English Essay by Brian Southwick

3, School Life 1  ネイティブスピーカー(ALT)によるREADING     


  Spring is a busy time in Japanese junior high schools. April is the start of junior high school life for seventh graders. Many ninth graders take their school trip this month. And, most students are excited about the city sports tournament in June. But in my hometown, school life is very different.
  At my junior high school, the first day of school is August 10. So, school starts when Japanese children are enjoying summer vacation. The last day of school is May 25, and then students can enjoy a summer vacation with no homework. In Japan, the school day starts at about 8:15, but at my school the time is 7:10! We can go home at 2:30 in the afternoon, or we can join clubs after school. The sports clubs are basketball, soccer, football, track and field, and baseball. Students can also join the band, chorus, French, Spanish, math, dance, computer, study, and quiz-bowl clubs. I was a member of two clubs: band, and track and field.
  Students at my school have six classes each day. They study English, math, science, social studies, computers, music, fine-arts, French or Spanish, and P.E. My favorite subjects in junior high were English, French, and social studies. We do not have cram schools, or “jukus.” So, students study for one or two hours at home in the evenings.



(注)seventh grader(7年生,中学1年生),ninth grader(9年生,中学3年生)
   are excited(わくわくしている),the city sports tournament(市体育大会)
   vacation(休み,休暇),quiz-bowl(クイズ大会),favorite(大好きな)


  

Video of School Life in Louisiana (University Laboratory School)





Questions and Answers: Please answer in English, with a subject and a verb.




Q1. When does the school year start at Brian’s school?

A1.


Q2. Do students at Brian’s school have summer vacation homework?

A2.


Q3. How do we say “juku” in English?

A3


Q4. What foreign languages do students at Brian’s school study?

A4.


Q5. What is a big difference between your school and Mr. Brian’s?

A5.







解答例

A1. It starts on August 10.

A2. No, they don’t.

A3. They say “cram school”.

A4. They study French or Spanish.

A5. 以下のような答えで可。他の答えでも英文として合っていれば可。
 @ At my school, school starts in April and ends in March. But at his school,
   it starts in August and ends in May.
 A At my school, the school day starts at 8:15(8:20, etc.), but at his school,
   it starts at 7:10.
 B At his school, they have quiz-bowl club. But at my school, we don’t (have it).




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