the international schools in Japan

Today, I’m going to write about the advantage of studying in international schools in Japan. 



These days, we have more opportunities to talk with foreigners and use English as a result of the age of the computerization and globalization. However, a lot of Japanese have never spoken English in daily lives and we hardly meet foreign people in the streets in usual in Japan.

In my opinion, more Japanese have the opportunities to improve their English skill and learn different culture.


In this case, you may think it is good for them to study abroad.

First, if we study abroad, we will be able to improve our English skills, especially, speaking skill. People have more opportunities to speak English and we have to speak English there to communicate with our teacher, friend and people who live and work there. If you are able to speak English, you will have more choices when you get your job.

Second, we can learn different culture. People have different culture from region to region. Different cultures have different custom, religion, clothes, foods and other. If we go abroad, we can know these difference by ourselves. It is good for us because we have more opportunities to communicate with foreigners who has different culture in this international society and it help us understand them.

However, in the other hand, if people go to another country to study there when they are kids or young, they can’t understand their own cultures like the system of school in Japan, Japanese thought and Japanese traditions.


I found an interest article.

In the article, the author mentions that
children don’t necessarily have to live outside their parents’ home country to foster this third culture (a mixture of　first culture by their parents and the second by their foreign hosts). Increasing numbers of Japanese parents are going against the grain and placing their children in international schools here, principals at the schools say, even though the government classifies these institutions as gaikokujin gakkō (foreigner schools) designated as “educational institutions for non-Japanese students.”

 Tomaintain their native language and culture, Japanese mothers feel a greatresponsibility to supplement their children’s international education withadditional home or outside schooling. This can take the form of after-school Japanese-language juku or attendance at the local elementary public school in the summer, taking advantage of the fact that while international schools breakup in early June, regular local schools typically continue on through the third week of July.


In this case, people can learn Japanese culture and other culture in Japan. People can learn the differences. If they live in other country or have international job, they understand different culture easier. Also, if you stay in Japan, you don’t confuse the custom or thought.

In addition, if people let their children go abroad, it needs a lot of money and they worry that their children live in other country, far away from them. Nevertheless, if they choose that their children go to an international school, they don’t need the worry.



 I think Japanese have lack of experiences which they communicate with people who have different background and know the variety of cultures and speak English. I want more Japanese to have such opportunities and recommend that more parents know international schools and let their children enter the schools.    




*reference*

The Japan Times 
All-Japanese families take a chance on international schools 

 http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2014/09/14/issues/all-japanese-families-take-a-chance-on-international-schools/#.VBnf4NJOWUk  

(09/21/2014)