Opening Doors at an Early Age

Language for a Child

What if your child can speak two languages before entering the adult world? What about before High School or Middle School? Language is an important factor in one’s identity, how one interacts with others, and how one develops critical thinking, among many other factors. As many children in Japan grow up knowing the native language–Japanese- the English education system that many Japanese schools adopt falls short. 

The textbook-styled approach and the lack of practical use in the classroom are key highlights of the problem that may turn students away from learning another language, with interested students needing to look elsewhere despite their busy school and social lives. 

International Schooling

What makes international schools different is how they delve into the roots of the problem. Through the use of including English in their everyday activities reinforces the lessons and positive habits students learn. While some may view learning another language as impractical if they aim to gain a job in their home country, such as Japan where over 97 percent of Japanese citizens work inside Japan from a 2023 survey from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, typically in a Japanese company/position, language is not limited to finding use in the adult world. It builds critical thinking, mindfulness, and exploratory skills that serve as good foundations to build their character for the future. Through English education and immersion, it improves a child’s ability to think for themselves, to overcome obstacles they will face in the future.

Critical Thinking

At Four Leaves International School Tokyo, we build critical thinking skills. These skills help guide our students for the future. We push them in the right direction so they start building towards their own lens of creativity, curiosity, problem-solving, and communicating with others. And by interacting with those unexplored doors, students discover possibilities. This is often the door of diversity within culture, a door ot limited by student-to-student interaction, but with student interaction with our staff.

Interacting with Diversity and Future

By not only interacting with diverse peers, but also how schools operate on their fundamentals, international schools are a good fit for your child if you are comfortable taking their education to a new level. At Four Leaves International School Tokyo, it’s no different. We welcome diversity not only among our students, but staff. It’s not limited to our lessons, but also how even the smallest of conversations among students and our staff bring into the light the different walks of life we have had with them, such as Ms. Janne’s experience in the Philippines. To build on their curiosity, it’s not only an exploration of the world, but a light into how we become mindful in the present moment

Engagement

Learning how to be engaged is what helps drive the potential of brilliant minds towards the future. Engagement is important for everyone, as it's how we stay focused and educated on new things in this rapidly developing world. At Four Leaves International School Tokyo, we do this by operating in a way that always challenges and builds upon the question parents and teachers have, more so in terms of the English Language, which is: “How to make learning engaging”. With the help of all lessons, except our Japanese class, being done in English, it has made our students all speak flawlessly for their age, such as with one of our students, Kain. She can make complex sentences on her own, putting together words from a word bank to form a complete sentence. Students communicate their feelings to one another, asking questions, and making family-like connections with the bonds shared with one another. Spending even one full day of school, observing the students learn and play, it's evident that our students go beyond in how they are quick to learn and adapt to the expressions and use of the English Language.

English in their Future

As the world continues to develop, education has to as well. This is not limited to the technologies used, but also through teaching methods and building a person’s character. Learning a new language at a young age allows more possibilities in their lives to build identity and strive to be independent. Learning a language is, in no doubt, hard to do. But even a gentle push into trying new things, learning new things can lead to self-discovery that its impact is truly felt when one grows up. Four Leaves International School Tokyo will guarantee that our students' hard work will meet success, whether it be in a few years' time or when they become adults.