If you attend an international school or local nursery school in Singapore, you may feel that your child will naturally learn Japanese at home, or that you don’t need to send your child to a preschool.
In fact, many families face this question at least once. This time, I would like to think with you about how to deal with Japanese while raising children overseas.
1. Why it’s not always okay just because you go to an inter-school
Inter-school and on-site kindergartens are important places to develop your child’s social and academic skills in an English-centered environment. However, the longer you spend there, the less time you have to interact with Japanese.
In families where the conversation at home is more English-based, it is not uncommon for children to only hear Japanese in the form of watching Japanese videos on the weekends or having occasional video calls with their grandparents.
This is not unusual and is a natural situation for many families living overseas.
2. Things that tend to happen to children growing up overseas in their Japanese language
Growing up in an environment with limited exposure to Japanese,Even though I can understand the content of conversations, English comes out first when I speak.,orEven if I can have everyday conversations, I suddenly find it difficult to use hiragana or sentences., etc. may occur.
This is not a problem of your child’s ability, but simply a difference in the amount and opportunity of exposure to Japanese. We believe that growing up in a multilingual environment is a great asset for your child.
3. Common pattern: Children who “understand but don’t talk”
For example, when reading a picture book aloud, children often understand the content and laugh or react, but when asked what they think, they respond in English. It’s not uncommon for children to be able to communicate well during video calls with their grandparents, but when it comes to talking to them themselves, they can’t get the words out. This is a pattern that is often seen in children growing up overseas, where there is likely to be a gap between their ability to understand Japanese and their ability to speak and write it. It may be a good idea to think of it as not that one is extremely behind the other, but simply as a result of the difference in opportunities to use them.
4. Things that are difficult to compensate for by living at an inter-school or local school alone.
Naturally, the curriculum at inter-school and local gardens does not include time spent learning how to read and write Japanese, or experiencing Japanese culture and events.
While “spoken language” is easy to maintain with some effort at home,Reading and writing Hiragana and KatakanaorAbility to organize one’s thoughts into sentencesIf you don’t make time to consciously work on it, you will tend to put it off. This is the reason why many families start considering early childhood classrooms.
If you feel like, “I wonder what stage my child is at right now” or “I wonder if it’s okay to keep an eye on him”, please feel free to talk to him without worrying about it all to yourself.
5. Developing Japanese as a “heritage language”
Whether you have plans to return to Japan or not, Japanese is not just a subject for entrance exams, but rather a “language that connects hearts” that allows your child to feel their roots and be able to speak their own language with their Japanese grandparents and relatives.
That’s why it’s most important to choose an environment that allows your child to continue having fun at his or her own pace, rather than trying to cram everything in.
6. What the Children’s Club values
At the Children’s Club, based on the idea of “Learning while having fun and creating the future,”Japanese reading and writingbut alsoInterest in numbers and shapes、ability to concentrate、ability to interact with friendsWe value “comprehensive human development” that includes everything.
Another feature of our school is that we use teaching materials that incorporate elements of play, and that classes are carried out at the pace of each child.
We also incorporate opportunities to experience Japanese seasonal events and culture, and we strive to create time that not only allows students to learn the Japanese language itself, but also allows them to feel closer to Japan.
7. Frequently asked questions
Q. At what age should I consider it?
A. There is no rule for “at this timing.” A natural time to consult is when you notice a change in conversation or interest.
Q. I’m busy with homework and lessons at Inter-school, so I’m worried about whether I’ll have time to attend.
A. There are also classes that you can start once a week for a short period of time. You can consult with us to suit your family’s lifestyle.
Q. Is it okay if I don’t speak Japanese very well at home?
A. It’s okay. Using our time in the classroom as an opportunity, we will also think about ways to get involved at home.
8. First of all, please feel free to listen to my story.
You don’t have to feel like, “Maybe it’s too early for my child,” or “Will it be okay for a family like ours?” Every family’s language environment is different.
At the Children’s Club, we provide guidance on how to continue at a pace that is comfortable for each family.
Please feel free to contact us.