The Life of a Student in Japan. By Annie McEnroe Kansas/Asia Scholars

Transcription

1 The Life of a Student in Japan By Annie McEnroe Kansas/Asia Scholars

2 When you think of Japan

3 Small country, big population Very crowded Few natural resources High cost of living

4 World War II and Education System restructured by Americans during occupation Education made entirely free Mandatory through 9 th grade, not 6 th Co-ed and less elitist than before

5 Education in Modern Japan School year runs April March One-month summer vacation 6 years elementary, 3 years middle school, 3 years high school (like U.S.) Strict discipline

6 Elementary School: Juri and Honami Yamamoto 11 and 8 years old Live in Hiratsuka Walk to school from their small apartment Take English, electric organ, and hip-hop hop lessons

7 Parents and two daughters (and 2 dogs) Mr. Yamamoto works in another town; visits home once a month The Yamamoto Family Mrs. Yamamoto is a homemaker, teaches English and electric organ lessons

8 The Yamamoto Home The Yamamotos live in a very small apartment, like most Japanese families Mr. Yamamoto s s parents live in a small house next door Floors covered with tatami mats

9 Breakfast with the Yamamotos Traditional Japanese breakfast: miso soup, rice, salad, fish, yogurt, tea, leftovers from dinner Juri and Honami are just as happy with toast or Cocoa Puffs! Tables are low to the ground; family sits on cushions

10 A Normal School Day School runs from about 8:30 3:45 Students have cleaning tasks each day Emphasis on hygiene, order, discipline Students have homework every day starting in the 1 st grade

11 Elementary School Classes Core subjects include math, science, Japanese and social studies Moral education classes teach how to regard oneself and relate to other people, nature and society Art classes include calligraphy and music

12 Kyuushoku: : School Lunch All students eat the same lunch prepared by the school. Students eat in their classrooms. This lunch includes a carton of orange juice, a piece of shortcake, a piece of cooked egg, some vegetable soup, and rice with mushrooms.

13 Free Time Students may take lessons, play outside, read comic books, or watch TV An extracurricular activity is mandatory

14 The End of the Day Japanese bathrooms have a separate bath and shower Shower first and soak in the bath afterwards Whole family uses the same bath water Futon is traditional, but Western-style style beds are becoming more popular.

15 Junior High School Grades 7-97 Students begin learning a foreign language (almost always English) Many begin studying for high school entrance examinations Art, P.E., home ec., and extracurricular activities are required

16 Cram School Many students attend juku,, or cram school Runs several hours after regular school Prepares students for high school and college entrance examinations Tests are very competitive and stressful

17 Getting Around Japan Excellent public transportation system Subways and trains make it easy to get around in crowded areas Children ride the subways alone at a very young age Driving is very expensive

18 Getting Ready for High School Almost all students go to high school High schools even public ones have entrance exams Students study hard to get into the best schools

19 Youth Fashion School uniforms don t t keep students from being stylish! Ranges from conservative to outrageous

20

21 Kokusai High School Selective International Studies school 85% of students are girls! Public school, but costs over $2000 Students active in many activities, festivals, and school events

22 The Textbook Debate Ongoing debate about how textbooks should present WWII Textbooks selected from those authorized by Ministry of Education Some books gloss over Japanese atrocities in WWII China, Korea strongly object Comfort women during WWII

23 Generally, Japanese students don t t start dating until later than U.S. students Dating or not Group dating is common Common to start dating after high school

24 Examination Hell College entrance exams are extremely competitive Students devote themselves to studying Students may have little time for friends, leisure College is much easier than high school but getting in is difficult

25 Popular Culture American influence is very visible American music, movies popular with young people J-pop = Japanese pop music

26 The College Life College: a break between exam hell and work Students rarely go to class Standards generally very low Students join clubs, socialize Top employers hire from top universities