The differences between Japanese students and students from other countries in the ESL class

I wrote in my previous blog that I take the ESL classes three days a week.

I met a lot of classmates from all over the world.

The classmates are from Asia, Central and South America, Mid-west, Africa, and Europe.

They are very friendly and eager to learn English.

It's fun for me to discuss the differences of customs of each country.

Some classmates came to the US as refugees.

They usually don't talk what they were like in their native countries.

But one of the classmates told me that he was lucky to be able to come to the US.

He made me think about how big the problems of conflicts, wars, and refugees are.


And I keenly feel that how little I know about world affairs.


I found some differences of the lesson between other countries and Japan.


1. How to say own opinions during the class

Basically, we need to be quiet during the class in Japan.

When we would like to say something during the class, we usually should raise our hands first.

In case a teacher picks me, I should stand up then I can say my opinion, the answer, and so on.

The situation is like below:

Teacher : Is there someone who wants to share your experience?

Student : Hai! ( はい : Yes )

Teacher : Then, Kumi - san.

Student : Hai! ( はい : Yes ) (Stand up) I went to.....


But in the US, students suddenly start talking while a teacher is talking.

Most of Japanese students seem to be overwhelmed.

We are also taught the importance of listening to teachers and other students carefully.


But some students try to say the answers or their opinions even though they interrupt teachers.

Teachers often say Japanese students are too quiet.

I agree with it, but in my case, I am just not used to the way of saying something during the class.

I don't want teachers and other students to regard that Japanese students don't want to talk and don't want to join in the class.

But I realize that I need to learn to be proactive like them more.



2. Most of Japanese students tend to be not good at speaking

This is related to the topic 1 above.

English education in Japan have focused on reading and writing.

That's why most of Japanese people tend to be not good at speaking.

But I was surprised to see that other students who are able to speak very well couldn't solve the questions of grammar.

They told me that speaking English is easier than grammar.

One of my Japanese friend who takes the same ESL class said to me:

"We are not good at speaking, but good at grammar. We should be proud of it."

Of course I often mistake the grammar and I often feel the sense of inferiority against speaking English.

But I try to stop feeling negative.

I just practice speaking more.



This is not the topic of differences, but it was very interesting that I found all of us have each country's accent.

I can understand the English spoken by the students who speak Portuguese, Korean, and Japanese.

But it was hard for me to understand the English spoken by the students who speak Arabic and Spanish.

It depends on each student, but I realized how the pronunciation is important.

Thank you(^o^) for reading this article!

The differences of schools between Michigan and Japan

I have two children, 9-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter.

One of my biggest worries regarding moving to the US was about them.

Will they be able to adapt to the American school?

Will they be able to make friends?

Will they forget Japanese language?

Will they be late for Japanese curriculum?

The list is endless.

As I wrote in the previous post, they enjoy going to the local school now.

Actually, there are a lot of children who came from abroad in their elementary because we live in diverse and international city.

That's why not only my children but also other children have some difficulties to speak in English.

But teachers are skilled and very used to such children.

They help such children and they are getting used to school little by little.


I started taking the ESL class two weeks ago.

It is very inspiring and fun for me!

As well as my children's school, the ESL class is also very international.

It is opened only for adult.

The students are eager to learn English, and very friendly.

They don't stick to their friends who speak the same language, they enjoy talking to the students who are from different countries.

They try to speak in English even when they talk to the students who have the same mother tongue.

I like the atmosphere there!


I found some differences of school between Michigan and Japan through my children's elementary and the ESL class.

They are very interesting!


1. Teachers sometimes talk sitting on the desk.

When I saw the scene, I was surprised because Japanese teachers never do like that because it is usually regarded as a bad manner.


2. Children read books while lying down.

Children have a reading time in the elementary in Michigan.

My children were so surprised to see the other children's behavior.

They read books while lying down on the carpet and while eating snacks!

It could happen at home in Japan, but children have to read books while sitting on the chairs in school.

And they must not bring snacks to schools in Japan.

They can bring snacks only when they go to the field trip.


3. The students can go to the washroom during the class.

There is a washroom in the classroom of their elementary.

They can go anytime they want to go without permission of teachers.

In Japan, children are offered to go to the washroom during the recesses.

Children have to manage it by themselves.

If they want to go during the class, they have to tell their teacher.

The teacher would say like that,

"OK. But you should go to the bathroom before the class."


4. School lunch doesn't seem to be good for health.

I make lunch (bento) for children every day.

The elementary school offers school lunch.

But I don't think the menu are not good for health.

It is offered in the buffet style so that children can choose what they like.

But some parents or adult who are living in the school district have to help them as a volunteer at the lunch time.

Unless children choose vegetable, children don't eat vegetable no matter how much they offer it.

In Japan, the menu of school lunch is made by the Nutritionist.

Children and teachers eat the same one.

All children have to be on a school lunch duty in turns for a week.

They serve their lunch and clear the tables by themselves.

As I mentioned, children must not bring snack to school in Japan.

The lunch time is only the opportunity to eat in school.

Even though there is something they don't like, they get to eat it because they are hungry.

But recently, children can reduce the amount of the dishes before they start to eat.

Since my 8-year-old daughter always doesn't eat a lot, she often reduced her meal before she ate.


5. Children don't have to clean their school.

In Japan, there is a cleaning time every day and children have to clean all the classroom, hallways, entrance, school ground, and washroom.

They sweep with brooms, put the dust and garbage in the dustpan and throw it away in the dust box.

They also wipe the floors and hallways, wipe windows with a damp cloth.

In Michigan, children don't have to do it.

My children are glad, but I want them to learn how to clean.


6. Children go to school by a school bus.

My children take a school bus to school.

I think school bus is the best way for children to go to school safely.

In Japan, they walked to school carrying a heavy bag like a backpack named randoseru made of leather with a lot of textbooks and notebooks.

It was hard for the first-grade students, but it makes them stronger.


7. Teachers try to teach children with fun.

Children enjoy the local school because the class is fun.

Teachers seem to let children have more fun with learning.

They have a few homework.

The ways of teaching are quite different from each teacher.

The school seem to leave it to the teachers.

In Japan, children learn a lot of things in school.

Sometimes they don't enjoy it because it is like a training.

Teachers have to follow the curriculum guideline issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

Children can learn in the similar way wherever in Japan, but teachers have a very heavy workload.

They have a lot of homework every day, reading, Kanji workbook, math workbook, and so on.


I have more other things I want to write, but I would like to wrap it up today.

Just one thing I could say, if my children are used to American school too much, they would have a hard time for them to adapt the Japanese school when we go back to Japan.

Because I think American school tend to make them have fun and Japanese schools tend to be stricter.

It is not that which school is superior, or which school is doing right.

I just would like to say that there are so many differences in both.

Thank you(^o^) for reading this article!