Kyoritsu Women's University
Today, Mary was able to visit Kyoritsu Women's University, in Tokyo. Kyoritsu is an example of a Japanese "escalator school," in which the junior high feeds into the senior high, which often feeds into the two- and four-year colleges. (There are also a few graduate programs, in case one wishes to go all the way through.) This system is seen as advantageous for some students, because if a student gets good grades, she can avoid the university exam system.
KWU is where Russ is doing his Fulbright lectureship. Below is a picture of the main campus building, 15 stories plus a rooftop garden. It is quite new, since the school moved from the suburbs last year. There are about 4100 undergraduates, 70 graduate students, 240 FT faculty and 432 PT faculty in the two- and four-year colleges. This school was founded in 1886, so it is one of the oldest women's colleges in Japan.
Of course, what blog is complete without a picture of the cafeteria ladies? Russ has never eaten there since it usually is so crowded. It looks like it serves typical lunch food - udon, curry, ramen, rice - based on the plastic food models outside.
With the Fulbright group, Mary had a chance to visit some classrooms. Below is a picture of a home ec classroom. The students were making soup and the sensei were making tempura. Later, their tempura was served to us for lunch.
We then visited the rooftop and took a picture with the chancellor (front row, center). The chancellor was very gracious during the visit, and he even shared with us some shochu (Japanese plum wine) that he made himself.
We also visited the high schools. The junior high is three years, the equivalent of 7-9th grade. Below is an art class for first-year jr. high students. They were doing a still life of a skull and Egyptian mask with oil paints.
Next, we visited an math class (quadratic equations perhaps?) for first-year senior high students. Each student completed a problem in front of the class, and then the sensei graded it on the board. As you can see by the "O," each of these student's work was correct.
Next, we saw an English class where the students were doing skits. The other students graded each other with a rubric. The skits were a bit silly (I go to India and see a fortune teller, then visit a cafe, then see a tiger) but the students' English was quite good, and they looked like they were having fun with it.
Below is a picture of the teachers' lounge, one big room for junior to senior high instructors. Russ says that the college faculty lounge is much the same now, but they will soon move to individual offices.
Of course, the "highlight" was our visit to Russ's class. We sat in for about 15 minutes while he taught in his African-American history class. He was very nervous, having the chancellor and all of us there, but it went well.
Everyone at the university was extremely generous with their time. It looked like a very nice place to go to school.
KWU is where Russ is doing his Fulbright lectureship. Below is a picture of the main campus building, 15 stories plus a rooftop garden. It is quite new, since the school moved from the suburbs last year. There are about 4100 undergraduates, 70 graduate students, 240 FT faculty and 432 PT faculty in the two- and four-year colleges. This school was founded in 1886, so it is one of the oldest women's colleges in Japan.
Of course, what blog is complete without a picture of the cafeteria ladies? Russ has never eaten there since it usually is so crowded. It looks like it serves typical lunch food - udon, curry, ramen, rice - based on the plastic food models outside.
With the Fulbright group, Mary had a chance to visit some classrooms. Below is a picture of a home ec classroom. The students were making soup and the sensei were making tempura. Later, their tempura was served to us for lunch.
We then visited the rooftop and took a picture with the chancellor (front row, center). The chancellor was very gracious during the visit, and he even shared with us some shochu (Japanese plum wine) that he made himself.
We also visited the high schools. The junior high is three years, the equivalent of 7-9th grade. Below is an art class for first-year jr. high students. They were doing a still life of a skull and Egyptian mask with oil paints.
Next, we visited an math class (quadratic equations perhaps?) for first-year senior high students. Each student completed a problem in front of the class, and then the sensei graded it on the board. As you can see by the "O," each of these student's work was correct.
Next, we saw an English class where the students were doing skits. The other students graded each other with a rubric. The skits were a bit silly (I go to India and see a fortune teller, then visit a cafe, then see a tiger) but the students' English was quite good, and they looked like they were having fun with it.Below is a picture of the teachers' lounge, one big room for junior to senior high instructors. Russ says that the college faculty lounge is much the same now, but they will soon move to individual offices.
Of course, the "highlight" was our visit to Russ's class. We sat in for about 15 minutes while he taught in his African-American history class. He was very nervous, having the chancellor and all of us there, but it went well.
Everyone at the university was extremely generous with their time. It looked like a very nice place to go to school.
posted by Russ Olwell at 4:18 AM
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