Foreign Mothers Rule!コミュのEducation

I'm also worried about the bullying thing in Japanese
schools, very astonishing to watch the related news on
TV. But I found that it's actually doing nothing with
the skin colors, but whether the kid has a social
disposition or not. And in fact foreign kids are
always distintively popular, new Japanese generation
tends to be fond of interacting with foreigners.

When we came back to Japan, I was at the beginning
only looking for an international school for my boy.
But then I found that he acted a bit reluctant to speak
Japanese (his dad is too busy with his new job until
they hardly see each other), not willing to play with
the Japanese kids in the park, I was so upset and felt
so sorry to him. We visited to lots schools, certainly
international schools are unbelievably expensive, b'cos
they emphasize on native environment (native teachers
etc). What I want to say is, all the teachers of the
schools we had visited, they didn't look happy with
the children, and they didn't seem enjoying their jobs.
My boy was pulling my arms to leave, he didn't like it.
Maybe we were out of luck to find a good school, but
also all the international schools around where we live
are like language institutes, they don't even have a
campus, or an outdoor playground for kids.

Besides, Japanese is really a difficult language, I mean
it's not easy to make a decent expression. My Japanese
friends in Taiwan send their kids to local schools to
learn Chinese, when they go back to Japan on vacation,
their friends always criticize their expression, kinda
weird and not "Japanese-like". It's really a shock,
both the parents are Japanese, they speak Japanese at
home, but why? Isn't it because that they are exposed
to non-Japanese environment everyday? I'm so worried
that my boy will be frustrated if his friends say he
speaks not like a Japanese, so depressing.

Now my boy goes to school happily everyday, he really
enjoys his school life. He speaks to his teachers and
little friends at school in Japanese, and speaks English
and Chinese to me, my happy boy is back!

Maybe your girl will suit herself better in an
international school? Paying a visit to the school
is very important, watch the kids and the teachers,
see their interaction, and also your kid's reaction,
then you will probably find out an answer.

Joanna, thanks soooo much for your input. It's very nice to hear a non-biased opinion. I was thinking about a Japanese school, because the international schools are just so pricey, and I worry a little about their standard of education. I'll try and visit as many schools as possible when Hannah grows up a bit more.

I know what you mean about the Japanese way of expression. I came to realise that language is not just a different way of reading, writing and speaking, but also a different way of behaving. I often get very polite mails from some of my Japanese friends, and if I didn't know the difference between Japanese and English expression, I would be a little bit offended possibly. I think in the case of your Japanese friends in Taiwan, their children aren't getting taught the formal way of behaving speaking that they might get in a Japanese school. Teaching also involves culture, so it really is a difficult situation.

I don't know much about Chinese culture, so please forgive me, but I once went to a restaurant with a Chinese friend and was kind of shocked at the way she spoke to the waitress. I thought they were having some kind of an argument, but she told me it was totally normal.

It was so nice to hear that Chitoshi is so happy in a Japanese school. I'm sure you're very glad that you made the decision to send him there. I'll make sure to pay attention to which Hannah seems happiest with when the time comes.

Exactly! My Japanese friends always send me VERY
courteous mails, too! Even I know the cultural
differences, but sometimes I feel a 'distance' between
us. Anyway, my very close Japanese friends understand
me well, they seldom send me 'Japanese' mails, and no
'sonkeigo' or 'teineigo' in our conversation^ ^

I have to admit that Chinese people talk loud, and
always make imperative expression, but they intend
no offense, it's just the way they speak. Even I'm
Chinese, but I was shocked when the first time I
met my mother-in-law (she is Chinese from the mainland
of China), I felt so uneasy with the way she spoke to
me, like commanding me. Maybe because I was born in a
multicultural environment, I don't know, but I'm happy
that I've been getting used to this 'decent' Chinese
expression now^ ^

Good luck in finding a nice school for Hannah, by the
way when will you decide to send her to a nursery or
preschool? I suggest you not to send her to before
she is 3, young children's resistance against diseases
is much lower than we expect.