帰国子女 Back to School!
It's back to school time in Tokyo and as a service to our loyal readers, we suggest an early start on school research. There are myriad schools to consider, and in the stressful times that our children (not to mention us) are facing, there is certainly no time like the present to show up at those setsumei-kais and meet teachers of prospective schools.
Competition is fierce among the 帰国子女 community and already juken students are giving up their social lives in pursuit of the goal. Jukus are filling up fast, as are international schools with specialized English help. Email us if you need any specific advice, as our loyal families are here to help you find your student's niche.
Have a great weekend!
Labels: international, junior high school, Tokyo high school, 帰国子女
It finally happened! We at Tokyo New Education have just received word that KA International School, which until now has been located in Daitabashi, is moving to its new home in Jiyugaoka, Meguro-ku. KA, the after-school school will also be opening a branch there, and the Jiyugaoka foreign and returnee community is very excited! Many of our members live in Yokohama, and are beaming at the oportunity to send their kids to these unique institutions.We at TNE wish good luck and success to Kikokushijo Academy International School and Juku!Labels: japan, jiyugaoka, juku, KA International School, TOEFL, Tokyo, yokohama
International Schools vs. Japanese Schools
We all recognize the plethora of international schools as well as the time-honored Japanese ones, but what criteria really set the institutions apart from each other?
Apart from the obvious, instruction in Japanese, the (often-true) stereotypes of rigidity, and the MEXT-approval, many Japanese schools are leaning further toward the western model, in their attempts to stand out and internationalize. So where does that leave students?
"I think that there isn't much difference anymore between international schools and Japanese schools. They all seem to be trying to create bilingual internationalized students." - Kota N.
"International schools give us a much better opportunity to go to university wherever we want in the world." - Akiko
"Japanese schools have a much better name and so it's better to tell companies in Japan that you went there." - Kevin
"I really like my international school because it makes us speak in English and I feel like I am learning more about the world, not just the small community of Tokyo." - Rika T.
So, it's largely a personal decision, but one in which our students' futures lie. It remains to be seen how the future of Japanese education changes the face of our educational institutions. Clearly, students can attend any type of school and keep opportunities for study in many different countries, but certain international schools teach SATs and TOEFL, key skills which give students a head up if they decide to study abroad.
Labels: abroad, education, juken, KA International School, KAIS, kikokushijo, returnee, SAT, shibuya, study, TOEFL, Tokyo
It's Crunch Time
While many returnees these days are spending their afternoons reviewing grammar items, writing 5-paragraph essays, and memorizing idioms, others have already secured a spot in one of the competitive private Japanese junior high schools. Still others, who are looking for a better English program, are flocking to
KA International School, where the mix of
foreigners and
kikokushijo is bringing a top-notch American education to Japanese life. There are no classes with more than 6 students and the creativity and thought put into each lesson is apparent from the music,
web pages, and writing that my son brings home.
Wherever your students are these days, good luck!
Juken Season
Well international community, Juken season is fast approaching and students and their nervous parents are cramming for the ever-competitive junior high school and high school entrance exams. We hear the tests will be even more difficult this year at many of the top junior high schools: Shibuya Kyoiku Gakuen Shibuya (Shibu-Shibu),
Shibuya Makuhari Junior High (Shibu-Maku), Kikokushijo Academy International School (KAIS), Shoei, and Keio.
Without revealing too much, it's evident that writing will have an increased presence on these exams, and returnees will have to demonstrate real analytic ability. Good luck
!!Labels: kikokushijo returnee juken shibuya junior high keio icu
TNE is a brand new website run by parents, educators, and community members who care about the education of our children in Tokyo. We are a group primarily composed of bicultural families, international families from various countries, and Japanese kikokushijo (returnees). We are a small community and have been sharing information, community and advice for seven years.
Through most of the last decade, we at TNE have become extremely cynical and at times irate over the situation of English language education in Japan. We have watched as the big international schools have labeled our kids with numbers instead of names, lumped them into classes in which they either fall behind or are not allowed to shine, and focus more on their own reputation than the creative and scholastic needs of our students. We have watched Japanese schools neglect our students and their multi-cultural identities. Yet we remain hopeful and excited about the direction of Tokyo international education and the realization of our niche.
We welcome new members and articles/editorials written by anyone. Please
email us anytime.
