Nishimachi International School

LANGUAGES

Nishimachi's language education focuses on English and Japanese. For English speakers our goal is to maintain and develop English. For Japanese speakers our goal is to maintain and develop Japanese. For learners of English as a Second Language (ESL) we facilitate the learning of English and for learners of Japanese as a Second Language (JSL) we facilitate the learning of Japanese. While Nishimachi celebrates linguistic diversity, we ask the families of speakers of languages other than Japanese and English to maintain and develop their native language and cultural heritage at home. Nishimachi believes that learning another language provides the opportunity to grow beyond a single culture. The ultimate goal for students who attend kindergarten through grade 9 is to place students firmly on the path towards bilingualism.

JAPANESE LANGUAGES PROGRAM

In Japanese as a first language classes, textbooks are used in accordance with the curriculum guidelines that are published by the Mombukagakusho (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology).? Classes in Japanese language draw upon a variety of teaching strategies.