A Visit from Yokohama Midorigaoka High School Students
Preschool
August 9, 2018
Recently, students from Yokohama Midorigaoka High School visited CGK.
The high school offers a period of integrated studies with theme-based learning. CGK was selected as one of the destinations for students exploring international liberal arts.
They observed Ocean class (age 2) happily singing English songs, and Jungle class (age 3) taking part in writing and reading lessons.
Most of their visit was spent with Mountain class (age 4). The students began by introducing themselves in English. When the children discovered that one visitor shared a name with a Mountain child or a younger sister, the whole classroom became excited and the conversation seemed endless.
Then the children asked questions such as, “What flavor of chocolate do you like?”, “What ice cream do you like?” and “What car brand do you like?” Some were surprisingly tricky to answer, but the students did their best to respond in English.
Through intercultural learning and crafts in Mountain, then CGK’s oldest class, the visitors could see both our educational approach and the children’s English abilities.
Because the visitors had spoken English from their introductions onward, the children continued speaking to them in English throughout.
CGK welcomes many kinds of visitors, and the children are always pleased to meet “new friends.” They were especially happy to have the high school students help with their crafts.
After the classroom visits, we explained CGK’s educational concept.
The students listened attentively and asked questions.
When we asked about the careers they might like in the future, their answers included childcare, education, work involving English and jobs supporting children.
The visitors were first- and second-year high school students, with time ahead to consider their paths. We hope the visit helped them understand current early childhood and English education. Whether or not they choose a career in childcare or teaching, we hope something they experienced offered inspiration for their futures.
Kanagawa Prefectural Yokohama Midorigaoka High School
The high school offers a period of integrated studies with theme-based learning. CGK was selected as one of the destinations for students exploring international liberal arts.
They observed Ocean class (age 2) happily singing English songs, and Jungle class (age 3) taking part in writing and reading lessons.
Most of their visit was spent with Mountain class (age 4). The students began by introducing themselves in English. When the children discovered that one visitor shared a name with a Mountain child or a younger sister, the whole classroom became excited and the conversation seemed endless.
Then the children asked questions such as, “What flavor of chocolate do you like?”, “What ice cream do you like?” and “What car brand do you like?” Some were surprisingly tricky to answer, but the students did their best to respond in English.
Through intercultural learning and crafts in Mountain, then CGK’s oldest class, the visitors could see both our educational approach and the children’s English abilities.
Because the visitors had spoken English from their introductions onward, the children continued speaking to them in English throughout.
CGK welcomes many kinds of visitors, and the children are always pleased to meet “new friends.” They were especially happy to have the high school students help with their crafts.
After the classroom visits, we explained CGK’s educational concept.
The students listened attentively and asked questions.
When we asked about the careers they might like in the future, their answers included childcare, education, work involving English and jobs supporting children.
The visitors were first- and second-year high school students, with time ahead to consider their paths. We hope the visit helped them understand current early childhood and English education. Whether or not they choose a career in childcare or teaching, we hope something they experienced offered inspiration for their futures.
Kanagawa Prefectural Yokohama Midorigaoka High School
Author Profile
-
-
Reiko - Services and Community Coordinator (Japan)
Reiko joined CGK’s founding team in 2016, bringing seven years of experience in licensed nursery schools in Japan and six years across two international preschools. She has also volunteered at a daycare in Canada and has held preschool leadership roles at CGK, including Principal and Vice Principal.
A qualified nursery teacher and holder of a Class 2 kindergarten teaching license in Japan, Reiko values each child’s interests and strengths. Drawing on her experience in multicultural early childhood settings, she supports an environment where children can explore new interests through hands-on experiences and express themselves in their own way.