, many of whom are involved in education. One unique educational feature of Numazu is Katoh Gakuen. Enjoying its 30th anniversary year, Katoh Gakuen is known throughout Japan for its English Immersion Program. Educators from all over Japan come to visit, often with their student teachers, to observe this unique educational institute. The elementary school is divided into two programs: Regular (the regular Japanese Mombusho program) and Immersion. The families move from all over Japan to enroll their children, recognizing the unique opportunity the program offers their children. Each class has a team of teachers, both Japanese and non-Japanese, who, as the children's homeroom teachers, are able to open the children's eyes and minds to different cultures. Children enjoy this special experience and while studying in a second language, play, have fun, and joke with foreigners. When the children walk through the door, their day begins in English. On a regular day students from Grade 1 through Grade 3 will spend 65 to 75% of their day in English, while in Grade 4-Grade 6, they spend 50% of their day in English. Although English is a subject, most English is taught through content.
Morning Meeting begins the day. In most cases, the children run the Morning Meeting themselves and this is done in English. It is now July, and the Grade 1 children are already running their Morning Meeting in English, communicating successfully with teachers in English and beginning to interact with each other in English. It is not enough that English be the language of interaction between student and teacher. To really be working in L2, the children need to transfer this across to the interaction between themselves. L1 and L2 areas are established in each class level and this is supported by the Japanese and non-Japanese staff members. Japanese staff members speak English in the L2 "zones" and likewise, non-Japanese staff speak Japanese in the L1 "zones." The Immersion Program continues through junior high school to Grade 10. From there, students complete the last two years of study in senior high school doing the International Baccalaureate course. Students from the very first Immersion class are set to enter their high school senior year next year. It is an exciting time for the Immersion Program.
Shizuoka, attracting families from all over Japan, and teachers from all over the world, is a very unique experience for students, teachers, and parents alike. The high interest shown in the program, both nationally and internationally, marks Numazu as a very special place on the map and Shizuoka a very special place to be.
Picture 1: A Grade 1 science/math/reading /art class. Children made their own boats out of recycled materials. Students had to test their boats to see if they would float, and in some cases, make modifications. Results were discussed and graphed. Integration of subjects and taking language across the curriculum is important for language development.
Picture 2: Theme/Art/English/Science class for Grade 1 involved growing Morning Glory plants, monitoring development, experimenting with various conditions, reading about plants, sketching and painting their own plant. Again, integrating subjects and taking language across the curriculum.
Reported by Michelle Nagashima, English Department Coordinator, Katoh Gakuen, www.katoh-net.ac.jp
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