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Going to School in Japan
Have you ever wondered about what a school day looks like in Japan? In this article, we will explore what a typical day might be for a Japanese middle school and high school student. We will learn about what Japanese students study, what they eat for lunch, and when they get their holidays. Many things may sound familiar. But you might find other things surprising – like school on Saturdays or cleaning duty. Let’s begin our day!
Most subjects taught in Japanese schools are similar to those in the rest of the world: mathematics, science, social studies, language arts, music, and physical education. English, as the language of global economics, and computing technology have increasingly crept into the curriculum as well. More uniquely, students will learn Japanese arts and crafts, such as calligraphy and haiku. It is also typical for students to study home economics to learn basic cooking and sewing skills.
One of the most striking things about Japanese society is how safe it is. Visitors and foreigners never fail to notice students as young as 6 years old walking to school alone. Indeed, students continue commuting to school by themselves throughout middle and high school. Safety is only part of it. Japan’s efficient and reliable public transportation enables students to do this. Most people take advantage of this and prefer not to drive, which would cost more, possibly take longer, and be less convenient due to limited parking options. Because of this, most students who do not live within walking or cycling distance of their school will commute by train or bus, often together.
Middle school students start their day around 8:45 am while high school students may begin earlier around 8:30 am. One thing all Japanese students have in common: as soon as they arrive, they go to their lockers to change out of street shoes into school shoes. The school day is divided into 6 periods, each lasting 45-50 minutes. Before the first period officially begins, students are often assigned tasks, such as taking attendance, passing out papers, or gathering homework. This is different from most western schools, where the teachers usually assume sole responsibility for these tasks.
Middle schools often provide lunch to their students. The lunches are well-balanced and contain a protein in the form of meat or fish, plenty of vegetables, rice, and miso soup. Typical entrees include curry, noodles, and grilled salmon. Each meal costs about 400 yen, or less than $5 USD, and is served by the students themselves in their classroom. Each class assigns a group of students to be in charge of serving the food to their classmates and collecting the used dishes. This, as with so many aspects of Japanese education, is designed as an exercise in teamwork and collaboration. In high school, it is more common for students to bring their own bentos from home and eat in the classroom.
Gakkou Soji, or school cleaning, is a unique part of the Japanese school day. Before students leave, they clean their school. Unlike western schools, most Japanese schools have their students rather than hired janitors clean all areas, including classrooms, toilets, hallways, windows, stairwells, etc. This is an important part of Japanese education. It teaches students to take responsibility for maintaining a shared space, a core value that is central to Japanese culture. This practice makes for responsible citizens and is one of the reasons why public spaces in Japan are so clean. Having a clean classroom is also considered good for the mind and for learning.
Starting from elementary school, Japanese students receive homework every day. By middle school, kids will typically spend about an hour each day on homework, and by high school, it will be one to two hours, though of course, this varies. Basic knowledge of kanji means knowledge of over 2,000 kanji characters, and students must master the different readings of each character as well as the correct stroke order. So kanji homework alone takes up quite a bit of time.
In addition, many if not most students attend juku, or cram school, in the evenings or weekends for extra studying. Juku are meant to give students a boost in the years leading up to high school or university entrance examinations. On Saturdays, too, many students attend school. The Saturday school day was officially eliminated 20 years ago, but today, it continues in the form of extracurriculars or optional classes.
Unlike the semester system common in American schools, the Japanese school year is divided into three terms. The academic year begins in April and the first term runs from April to July. The second term begins in September and ends in December, and the last term is from January to March. You might notice that there is quite a long summer gap between the first and second terms. Japanese students also enjoy a “summer break” though the differences are: 1) at 5-6 weeks long, it is much shorter than the 10-11 weeks long American summer holiday, and 2) students return to the same academic year after summer. Japanese schools also have a short winter break in December and another spring break from the end of March to the beginning of April. This last spring break marks the end of the academic year, as students return to a new year again in April.
In a departure from the American system, students receive homework over both summer and winter breaks, the two longest. This may take the form of worksheet exercises or an independent project. On the one hand, adds to the infamously large workload of the Japanese student. On the other hand, however, shorter breaks and holiday assignments may help stem the skill gap that widens between students of disparate backgrounds during school breaks.
One of the ways Japanese schools stand out from their western counterparts is their strict rules. These rules regulate fingernail length, hair length, and hairstyle among other things. Make-up and dyed hair are forbidden. Enforcement is so strict that it is not unusual for a teacher to give an offending student black hair dye with which to remedy the offense. These rules noticeably affect girls more.
Japanese high schools are ranked, so there is immense pressure starting as early as the primary years to advance to a good middle school, a high-ranking high school, and eventually a prestigious university. While the Japanese system is more explicit with its ranking systems, it is not so different from America, where “feeder schools” also feed the brightest (or in many cases the wealthiest) into prestigious Ivy Leagues or Ivy League equivalents.
How different or similar is the Japanese school day from what you know? Some things might be the same, but my guess is that Japanese middle schoolers and high schoolers have a pretty different experience from their western counterparts. If you would like to read more about life in Japan, check out the following articles for more info.
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December 11, 2022 (Mainichi Japan)
Japanese version
TOKYO -- Schools across Japan give homework to students almost daily, resulting in headaches for many parents trying to get reluctant children to get it done. But are these assignments truly necessary for a child's education? Shogi star Sota Fujii and a leading educator question this long-held practice.
So why do schools give homework? The reasons may vary, from helping students develop good study habits to enhancing their academic abilities. While it's been taken for granted that children do homework, Fujii, 20, once asked his junior high school homeroom teacher why he had to do homework even though he listened to teachers well during classes.
Fujii's mother Yuko previously told the Mainichi Shimbun, "Sota has this theory that giving homework is nonsense."
According to Yuko, her son complained to her, "Kids who don't listen during class and then just copy their homework answers from others are getting credit. I wonder who is better, these students or the ones who skip their homework because they've paid close attention in class?"
As a shogi prodigy, Fujii needed to discipline himself to tackle tasks within a limited time by setting priorities, and might well have thought that it was a waste of time to do homework, even though he had already concentrated on and understood what was taught at school.
Yuichi Kudo, principal of Yokohama Soei Junior & High School and a school reform leader in Japan, abolished homework when he was the principal of Kojimachi Junior High School in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward. He asserts that, for children to boost their academic skills, it is important to help them understand problems they have no clue about. And to do this, he states in his book, two points are essential: for students to ask about or do research on things that they do not understand, and to have children repeat the steps to truly acquire what they have learned. He says it's crucial to find out the best method for each student based on their respective properties.
But homework, which has the same questions for every child in a class, is a waste of time for those who already understand the content. And it is a burden for children who have a hard time coming up with answers, sometimes leading them to skip whatever they do not understand, according to Kudo. Furthermore, the more homework is assigned, the more its purpose becomes simply to hand it in.
"Uniform assignments do not work for children," Kudo warns. He recalled abolishing standardized, mandatory homework in favor of a system where students can voluntarily try to learn things they are unsure about.
(Japanese original by Mizuki Osawa, Digital News Center)
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A public elementary school in rural Japan has done away with homework — and after one year, some students say they are more motivated to learn.
The principal of Yamagata Prefecture's Nisshin Elementary School, Asai Jun, took the bold initiative in April 2023. When he welcomed the 64 new first-graders this year, he told them: "Instead of being forced to study, I want you to find what you really want to know, and think and learn by yourself."
Homework is common at most Japanese schools although it is not required by law.
Asai, who has four decades of teaching experience, has taken part in workshops overseas and heard education experts speak about the importance of fostering children's independence.
That led him to reconsider learning methods at his school, which has 500 students.
"Adults may feel relieved if kids are doing their homework, " Asai says. "But homework can easily become a task whose only purpose is to be turned in without thinking. I wondered if this really benefits the students, and if they actually gain the ability to learn."
By scrapping homework, he wants children to "think and learn on their own about what they want to do, and what they are interested in."
Instead of homework, the school offers optional handouts that allow students to review their lessons on their own.
"We are repeatedly telling the children that we still want them to study," Asai says. "We expected that students would take one or two handouts, but some are taking as many as 10."
"I can clearly see that they are much more motivated when they are allowed to choose their own homework than when it is given to them."
Before introducing the no-homework policy, Asai set up dozens of meetings with teachers to allay their fears that the students would find it difficult to develop good study habits. The teachers were also concerned it would be difficult to track pupils' progress.
During a one-month trial period in February last year, many students opted to study themselves without set homework. That paved the way for the elimination of homework altogether.
Some teachers note that because they don't need to mark and grade homework, they have more time to prepare lessons and interact with students.
A 5th grader whom NHK chose to identify only by his first name, Ginji, still studies about twice a week after school. "I was surprised when I was told that there was no more homework, but somehow I am more motivated without it," he says.
Ginji's mother, Saori, was initially worried about the school's decision. But she sees a positive shift in her son's attitude towards study. And with no more arguments at home about homework, there is less tension and more time for listening and interaction.
In a survey last July, about 10 parents at the school expressed opposition to the no-homework policy. One of the parents claimed their child had stopped studying, and another cited a decline in academic performance.
Asai addresses questions and concerns with one-on-one meetings, during which he explains the importance of independent thought and learning.
Teachers also identify students who need help with their study habits.
Educational researcher Seo Masatoshi says that kind of support is essential to ensure that no gaps appear in children's learning opportunities or academic performance.
"It's time to rethink the one-size-fits-all approach to education," he says. "But we must recognize that some children may not know how to study on their own at home, so it is necessary to help with this to some extent. During the holidays, it would be a good idea for teachers to set up an opportunity to check their students' learning progress."
In January this year, students at the school took a scholastic aptitude test. The overall results were little different to previous years, when set homework was in force.
"I believe the future is not an era of one-way cramming of knowledge," the principal says. "I want to change the way of thinking about education and academic achievement," says Asai. "There are many things we can review in Japanese schools…to help children think and act spontaneously."
One of the first things that you will notice when learning Japanese is that there are quite a few words that end in -sensei. These words actually translate to “mind” or “spirit.” If you learn these you will begin to see the connection between the learning process and the spiritual side of life. That makes a lot of sense.
In Japanese, words are usually expressed using phrases. You learn a phrase and add an ending to it. You do not say the whole word in Japanese, but instead, you add an ending like -sensei. It really works like this. This is the way that the English language is taught in schools and colleges everywhere.
However, there are many who do not go through this phase. You will notice that when you are learning the words that do not end in -sensei, you often do not even say the whole word. Instead, you will fill in the blanks using other words. When doing so, you are actually making your learning more effective. It makes you seem more “human,” which also draws people in better.
The next phase of learning Japanese is to look at your word study materials. There are many ways that you can do this. One way is to look at the word in the English language. If you do this, you should quickly notice that many times, you can see the meaning of the word without having to translate the word. In other words, you can get the meaning right away just by looking at the word in English.
Another method is to do a dictionary search on the word. Once you have found the meaning, you should translate each word. It is important that you remember to do this in a correct manner. You should translate each word as if you were writing it out. This is because some Japanese words do not have writeable characters in them and need to be written out phonetically.
Finally, you should start memorizing your words. This does take time, but when you are ready, this phase of learning Japanese is where the hard work is. To memorize your words, you should look to take a phrasebook or a phrase book that is designed for Japanese students. This will give you a good idea of what the words look like and how you can pronounce them correctly.
These are just a few ways that you can do your homework in Japanese. Once you learn how to properly use the language, you will not only be able to communicate with the Japanese people, but also understand their culture. When you know both of these things, you will be well on your way to learning how to do your homework in Japanese.
In addition, you will have a greater understanding of the Japanese language as a whole. Since the Japanese language contains so many different types of sounds, you will want to learn this part of the Japanese language very carefully. You may even decide that you want to take a formal education in Japan. However, this is not always necessary. You may be able to learn the language at your own pace with the help of software programs.
The last phase of doing your homework in Japanese is to have basic sentence structure. There are three main types of sentence structure in this language: imperative, question-stressed, and subject-verb agreement. When you learn sentence structure, you will be able to understand fully what someone is saying. If you have trouble understanding someone’s communication, you can simply ask them a question and make an observation about their speech. If you keep up this pattern of observation while you do your homework in Japanese, you will begin to develop a strong grasp on the language.
Now that you have your basic foundation down, you should move on to more specific assignments. You can either do your homework in Japanese with the software program or you can simply read up on the subject. As you learn more about the language, you will find that the sentence structures will become less confusing and you will be able to understand what people are saying. Once you understand Japanese conversation, it will be much easier to carry on conversations with the Japanese locals.
One of the best ways to do your homework in Japanese is to listen to many sources. Listening to the news, radio shows, and music are all great ways to expand your vocabulary. You will also want to look at large vocabulary lists to see how frequently these words are used. As you learn more about the language, you will start to see word patterns emerge and this will help you when you start speaking. You will soon find that learning to do your homework in Japanese is well worth the effort.
Here are a few letters your customers love. s a l e. do you know how we know because the days when retailers offer their biggest discounts..
Maren angus-coombs | 19 hours ago.
The Los Angeles Dodgers finally have a healthy offense and are now hopeful that their pitching will return to full strength in the coming weeks.
Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto tossed a two-inning simulated game Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.
"The feeling was pretty good," Yamamoto said through an interpreter. "Everything is starting to come all together."
The right-hander has been out with right triceps tightness since mid-July, halting his potential Rookie of the Year Award-worthy season. He went 6-2 with a 2.92 earned run average in his first 14 major league starts.
The uncomfortable feeling began shortly after the best start of his rookie season, when he blanked the New York Yankees over seven innings. His velocity in that game was higher than in any other start.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw a simulated game at Dodger Stadium today 🔥 Can’t wait to see him pitching for the team again soon. pic.twitter.com/aZvwPwRMFO — Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) August 21, 2024
Asked if reaching those velocities or incorporating more sliders into his repertoire caused his arm issues, Yamamoto said , "Probably there's more than one reason. There's fatigue that probably accumulated on the shoulder, so, not one reason.
"I do have some frustration. But I just need to be focusing on rehab. I need to get myself ready to go back."
Manager Dave Roberts said that in the next five days Yamamoto will throw three innings and then be deployed on a minor league rehab assignment.
"The ball was coming out of his hand with a lot of life," Roberts said of Wednesday's sim game. "It seems like he's healthy. As long as he recovers well, then we start homing in on the command and all that other stuff."
The Dodgers have used several starters this season due to injuries and underperformance. Tyler Glasnow is currently on the IL with right elbow tendinitis. He has yet to start playing catch and there is not a firm timetable for his return.
The Dodgers would welcome Yamamoto back with open arms as they cling to a slim lead in the National League West race.
"It's one thing at a time," the Japanese pitcher said through his interpreter. "I'm going to throw some games in September and then let's see."
The goal for Yamamoto has never changed: He wants to be healthy for the postseason.
However, the Dodgers aren't rushing him back. The next step for him is to throw a three-inning simulated game before going out on a rehab assignment.
"It's one of those things where you want to do what's best for Yoshinobu and make sure he's healthy now and also in the long term," Roberts said in late July. "That's the priority."
Los Angeles is mindful of the fact that they have Yamamoto locked in long-term after he signed a 12-year, $325 million contract in the offseason.
MAREN ANGUS-COOMBS
Maren Angus-Coombs was born in Los Angeles and raised in Nashville, Tenn. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State and has been a sports writer since 2008. Despite growing up in the South, her sports obsession has always been in Los Angeles. She is currently a staff writer at the LA Sports Report Network.
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The most commonly used phrase for "homework" in Japanese is "shukudai" (宿題), which is also the most casual and familiar. For a more formal or academic context, "kadai" (課題) can be used instead. In addition to these phrases, Japanese educators may use the term "jishu gakushu" (自主学習) when referring to self-study or ...
Shukudai: This is the most commonly used term for homework in Japanese. It is a straightforward and neutral word that can be used in any context. Gakushu Shukudai: By adding the word "gakushu" before "shukudai," you emphasize that it is a learning-related assignment. Kadai: "課題" is an alternative word for homework that is often ...
This video demonstrates "How to say Homework in Japanese"Talk with a native teacher on italki: https://foreignlanguage.center/italkiLearn Japnese with Japane...
How to Say Homework in Japanese. To say "homework" in Japanese, you can use the word "syukudai"(しゅくだい=宿題). This term is a direct translation of the English word and can be easily understood by native Japanese speakers. When pronouncing "syukudai," remember to emphasize the second syllable, "ku.". This will ...
The Japanese noun '宿題 (しゅくだい)' refers to the assignments or tasks that a student must complete outside of class. It is the work that is assigned by a teacher to be done at home. For example: I have a lot of homework to do tonight - (今夜、宿題がたくさんあります).
Below are the new words used in the example sentence. kyou - 今日 (きょう) : a noun meaning 'today' in Japanese.; wa - は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works as a topic marker after kyou to put a focus on it.; ga - が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence.
HOMEWORK translate: 宿題, 宿題(しゅくだい). Learn more in the Cambridge English-Japanese Dictionary.
What is "Homework" in Japanese and how to say it? American English. homework. Japanese. しゅくだい. Learn the word in this minigame: Loading WebApp...
Japanese Translation of "HOMEWORK" | The official Collins English-Japanese Dictionary online. Over 100,000 Japanese translations of English words and phrases. TRANSLATOR. ... Homework is schoolwork that teachers give to students to do at home in the evening or on the weekend.
How to write "Homework" in Japanese. If you are wondering how to write "Homework" in Japanese you've come to the right place! "Homework" is written in Japanese as "宿題" and you can read it as "Shukudai. ". Click the button below to download a free printable handwriting practice worksheet with gridlines and stroke order for correct and beautiful handwriting of Japanese characters.
For example, imagine your mom asks you about your homework when you're playing a video game. To say "I'll do my homework too" (in addition to all that gaming), you can replace を with the particle も (meaning "too") and say: 宿題もする。 I'll do my homework too. Next, your mom asks you to help her with some house chores.
homicide department. homing. homing instinct. homing torpedo. hommage. homo. homochromatic. Translations into more languages in the bab.la Spanish-English dictionary. Translation for 'homework' in the free English-Japanese dictionary and many other Japanese translations.
1.5 Learn Japanese Sentence Structure. 2 Use a Japanese Textbook. 3 Set Goals for Learning Japanese. 3.1 Give Yourself Homework. 4 Get Accustomed to the Japanese Language. 4.1 Listen to Japanese Podcasts, Music, and Radio. 4.2 Watch Japanese Anime, Movies, and TV. 4.3 Read Things In Japanese.
Google's service, offered free of charge, instantly translates words, phrases, and web pages between English and over 100 other languages.
How to say: Must [verb] Negative te-form + 「は」 (wa) particle + だめ / いけない /ならない. Negative verb + 「と」 conditional + だめ / いけない /ならない. Negative verb + 「ば」 conditional + だめ / いけない /ならない. The first method is the same as the "must not do" grammar form except ...
1 translation entry available: English: homework: Type: noun: Japanese: 宿題: Hiragana: しゅくだい: Pronunciation: shukudai: Example: Do my homework for me ...
A. Elementary school pupils get homework nearly every day. Often they have to do math drills and learn kanji (Sino-Japanese characters), which are an important part of the Japanese language.. Schoolchildren are expected to learn 1,026 kanji while in elementary school, around half of the 2,136 that have been specified as being kanji for daily use. The children have to learn not only the correct ...
What's the Japanese word for homework? Here's a list of translations. Japanese Translation. 宿題. Shukudai. More Japanese words for homework. 宿題 noun. Shukudai homework.
Do you know how to improve your language skills All you have to do is have your writing corrected by a native speaker! With HiNative, you can have your writing corrected by native speakers for free ️ .
So kanji homework alone takes up quite a bit of time. In addition, many if not most students attend juku, or cram school, in the evenings or weekends for extra studying. Juku are meant to give students a boost in the years leading up to high school or university entrance examinations. On Saturdays, too, many students attend school.
TOKYO -- Schools across Japan give homework to students almost daily, resulting in headaches for many parents trying to get reluctant children to get
Sunday May 26, 2024. Podcast. Voice created by a text-to-speech service. A public elementary school in rural Japan has done away with homework — and after one year, some students say they are ...
The last phase of doing your homework in Japanese is to have basic sentence structure. There are three main types of sentence structure in this language: imperative, question-stressed, and subject-verb agreement. When you learn sentence structure, you will be able to understand fully what someone is saying.
"It's one thing at a time," the Japanese pitcher said through his interpreter. "I'm going to throw some games in September and then let's see." "I'm going to throw some games in September and then ...