I teach 6th grade science and in June I will be visiting Japan. I would like to visit a school in Tokyo, but I am not sure the route I should take to making a visit possible. Does anyone have an idea or even better a person to contact? Thank you!
Japan - 4 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Japanese schools are not open to tourists. Basically, such visit is not possible. The only case is when schools have a sports festival or cultural festival. But it's only a few times an year for each school. If it's OK to visit any school, you can visit college campuses because they are relatively open. You can just walk into one.
2 :
You need a certain official letter of introduction and the reservation. It seems quite difficult without any guarantor who is Japanese. Japan is not your home country. The board of education of each ward office in Tokyo would be one of right places to be asked. I don't think they speak any language out of Japanese though.
3 :
I don't know how but I've visited an elementary school in Japan. we sat through one class and talked a bit to the kids also. So I'm sure it's possible I just don't know how to do it.
4 :
My suggestion is to network: find a university in your area that has an exchange program with a Japanese University, have them contact someone in Japan with your request, they will then look for a school in their area here in Japan that will accommodate you. Now that they have started English education in elementary school, your visit could help add a bit of reality to their program. You should make a request to spend a typical day at school and perhaps bring an activity to share with the children. The teachers usually eat with the children, either with a home-prepared lunch or a school lunch, so find out if you need to bring your own lunch. If you strike out with this idea, contact me privately and I will look for you- I live in Tokyo, not far from Shinjuku and I have good contacts at my office.
