RRJ#3

Reference

The Daily Yomiuri (2010,February 12) “Indian-style education gets an A; Emphasis on mental math, computers and English prove popular”

from http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/Inacademic/?

Writer: Kosuke Takizawa and Mai Fukuda

Summary

            According this article, now, an Indian-style education, especially mental arithmetic, is focused in Japan. And many Japanese children are taking this style education at international schools. In this school, students learn subjects which are not taught in general public schools. At first, the target was Indians living in Japan, but nowadays, more than 20 percent of all students are Japanese. Principal Rajeswary Sambathrajan emphasizes that training children who can express their own opinions and moral education are very important. The big problem is that these schools are regarded as unauthorized school, and it is also said that it violates School Education Law by the organization in Tokyo. Many students in these school go to universities overseas after graduating because this opinion means that even if students graduate from these school, they are not regarded as taking compulsory education. And there is the result that students who take Indian- style education improve their Japanese and English skills. In India, a high level of education is introduced logical thinking and descriptive style n university entrance examination. In Japan, many Japanese parents have complaints to Japan’s compulsory education, so they send their children to Indian school.

Reaction

            After reading this article, I had the agreement and the disagreements. I am really interested in how to teach Indian-style to students. Even if the subjects which are taught in these schools are very difficult, there is a student who have funs to learn such difficult subjects. If all teachers get the abilities to teach difficult subjects in the way which is used in Indian school, students’ knowledge rise absolutely. But many Japanese parents are only thinking to make their children get knowledge and be intelligent. Only studying is not good for children. If children only know the knowledge from textbook, they will not be a good person. Everyone have to learn moral sense, common sense, and knowledge which are more important than difficult subjects. Also if the idea that learning difficult subjects are better progress more than present, eventually, enrolling high states universities will be goal for students. I want to students to have the aim and the dream, and I want to them to do everything what they want.

RRJ #1

Chiaki Kohashi

EAP-1 A

October 28^th, 2010

Education

Reading Reaction Journal #1

Reference

DAILYYOMIURI(October,21/2010)”EDUCATIONALRENAISSANCE” fromhttp://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/language/T101017001560.htm

Vocabulary

supervise (v):direct

extracurricular (adj):sports or other activities that you do in addition to your usual                                                   classes

pedagogical (adj):relating to methods of teaching or the practice of teaching

scholastic (adj):relating to schools, learning, or teaching

strength (n):the physical power and energy that makes someone strong

closure (n):the act of permanently closing a building, factory, school

revise (v):to change a piece of writing by addition new information, making                             improvements, or correcting mistakes

familiarize (v):to learn about something so that you understand it

solidarity (n):loyalty and general agreement between all the people in a group

compulsory (adj):required to be done because of a rule or law

recipient(n): someone who receive something

nurture(v):to feed and take care of a child or a plant while it is growing

Summary

              Almost teacher supervise own club activities in present Japan. But they are not admitted as regular jobs. Regardless of extracurricular activities, teachers have to supervise their club activities late on weekdays, every Saturdays, and during long break. Some of them who have complains about the work on holidays claimed that the club activities are not our jobs. And the claims lead the club closures. In 2008 to 2009, the curriculum was changed and it said that there are a lot of benefits for students to participate in the club activities. Also the daily salary for the teachers who direct club activities is raised from 1200yen to 3200yen(less than from $12 to $32) There is a teacher, like this speaker, who thinks that the club activities are very important for students to help to learn about morals or improve physical power and scholastic abilities. Anyway, it is very hard to for teachers to supervise club activities and it is big load for them. The government should measure against to change the situations.

Reaction

              This is serious problems on education in present Japan. Because there are many teacher who supervise extracurricular activities almost free. I know that teachers have to prepare for their classes and the preparing takes very long time. I have done mimic classes in Japan. It was just simulation but I took the long time to prepare them. But teachers have to not only prepare the classes but also participate in many meetings even the club activities. Furthermore, the salary does not match the amount of work. I think almost teachers understand the club activities have a lot of benefits for students. For instance, the club activities give students the physical and the mental abilities, the importance to unit and cooperate, Japanese cultures, and improvements of their skills. Why does the government enforce it earnestly? Because they do not want to pay high salary for teachers. If they want to make great human materials, they should to give the opportunities for students to join in the club activities and the money for teachers. There is a lot of incoherence in the world.

RRJ #2

Chiaki Kohashi

EAP-1 A

November. 5^th , 2010

Education

Reading Reaction Journal #2

Reference

Yomiuri (August 26, 2010) “30% don’t learn Japanese history”

From http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/Inacademic/?

Vocabulary

installment: one of the parts of a story that appears as a series in a magazine,                       newspaper, movie etc.; EPISODE

unfounded: unfounded statements, feelings, opinions etc. are wrong because they are                               not based on true facts

Peninsula: a piece of land almost completely surrounded by water but joined to a large                 mass of land

compulsory: something that is compulsory is REQUIRED to be done because of a rule                  or law

Superintendent: someone who is in charge of all the schools in a particular area

heed: pay attention to

initiate: start

municipal: relating to or belonging to the government of a town or city

tentatively: done without confidence

gaze: to look at someone or something for a long time, especially without realizing you                  are doing it

Summary

           The importance of Japanese history is discussed. The exam was taken to change environment relating with new teaching guidelines. It focuses in on Japanese history education at high schools. According to a public opinion survey, the ignorance about Japanese history of Japanese people is the clear truth. Recently, it is principle for Japanese high school students to study geography or Japanese history. But 30 percent of students do not study Japanese history. Then a man sent a letter to the government. It said that Japanese history have to be compulsory subject. However, the government did not anything. In some high school, teachers teach Japanese history in own way.

Reaction

              According to the article, it is important for people to learn about own country, regardless of the present or the past. Actually, I do not know Japanese history well. I did not pay attention to Japanese history class when I was a high school student. But I regretted not to take this class seriously, because ignorance of Japan is a kind of shame for me. And I really understand the importance to know own country. Especially, in America, there are many foreigner people and there are many chances to talk to them. Sometimes foreigner asked me about Japanese but I could not answer well. I think when teacher teach Japanese history, they have to teach it with World history. Present Japan had many experiences with other countries. Without World history, teachers cannot teach students Japanese history. Currently, Japan has a tendency to adopt foreigner countries, but the first step to adopt other country is to know own country well.