ALL ABOUT Japanese Schools!: Schools in Japan vs America! 

Hello from Thailand! What do you think of Japanese schools compared to the ones you attended? :) Also, how do you like the longer video?

The most surprising thing that's happened to me in Japan as an ALT was when one of my home room teachers was telling me that she thinks the school system in Japan is too lenient, that the kids are badly behaved and get away with too much - and that, because of all of this, she wants to move to somewhere like London because she thinks British children are polite and quiet. I would have laughed if I wasn't so surprised!

Oh my goodness. Some practices sound amazing. Some sound very scary (coming from a culture where physical agression against a student is criminal). How do you handle yourself during times when you are shocked by the things tolorated in schools?

i guess all we want, as humans, is for our children to have the best opportunities to learn .... but what system is the best!?!? im envious you've had the privilege to experience multiple systems! :)

That was really interesting! Man, I thought teachers were underpaid here. In Japan it sounds much worse. Off topic : Have you guys ever told us how long you plan to stay in Japan? Or what comes next?

Like that kind of informative videos. And this one was very interesting. Thank you.

Wow. The system sounds like a house of cards.

12:23 lol the cat in the background 🐱

Japanese schools sound so strict...and the pressure the kids are under - unbelievable! I'm surprised anyone would want to be a teacher with those working conditions - I'm assuming you don't do 80 hours a week or watch after a club? Don't even think about it - you've got our videos to make! ;) lol

What the!! I’m Japanese and am still surprised about some of the things you said. Cuz physical is never allowed in my school. Super surprised that there’s still that kind of school and that make me sad

I would have loved to wear socks in my classes! I just don't like wearing shoes, ever. Ideally I'd be bare foot but I think that's almost more taboo in Japan... Woooow I was never that committed to any school club, ever, I think I'd go a bit mad if I had to stick with the same one all the time (and *had* to take one!). I always remember my uniform(s) quite fondly. Both my primary (4-11 years old) and secondary school (11-18) had uniforms and that's pretty normal for schools in the UK (especially state ones). My primary uniform (winter uniform, it was different in summer) had kilts for the girls, despite the fact I grew up no where near Scotland! We had the rule of no nail varnish (though entirely clear was ok), no make up and no earrings, hair dye was allowed as long as it was a 'natural' colour, lots of girls got in trouble for make up, some teachers carried wipes around with them to 'check'. I never thought my school was that strict about it but when I went to university I found out lots of other schools were less interested in stopping the girls from wearing make up. It's a shame it's all just memorisation, there are definitely some uses to it but definitely not for everything! Kids serving food is a bit intense - we had people who collected the trays etc and we were on a rota for that but nothing more than that. We also always stayed in the same classroom but teachers moved during primary school but we changed classroom during secondary. The order to classes sounds kind of useful! None of this packing up before the class is over thing. We have 6 week summer holidays, I don't know if that's the same length of US schools? I guess that's still longer than the Japanese holidays though? My brother in law is a teacher in the UK, I think he'd say he has about 3 weeks off in summer because he has to do school related work either side. But he does do exciting things in that time! My school had very few elevators in it, but we did have them for people with mobility needs. I definitely don't think the kids need that much pressure! They seem to do well on their exams but they also seem to have almost no time to just be kids! And the work culture it prepares them for isn't healthy either. I definitely think the UK system has flaws, but I'm glad it wasn't like that. Hope you're having a wonderful time in Thailand!

Thanks for the video explaining all this and straight to the point! I watch a lot of anime where highschool is feature and I always confused on their school structure (and why new years always begin with cherry blossom scenes lol). Also the 1-club thing was noticable too! I think it's about fully connecting and commiting to an extracurricular instead of trying to juggle so many

Schools in the US now are using uniforms for grades under High School public school but they still don't have uniform for public school high schools

Thank you for providing us for your comparison and by the way, you are really beautiful! Also your eyes are stunning!

Thank you. Now I understand why the Kyoto Tachibana High School marching band is so good. The Japanese system is designed for it.

Another great video Sonnie! Didn’t realise Japanese schools were that different, I’m currently doing my TEFL, want to teach English abroad. Do u enjoy teaching?

Thank you for this very interesting video. I hope you won't mind I exploit it for my lesson of English in France!

thank you so much for this! i might move to japan for 5 years and im really nervous on how to make friends and the how schools are:D thank you sm

Thank you so much as this is preparing me somewhat. I'm going to be be an exchange student for a year in Japan so thanks! I f I saw a teacher hitting or in any way harming the student like you said, I would probably get kicked out for yelling at the teacher for doing that. Hopefully that doesn't happen cause I want to be there for a year!

Awesome experience. Give and take

Well there are lockers in some Japanese schools (including the one I attended)

How do I become a teacher/ get a job in Japan as an American? I'm a psychology major in college and am taking Japanese language courses and I adore the culture. I am seriously considering trying to get a job there.

Hey Sonnie, I was wondering if when you lived in Scotland, did you ever visit Glasgow, and if so, what were your impressions?

Failing does happen in high schools

2:20 the cat ❤❤❤❤

Currently studying Japanese and am hoping to eventually teach in Japan, I was curious if you took any JLPT tests, I am considering taking all of them but am still not sure. Another curiosity of mine is if you got to teach anything like Shakespeare or Romeo and Juliet. Love all the information, it’s hard to find a teacher’s in depth view of the actual school system and conditions. Oh another thing, about your tattoo, did you have that during Japan? If yes was there any backlash or interest generated from it?

Great video! I really want to live in Japan but I don't want to subject my future kids (God-willing) to such unnecessary pressure. I think ill have to take a look at international school or another country altogether.

i feel like the show rule helps to teach them organized

Fukuoka huh? Cool, just came back a few months back went to Genki Jacs... actually updating my Japanese blog nihonscope.com and your video is perfect for the Japan vs American school system and your video is the best! Thanks!!

Well shit. I evy those schools where i am in America start in September because they actually start in August for the state i am in .... lol😭

18:35 Isn't that the same for most American public schools? The high school I went to was so old it had cloth instead of plastic around it's wiring and many rooms and even the school entrance had changed from what they were clearly originally made for.

Wow your cat is a bigboy love it.

O interesting. The cleaning should be at my school but as a punishment... it would be better. Scotland i think it is new year, England/Wales is September. England has PE kit and school uniform. The school chooses them. Pah silent reading try getting 10 kids in my year to read silently. Im british 4:00 LOL. And yeah thats too much. We do once a week at most so. Cramming is fun sometimes. Music lol. What would happen if i told you what i done in the last week there? I havent washed hands specefically since like October... Primary school we stay in one/2 rooms really. In Secondary we go to the rooms that the teachers have. Lol we have less than half capacity and like 5/6' wide corridors. Good being tall lol. UK primary is 4/5-10/11. Secondary is 11/12-15/16 or 17/18 depending on Sixth form or not. Just allow people to be how they want without extremes. Yea well GCSEs. Pretty much from yr10 (14/15) to May yr 11 (15/16). So like an inset day in a hurricane/blizzard. Yay. Well. Thats not fair. What clubs do you run? That meditation could be good tho. But i dont close eyes just stare at the ceiling or something. Uk is very rare to go stay so... Honestly the military thing could be good at my school. Lack of order... wrestle to keep studying. Seems counterintuitive. Also just flip the teacher down and make sure they cant? Like arm twist and punch the teacher in the stomach like i did to a freind. They havent tried to do it again. I dont think any teachers will really try ti wrestle me so if it could happen beat up the teacher. Yehs.

I want to go to a japanese school so bad now.. love the discipline. Ofc there are some bad things but all in all they want the best for them!

Hi from India the rules and system in Japan and India are soo similar. Except we dont have to work that hard

About that kid who got praised cuz he spent all the night studying , well... THAT IS ME EVERYDAY!!!!!!!!!!

Ooo thats why nobita change shoes before enter into class ....

Which practices from Japan’s school system would you include in the US’s school system?

So I doing a WEBTOON and I been debating if I wanted to do Japanese school or America school and honestly now it kinda both so do you have advice or get more details how it works,and they bulking situation cause I been trying so my research but it pretty hard find some stuff 😔

Hi. Can i ask a copy of syllabus in the subject you are teaching. I can use it in my conference/seminar talks . Thank you

I'm a TESL teacher that teaches 1 on 1 with most students in China and let me tell you, nothing makes me feel more lazy than asking my students about their day or week and basically just hearing. "School, class". On the one hand, I'm impressed, on the other I'm sad.

Pls, I need some information about Japan educational system. I need it too write a research

You mentioned students not being able to wear jewelry and hair dye. Do the same rules apply to teachers in terms of dress code and appearances?

How long is the typical school day? Great video btw

Hiya. I've followed you since before you arrived in Japan. Comparing this vid to your early one(s), it seems to me that, actually, nothing at all has changed within the Japanese education system whatsoever. Did I miss something? On a different note, how's your health holding up? All the best to you.

Maybe her experience may have to do with the region she's in or her particular school because my family is from Japan and their experiences are different from hers in many ways. My brother, for instance, never dealt with many of the negative situations she spoke of.

1st realistic truthful information about schools there

Well I am in Malaysia. My wife is Japanese. One of my daughter went to Japan and studied in Sendai for about 3 moths. She enjoyed it very much. She goes to private school (UK syllabus) in Malaysia. I didn’t hear any of those horrible stories like that from her. She is actually looking forward to go back to study there, after the covid 19 lock down. Do you think the school she went to is different from yours?

So there books does it have more things to read or is it the same ?

about american schools, my family decided to move to new york, because they thought the school system would be better, i can assure you it isn't. my rights have been violated and i've been discriminated against not just by students, but by administration more. i wish my school was as good as i've heard these other schools are

Fluffy cat fluffy cat fluffy cat fluffy cat

Wait so like in Japanese public schools you need wear uniform?

My school is not like the other schools that she talked about the teachers don’t wrestle us down on the floor but we dont do like theMeditation thing

Wauv ... that sound like how the year 1 to 9 were run here in Denmark 50 years ago. Very strict and all the teaching is about memorizing, and not actually reflecting about the things you learn. But it does not really surprise me. From what I know of Japanese culture, it's an extremely conservative and dogmatic culture. But it sounds good that changes are being made.

Well no wonder the country is so smart it’s because they have the school system down to a T I’ve just realised that most other schools don’t focus on important things all the folk Isabel is okay so you’re going to learn this then this and then you’re going to puke out of your brains and then we’re going to learn about this and this

Nu begrijp ik waarom de Nederlandse (school)kinderen de gelukkigste in de wereld zijn. 今、私はオランダの（学校の）子供たちが世界で最も幸せである理由を理解しました。

I would have loved if u had timestamps

you just saved my ass

Its because japanese school system more focus on decepline and politeness and the important of thier culture "ILY♥" japanaese manners

May I know which school you are teaching?

u make it sound like teaching english is easy in japan's schools

it is better not to have education system and let children learn on their own about the world. No pain no gain let them live comfortably.

It sounds like Japanese students learn so much more than in America

Your cat is pretty

Here I was thinking Japanese schools would be just like how animes are😭😭😭😭😭😭 Damn this video was hurtful 💔

Japanese system seems abusive. Also, how long is a school day and what subjects do they study.

Wow wish I could have went to school in Japan school here in the US suck ass.

The moment you said girls aren't allowed to pluck their eyebrows 😮😵. I'll be coming in like this: 👹.

You need to put that cat on a weight-loss diet!! I taught in China for 6 years, so this was very interesting for me, to compare and contrast-- many similarities to China but many differences, too.

I just talked to a traumatized jr. Highschool girl who had her hair cut in front of the school. In Japan abuse is okay as long as you call it a rule. You will find many many abusive rules that are acceptable because they are "rules"

Sign me up in the list of those who fell for her. She is gorgeous, she has a cat and, most importantly, she has a Harry Potter tattoo.

Wow. And I thought the American school system was fucked

This sounds like a horrible system. Seriously unhealthy for the children’s mental and physical health, bad for the education because teachers won’t even know their subject…

Information here is misleading, all schools in Japan are different. Most of your information doesn't represent most schools Edit: I understand it's just her experience though