'Bunka-sai' - Cultural Festival

The Cultural Festival falls at the end of October this year. Again, it all depends but it looks like it’s gonna be a bit earlier than usual. In fact, the actual Bank Holiday named after it is Culture Day which falls on 3rd November this year. With the JHS, students usually have to practice their scales and perform in a choir vs. other different classes or sometimes not. Think Sister Act teen version without the habits and you’ll get my drift. It’s quite thrilling to see and somewhat moving. No wonder the Japanese invented karaoke. They love to sing. Other performances were hip-hop dancing, Taiko drumming and stand-up comedy all performed by the students.

CLT

The buzz word at the mo is CLT which stands for Communicative Language Teaching. Many already apply this teaching approach without actually knowing it. CLT, in short, is a communicative approach that maximizes interaction. It is a response to ALM Audio-Lingual Method and seen as an extension to notional-functional syllabus. ALM restricts itself by having just one answer. Whereas CLT allows flexibility and tries to achieve the notion that is the context in which people communicate and function, the purpose, of the language. Like any other teaching approach, it has its limitations and critics. But what is important is to apply its merits and thus to enhance learners’ competence.

うんどかい (undoukai) = sports day

Sports Day in J-land falls around at the end of September. It’s a pretty big thing where students, teachers and in some parts of the country, even parents take part on the festivities. With the JHS, students will practice night and day just to get everything right and perfect their throwing, running, cheering. and other performances like taiko drumming, etc. The teachers have to practice too after their teaching hours just to master the passing of the baton for that big day.

On the day, which probably falls on a Saturday but a 2-day weekday event is considered very common too especially if the school is large, students will race to the field and fill the ground with their coloured headbands thus representing their class teams. Then all will eagerly wait for the start of the first event after their headmaster/mistress finishes his/her long and winding speech.

In general, the events vary from the 50m dash to the relay race. Other events are old Japanese favourites like group double Dutch and a three-legged relay race.

After the day is over, awards and some kinda ceremony takes place. Teachers and students then have to tidy up and clear the ground.

All in all, it's fairly exciting especially if you root for your favourite class. However, it is advisable to wear a hat and a long sleeve top and put some suntan protection if you don't want to suffer from heat stroke or sunburnt.

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P.E. is here to help you. It hopes to cater and offer you some new and alternative ways in acquiring the English language as well as gives you info about teaching in J-land.