November 2016
Graduate school students at the Hyogo University of Teacher Education visited CA classroom and here are their answers to questions Yoshiko-san asked them afterward.
Q1. What did you find most interesting?
- CA has its own curriculum
- Math 6 task. Students predicted the height of the school building. When they were informed of the actual figure, they discussed why the difference occurred. I felt that they are learning things in a really good way.
- It was easy to see what was regarded important in class. Since the thinking process is considered most important, I could see that their behavior (having to sit at the desk throughout the class, having to calculate on their own) were considered not so important. I think that is exactly why they can focus on the thinking process.
- Compared to regular Japanese schools, CA seemed to focus on problem solving. The way teachers give tasks and directions seemed to highly motivate the students. Teachers and students seemed to enjoy casual, friendly communication and yet teachers appeared to be well respected by the students.
- Teaching method (IB), roles of school counselors, and how lessons were conducted & what was being taught
- Class observation, guidance lesson by the ES counselor, and Q&A with the students
- How CA’s teaching philosophy differs from regular (Japanese) schools was interesting, but what was wonderful was how CA students were so lively and independent thinkers.
- The school system, how students were learning, how the classes were taught... everything I saw was interesting.
- Everything I saw was interesting; facilities, education system, classes, children…
- In Math 6 classroom, posters on the wall didn’t show math formulas but rather they showed thinking/learning processes. It was very interesting to see how getting a correct answer and/or providing knowledge wasn’t deemed important compared to how to approach problems.
- Giving students longer vacation and less homework seemed to elicit students’ interests in a variety of fields. Japanese kids are too busy with after-school activities (including cram school). Giving kids free time will expand their dreams.
Q2. What do you think is the biggest difference between Japanese schools and Canadian Academy?
- ES students and SS students study in the same building on the same campus. It creates interactions between children of different age groups.
- There didn’t seem to be too many (strict) rules. I find it quite unique and interesting that an ES teacher came to pick up his/her students with coffee in one hand and popcorn in the other. It left a big impression on me.
- Layout of the classroom and other rooms
- How class is taught. In Japan the focus is always on “right or wrong” but at CA, the focus is on the thinking process and the reason behind the right or wrong answers. Even middle school students have a HR teacher.
- Freedom, independence, active learning. Children seemed to be enjoying learning and I found it impressive.
- What it means to “think.” The education method at CA, where students are thinking in a way that the word “think” truly means, is so different from that at Japanese schools, where they seem to have concluded that memorizing means thinking.
- Each child seemed to be responsible for his/her own studying,
- Teaching at CA is up to the teachers, which allows them to be driven by their passion. At Japanese schools, teachers can’t focus on the thinking process as much no matter how much he/she wanted to, due to the curriculum guideline. Often times they get transferred, which makes it difficult for teachers to spend enough time with the same children.
- Lots of artistic and unique paintings were displayed on the wall. In some classes students were painting/drawing with music in the background. These put me under the impression that teachers had more freedom to create their own lessons. The big difference is, the school environment at CA seemed to be allowing teachers to teach class in a way he/she wanted.
Q3. What did you find unimportant or uninteresting?
- Everything was interesting. If anything, I wish I had more time to observe classes.
- Everything was so different compared to Japanese schools that I was blown away, but I hope to learn from what I saw today, even if it’s only one point.
Q4. Do you have any comments/ideas you’d like to share with us?
- It was interesting to see the students having various projects including Thai Kids Fundraiser. Thank you so much for having us today.
- Everything I saw today is quite useful. Thank you so much.
- Children at CA appeared to be quite expressive. They seemed to be learning the importance of word and perspective-taking, which left me a big impression.
- I would love to learn more about the materials used at CA or CA’s approach to creating curriculum. It will be great if such information is available to Japanese schools. Thank you for everything today. I learned so much.
- Thank you for the valuable learning opportunity.
- I wish I could learn a bit more about how exactly to evaluate students’ essays and how to utilize the results for the future learning . Thank you for the precious learning opportunity. (I am quite interested in Konosuke’s future. I would like to know how CA graduates turn out and what Japanese education fails to provide students by comparing CA graduates to regular high school graduates students in Japan.)
- Thank you for the valuable experience.
- It was great to hear about various things. I observed while comparing everything to how they are at Japanese schools. It was great that I could talk to the teacher in math class. I enjoyed talking with the students too.
- Do CA students have any interactions with Japanese public school students? Do you think CA students feel a gap between what they are used to and the social norms in Japanese society?
