Japanese schools offer a nurturing and student-friendly atmosphere. They focus on the holistic development of a child and let them decide what courses they want to take up. A typical day for a high school student at a Japanese school includes learning different concepts, indulging in activities, and visiting the library. It also includes spending time in the laboratories doing experiments if it matches their coursework.
High school in Japan gets further classified into Junior high and senior high school. Junior high classes are 9th and 10th, while senior high classes are 11th and 12th. During these years, a few subjects are mandatory for children. However, they get a choice over the others. By choosing the optional courses, they can complete their coursework and complete their education in a Japan high school.
Subjects that Japanese students study in high school
The coursework of a high school student in private schools in Japan varies from other countries. Though the core subjects remain the same, their amalgamation varies according to the preferences. Let us discuss the core subjects and optional ones in senior and junior high schools.
Junior High School
The junior high school is class 9th and 10th. These are the middle years of schooling, where children prepare for the challenging concepts that the high school grades will offer. These grades include every subject so that children get an idea of every course, and it gets convenient for them to decide which subject they want to continue studying as they move ahead in life. The mandatory subjects in these grades are listed below:
- English as a first or second language
- Japanese as a first or second language
- Society learning through subjects like history, civics, geography, and culture
- Integrated Science
- Integrated Math
- Health and Physical Education
- Fine arts like music and drama
These are the core subjects, and other than these, students can opt for a foreign language or a skill-based subject, which can be music or acting. However, most Japanese students opt for English as a foreign language, considering it opens gates for international exposure.
Senior High School
After the junior level, the student enters class 11, and from there, the senior high school level starts. These are the two crucial years of school education, as, after this, students have to choose their careers. What subjects or coursework a student would take at the college or university level depends on what they learn in school. The core subjects for these grades are as follows:
- Language or Literature, you can choose either Japanese or English
- Japanese Language Acquisition
- Societal learning through subjects like history or culture
- Science subjects, including chemistry, physics, and biology
- Mathematics
- Theatre and other aspects of fine arts
Other than these core subjects, there are a few optional ones. These optional ones can be any subject or course you left as an option in the core subjects. So, for example, if you choose history in societal learning as core, you can opt for geography as the optional. You can design the coursework and complete your high school education.
Choosing the right school
Though all the private schools offer the same subjects to high school students, their teaching methodologies make a few better than the others. Thus, choosing the right Japan high school is significant to give a promising direction to your child’s educational journey. Seek suggestions from fellow parents, or explore all the options available to choose the best school. Keep constraints like academic excellence, infrastructural facilities, and staff qualification in mind to filter the choices. Moreover, you can also plan to visit the school to get a clear idea of the environment at school and enrol your child in a school where you feel that your child can conveniently adjust. Stay vigilant, and take this decision carefully, as your child’s career and entire life depend on it.
