Comments on: Let’s Talk About Japanese Cram School

By: De Men

De Men — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 18:59:00 +0000

I am Vietnamese too. I do not agree with you. The situation you said that is in some cities but in the countryside is not like that. Moreover, normally we only have half-day at school except gifted schools (for junior and senior high school), and full-day for elementary school (7:30 am to 4:30 pm). Right! in Vietnam we have “cram school” but most of them are opened by our teachers. They offer us join in their classes after school or we would get not good scores in class. In Vietnam, i think, school call “shadow education”! However I think the most popular cram school is in Korea. Second is Japan, and third is Taiwan…Vietnam, may be fourth !!!! :)))

By: The JET person

The JET person — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 07:23:00 +0000

I went to an American highschool, pretty rigorous program, a lot of studying until 11 or 12 at night for AP classes, etc, and I also worked fairly hard in college. But In general, I like school. I am pretty much a self professed nerd. Still, I kind of shudder at jyuku and I don’t think I’d want my own kids to go through this! As much as I love learning and classes, I can’t imagine who I would be today, if I didn’t have the time during middle and highschool to goof around making movies with friends, help with theater productions, mess around with photoshoots and making art with friends, go do volunteer stuff, write stories, go wander and explore my interests outside of school hours. What I studied during college and what I want to do with my life was greatly affected by the exploring I did during middle and highschool (ie, I became fascinated with the movie making I did with friends in highschool, and ended up studying film in college).

I have heard from Japanese people that they liked cram school as well, and I keep thinking, “That’s because you never had a proper chance to live a little and do your own stuff during middle and highschool, and to really hang out with your friends in a non-school setting.” I guess college, the spring break of life or whatever (as mentioned in the other articles) is when all this happens? Reading the article, I can see why people would want to/have to go to jyuku… I guess… but I’m really glad I didn’t have to do it. I also don’t envy the way people work in Japan. (I am currently working in an office in Japan and I am pretty sure I will be going back to the US, once my contract ends.)

Also, on a slightly related tangent — OK, this is not official at all, because I have only talked to a few Japanese college students and listened to a few college experiences in Japan. But I feel like people have a delayed adolescence. One woman was talking about how she had a huge crush on a singer during college and was basically quite convinced she was going to marry him. “That sounds like a highschool thing. Don’t people get beyond that by college?” I remember thinking to myself. Well, it’s not a very big sampling of people.

By: dovorobuchin

dovorobuchin — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 15:27:00 +0000

That’s Suou, Tamaki from Ouran High School Host Club. （⌒▽⌒）

P.S. OMGSSS I Thought someone was playing with Koichi’s cross-dressing アハハハ

By: SpicedWolf

SpicedWolf — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 01:24:00 +0000

In North America it’s usually pronounces “Tortiss” not “Tortoys”

By: Mami

Mami — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 21:58:00 +0000

No! You don’t sound like so at all. and I’m sorry if I sounded like so(><)
And I really understand what you mean too! That's exactly why I left Kumon. The teachers are supposed to be just women who aren't educated in teaching(not everyone, I guess. but most of them). The Kumon system was made for self-studying so it's okay until certain level, I guess, but it's not enough when you reach certain point.That's a little shame, isn't it? (TT)

By: Mami

Mami — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 21:55:00 +0000

(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)♡Ah…sounds so good!