Philosophy
The goal for our Japanese group study is to develop Japanese language
skills while the children use the language as a "thinking tool", or
"communication tool" to complete various assignments. Our classes
consist of various age-appropriate materials that are based on real-
life experiences, rather than focusing on just linguistic studies.
In order to achieve language proficiency, we will learn basic skills
such as reading, writing, speaking, and listening. It is crucial that
children know these skills, because from there we will motivate
learning new things using the new language skills they have just
acquired. As a result, we lead children to have fun, and meaningful
learning.
Specific considerations.
1. Setting the environment to help groups of children with different
levels of learning skills and providing educational help for their
development.
Children in grade school age learn at different speeds and through
different styles. Japanese language education must match those
individual developmental stages, and help them. Development includes
linguistic, emotional, social, and learning skills. Therefore even
Japanese group study will not teach just language separately from
everything else.
For this reason, Kodomo no Ie Japanese group study have multi-age
classes, rather than grade- or age-based classes. Some children will
learn the materials in one year, while others may take one and a half
years. In grade-based classes, all the parties including children,
parents and teachers must endure stressful decisions whether or not to
advance. Multi-age classes allow us to adjust to each individual
student's speed of learning.
2. Japanese as a primary language education vs. Japanese as a heritage
language education.
In order to establish Japanese as a heritage language from one or more
parents, we conduct bilingual education for those children who live in
the US with limited Japanese language exposure.
Children in Japan have plenty of Japanese exposure in their everyday
lives outside of their classrooms. But children in the US will shift
into an English environment as they grow older and spend more time in
local schools. Therefore the educational approach that is seen in
Japan for teaching the primary language (for children who live in
Japan) is not appropriate for children who live in the US.
Kodomo no Ie Japanese group study have the curriculum of "Japanese as a
heritage language" based on bilingual education research, which
includes not only grammar and Kanji, but also various topics to
introduce the language.
3. Learning activities that children themselves find meaningful.
Meaningful learning activities for children means learning activities
that children feel that they can "understand", "learn new things using
the skills they've just learned", and "have fun". (This is true not
only for children in grade-school, but also for learning activities in
general)
4. Learning must be fun
The lessons children learn while having fun are the lessons that stay
with the children. Learning does not mean just reading difficult
books, and/or working on drills on paper.
Activities that look like a play, like walking around among their
friends while laughing, can be a good learning process as well.
Children often forget time and concentrate on activities, if they are
having fun with them.
*Difference from Japanese supplementary school
Kodomo no Ie Japanese group study on Saturdays are not intended
to prepare children for Japanese supplementary schools. They are also
not to teach "less" and/or "slower" curriculum for those children who
have decided not to stay in supplementary schools for their other
Saturday activities.
We teach Japanese based on our original curriculum, which is
completely different from supplementary school curricula based on
Japanese government standard, (intended mostly for those children who
expect to go back to Japan). We advise that parents give plenty of
consideration in choosing the school and/or class based on what is
best for their children. We urge parents to observe the class in
order to comprehensively understand it. Please contact us ahead of
your visit by phone or email.