English activities

　The last 12 years have seen the introduction of enjoyable and meaningful English activities for the students at Mimaki Elementary School, and the staff are continually striving to develop and improve upon the current English Language programme offered.

Objectives for this year

1. a)to deliver 25 hours of English classes to 1st,2nd and 3rd grade, per academic year.
   b)to deliver 35 hours of English classes to 4th,5th and 6th grade, per academic year.

2. to implement enjoyable English classes, which make full use of a range of activities and resources

3. to harness positive communication and interaction with others

4. to introduce a forum where ideas on team teaching can be developed and exchanged between staff and guests

5. to continue our educational research and study into English language Programs at Elementary Schools

MIMAKI ENGLISH TIME 

(MET) 

MET (Mimaki English Time) – Once a week children get to see a short skit about the Daily English. Children from each classroom can watch for 10 minutes from their big TV’s.  Teachers and students get to act and become actors and actresses done in the broadcasting room. The main characters are SUPER MIMAKI MAN, MIMAKI BATMAN OR SOME ANIMAL PUPPET. 

 

SUPER MIMAKI MAN sings and plays the guitar for the children in the “Forest Camp Activity” of the 5^th graders. They all had a wonderful time.

Students from the 5th grade went to Kinkakuji (Golden Temple) and Nijo castle to interview some foreigners in English last November 2nd. They went by groups and tried to interview as many foreigners as they can meet along the way. All of the foreigners were glad they got to be interviewed and even said that the interview activity was great for students to learn English because they could speak to different foreigners in English. Students were all excited and had fun talking to foreigners.

Last October 26th the 4th graders had fun with their Halloween Lesson. They experienced walking around the school with their Halloween masks on and looking for 5 teachers to do “Trick or Treat”. There are 5 groups who must find the 5 teachers hidden in one of the school rooms.  If they find the teacher they will be asked each a question. After that they can get a candy.  The first group who can find all 5 teachers and returns back to the English room gets an additional candy.

6th graders went to Osaka and interviewed some foreigners in the JICA building using English. Most foreigners were from the Middle East and students asked questions regarding their countries. Then students taught them how to make Japanese origami crafts. They all had a wonderful time!

Team teaching is a very important   in Mimaki’s everyday English lessons. Japanese teachers and the ALT make sure they work together to achieve the goals and aims of each lesson.

Above: Roy and Mr. Inada teach the 6th graders about phonics.

6th graders enjoy fun activities together with the ALT. They use the big space in the English room to roam around and intermingle with their classmates, of course, using what they have learned in class.

6th graders are given the chance to make a presentation to the kindergarten students in English. They practice what they have learned in class then show their English skills to the younger kids. 

Above: Some 6th grade students tell a story to the kindergarten kids.

MY SPEECH COMPETITION

One of the activities of the ALT’s is the “My Speech” competition for the 6^th graders. They are the judges in the competition. They go around the schools and see who can recite the best speech.

ENGLISH ADVENTURE

English Adventure – Students go on a trip to famous places around Kyoto and interview foreigners in English. Many foreigners were surprised because of the children’s ability to speak English.

CHRISTMAS SEASON

During Christmas or Halloween season, ALT disguises himself as Santa Claus or Batman and sings and plays with the kids from nursery and kinder to elementary school students.