This week your child learned how to say university/college, high school, middle school, elementary school, what grade he/she is in, and the differences between schools in US and Japan.
Also we covered hiragana は /ha/, ひ/hi/, ふ/fu/, へ/he/, ほ/ho/, ば/ba/, び/bi/, ぶ/bu/, べ/be/, ぼ/bo/, ぱ/pa/, ぴ/pi/, ぷ/pu/, ぺ/pe/ and ぽ/po/.
The Japanese school year starts in April and consists of three terms, separated by short holidays in spring and winter, and a one month long summer break.
The basic school system in Japan is composed of elementary school (lasting six years), middle school (three years), high school (three years), and university (four years).
Other differences between schools in Japan and US are: school uniform, inside shoes, and teachers move around.
School Uniform:
An uniform is standard among most schools in Japan. Uniforms are more common at the middle school and high school levels than at the elementary. Some private schools now hire top fashion designers to design their uniforms to satisfy the tastes of today’s highly fashion-conscious teens. Generally, however, uniforms tend to remain conservative in style, and are usually black, navy blue, or gray.
These come in several basic varieties: for boys, it is usually the black pants and jacket with gold button down the front and a white shirt inside, or sometimes it is a sort of suit like thing. For girls, it is a dark blue or gray skirt, with either a sailor top or a white shirt and matching vest. These vary in detail from school to school, and so you can tell what school people you meet on the street go to.
Most school students have two sets of school uniforms: a summer uniform and a winter uniform. However, you don't get to decide whether to wear the summer uniform or winter one just by if you are cold or not. All students switch from one uniform to the other on pre-determined days, called “KOROMO-GAE (changing of the clothes), in May or June and October. On that day every student changes uniform on the same day.
Japanese girls wearing thier summer uniforms.
Inside Shoes:
When you enter school building in Japan, you have to change your shoes, just like when you enter a house. You go to your shoe locker, called “GETA BAKO”, and switch your outside sneakers for "UWA BAKI" or "inside shoes", which are bought at school and generally are some form of slip on soft-soled sneaker.
"GETA BAKO" or shoe locker at a school
Teachers move around:
Another major difference between Japanese and American middle /high school is that whereas in USA schools the students change classes, in Japan you stay in one class all day long (or at least most of the day) and instead the teachers move around from class to class. So, you are with the same people all day long. Since students don't change rooms and are in the same classroom all day long, the room is full of stuff owned by the students like bags, and the walls are covered with student-made props and posters for events and such.
Hiragana は/ha/, ひ/hi/, ふ/fu/, へ/he/, ほ/ho/
Though transcribed with an "h", the initial sound here is much weaker than that of the English "h" in word like "hat" or "home.”
ひ /hi/: The "h" before an "i" is pronounced by raising the tongue closer to the hard palate and producing friction, somewhat similar to the German "ch" as in "ich."
ふ /fu/ differs from the English "h" or the "f" of "fox." It is made by bringing both lips together as if blowing hot soup and producing friction. The lips are not rounded, and the teeth do not come in contact with the lips.
Finally, did you have a chance to see Middle School musical, "The Pirates of Penzance" at Gates Performing Arts Center last week? Several students in Japanese class were on the show. They were great and the show was one of the best middle school performances to grace the stage of the GPAC!
If you missed it, this is a photo slide show of the musical. Enjoy!
