English Essay by Brian Southwick, Niigata City ALT

55 High School Graduation ＲＥＡＤＩＮＧ (slow) (fast)

　There are many differences between schools in Japan and in the USA. For example, the school year begins in April in Japan, but in America the school year begins in August or early September. Students at Japanese schools wear a uniform, but at many schools in the US, students do not have to wear a uniform. Summer vacation in the US lasts for about 10 weeks, but in Japan the summer holiday is much shorter. Another big difference between Japan and the USA is school graduation. The school graduation ceremony in Japanese schools takes place in March. In the US the ceremony is held in May. Although my high school graduation ceremony was almost 25 years ago, I still remember it very well.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　ＲＥＡＤＩＮＧ (slow) (fast)

　My high school is on the campus of the Louisiana State University. The year I finished high school, 1988, the graduation ceremony was held not at the school but at an auditorium used by university students. The event took place on a Friday evening, and only the seniors joined the ceremony. We wore black robes and a special cap for the event. First the students received their diplomas from the school principal on the stage. Then the principal made a speech, and the senior class president and the two students with the best grades made speeches, too. At the end we threw our caps into the air and cheered.
　After the ceremony we took off our robes, changed into suits or dresses, and went to a special dinner held at a restaurant at the university. There was dancing after the dinner, and it was interesting to dance with our old teachers. After the dinner and dance we all went to the home of one of the students for an after party of swimming and games. It was quite late when we all went back home.
　I think the graduation ceremony has changed since I finished high school, but I’m sure the graduation ceremonies in Japanese and American schools are still quite different today.
＜注＞
High School Graduation（高校卒業） For example（例えば），do not have to（〜する必要がない）last（続く），much shorter（ずっと短い），Another big difference（別の大きな違い）
ceremony ( 式　)，takes place（行われる），is held（開催される），Although〜（〜だけれども）
almost（ほとんど），still remember（まだ覚えている）
the campus of the Louisiana State University（ルイジアナ州立大学）
not (at the school) but〜（学校ではなく）〜，
an auditorium used by university students（大学生に使われる講堂，ホール）
only the seniors joined the ceremony（式に参加する最上級生だけが），robes（長い上着）
diplomas（卒業証書），the school principal（校長先生）
the senior class president（最上級生の代表），with the best grades（最も良い成績の）
threw our caps（私たちの帽子を投げた），cheered（歓声をあげた）， took off（脱いだ）
quite late（本当に遅い），quite different（全く違う）





Question and Answers:　Please answer the following questions
in English in a complete sentence, with a subject and　a verb.


Q1. When does the school year begin in the US?
A1.

Q2. How long is the summer vacation for students in the US?
A2.

Q3. Where did Brian’s graduation ceremony take place?
A3.

Q4. What did the students do with their caps at the end of the ceremony?
A4.

Q5. Who danced with the students after the dinner party?
A5.





＜解答例＞

A1. It begins in August or early September.

A2. It lasts for about 10 weeks.

A3. It was held not at the school but at an auditorium used by university students.

A4. They threw their caps into the air.

A5. Their old teachers did .