ミッキーBlog #3

              Hey everyone, Mickie here! We have been in Japan for almost a month now! We only have about one more week until we go back home to Calgary. It has been such an awesome and fun time here in Japan: exploring Tokyo and trying new foods, seeing amazing things and scenery I’ve never seen back home before... I don’t want to leave so soon! Oh, how fast time flies! ~ Life in Japan is exciting and eventful. Everyday you find new things to muse about, and there is just so much to explore!

              In addition to the fun and excitement of this trip, I have new findings for my topic about Japanese cram schools since last blog! As I said in the last blog, I have asked some of my Japanese friends and Japanese students how they felt about cram schools, and how it affects them. I have also considered the differences between cram schools in Japan and preparatory classes in North America. Most people I have asked surprisingly answered no to the question, if they took cram school at all. There were also a variety of answers to that question: some said they took cram school only during exams, or when they were little, some said they did not take any cram school at all, and some said they took cram school up till high school. In university, students do not usually go to cram school as it is meant to be suitable for children and up to grade 12, high school graduation.

              I was surprised because based on my research through articles I have read about Japanese cram schools, it says that taking Juku is a big deal to get you through school, and that it is a big factor in contributing to one’s academic success. However, my personal evaluation of this says otherwise. According to my inquiries with Japanese students, only some of them have gone to or taken cram school. Those who have gone though, said that it did help them in their studies, and it also helped them make new friends. Therefore, Juku does play a social role in Japanese students’ lives.

              Despite contrary beliefs about parents making their kids go to Juku, most of my Japanese friends said they chose to attend Juku on their own. It was a choice, for the most part. For the few students that said no, their parents made them attend, they gradually started to like Juku after an initial dislike for cram schools. Juku does still run on weekends and during holidays, and it starts after school around 4 or 5 in the afternoon and runs till 9 or 10 in the late evening. Long hours for students attending Juku is normal, but of course, not everyone is pleased with the duration of it.

              The difference between Japanese cram schools – Juku – and preparatory classes in North America varies. They both serve the same purpose – helping students succeed in school and examinations. Preparatory classes in North America are mainly for examination preparations, whereas Juku has non-academic classes that students can attend as well. The whole parents making the kids go to prep school thing also depends on the student. They can choose whether or not they want to go, and most students do attend since examinations are fairly difficult as well.

              During the last week of this program, I would like to find out additional information about students who attended Juku and those who have not. In addition, I would like to know more on how Japanese students’ study, and the affects of studying between those who have attended Juku versus those who have not.