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First Year Classes
Japanese
“Japanese”. “Words”. What do these actually mean? When people “read”, “write”, “listen” and “talk”, what are they really doing? What exactly do we do when we think using words? If there were no words, what kind of a world would we be living in? In Japanese classes at Fuji, we always bear these questions in mind. Using several approaches including “listening tasks” and “jotter swapping”, we the students are able to polish their skills and sensibilities when it comes to understanding prose. Memorisation and kanji tests are routinely carried out, complementing the classwork which allows linguistic knowledge to seep into each and every student.
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Reading
In their reading class, the students enjoy reading books on a variety of subjects, as well as writing reviews and their impressions on them. Through this, we aim to foster character while at the same time developing thinking power and expressive ability. In second year, students go on to experience studying on their own when they decide themselves upon an area of research which they will carry out independently. |
Calligraphy
In Calligraphy, students learn the rudimentary skills of writing in Japanese. They are taught how to write using a brush, with emphasis placed on how to hold the brush properly and how to construct the various strokes correctly. Students then proceed to learn about the characteristics of the hiragana alphabet, also practising how to write using standard script and semi-cursive script. In this class, we experience the “joy or writing” and work on improving expression in writing, appreciation of writing, and concentration for writing.
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English
With one English class every day from a Japanese teacher, and two conversation classes every week taught by a qualified native English speaker, 1st year students have a total of 7 hours of English language instruction per week. As opposed to simply acquiring knowledge and rote-memorisation, the class subject matter is arranged so that it can be used in a context that is meaningful to the students, upon whom we impress that English is, more than anything, a tool which we use to express ourselves. From the previous year, we have been using “Birdland”, a course designed specifically for schools with a 6 year unbroken educational programme, as our main textbook. Rather than speed up the pace because we have the luxury of more English classes, we prefer to work on increasing the depth of the students’ understanding while strengthening their vocabulary. Due to the sheer number of new words the students learn, the spelling can sometimes be difficult for them. Having said that, this is more than balanced out by the fact that the students learn so many ways to express themselves and, as a result, their voracious appetite for English!
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English Conversation
English Converation is a lesson in which classes are split into two small groups of about 18 students. One of Fuji's many "English Conversation teachers" is in charge of teaching the small group. Our remit is basically to teach the students how to communicate using English. In this class, students can practise what they have learned in their English class, enjoy learning communication through games and skits, and enjoy the benefits of being part of such a small group for English Conversation.
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Mathematics
The Mathematics curriculum is based on the premise of a proper unbroken six year education. In 1st and 2nd year, the students receive a thorough grounding in arithmetic and graphs. From 3rd year, high school maths is introduced and this makes the transition from 4th year maths a smooth one. What the students study in 5th and 6th year is designed to suit the type of study they intend to pursue after leaving Fuji. Irrespective of this, the focus is on providing the students with 6 solid years of tuition in Mathematics, together with ample opportunities to practise the theories they have acquired. |
Science
Dear reader, what do you know about science? We are surrounded by many events and living creatures thanks to science, but have you really actually seen what is happening? Join us and let's explore the unknown together! Here at Fuji, we have a variety of "real examples" which will answer many of the questions you might have about science. You can enjoy doing experiments in small groups, observing the true power of plants, and seeing many animals up close and maybe even closer, if you want to! Here, we have classes that let you know even more, see even more, and experience even more. Why don't you come and experience firsthand real science with us! |
| Social Studies Department |
Geography
As a "World Citizen" on board "Spaceship Earth", we aim to focus our lessons on finding out how to interact with the people of the world, and also our environment. Faced with such a large task, we look for answers in various texts and maps, sometimes even venturing out to the campus of Hokkaido Univerity and the city centre of Sapporo. There, we acquire observation and learning skills which will make us aware of our responsibility as a "World Citizen". |
Music
Having just entered Fuji, the students are introduced to the alto recorder May and use it for playing short pieces of music. This is the first step in their practice which will eventually lead to their playing a scaled down version of Bach's “Fugue”, arranged for the recorder, in second year. In addition, the students work towards the junior school’s Chorus Competition. They learn how to lead their class as a conductor, as well as practise a piece of music they chose as a class. At the competition, they listen to the 3rd years singing “Daichi Sansho”, a popular Japanese piece for secondary school children. As one might expect, when the students eventually sing this in their third year, it sounds rather splendid. |
Art
“After looking closely and sketching it, I ended up liking it more than I had before.”
“I wonder what colour I should use for a happy memory…..”
“I tried hiding a picture within a written word and…hey presto! A new logo design!”
“A piece of wood cut to size and properly polished now becomes a picture frame which will look just at home on my bedroom wall.”
In Art, our subject matter includes paintings, solid objects, designing and handicraft. The common denominator in our classes is that we take pains to ensure, on an individual basis, that the students can develop their powers of self-expression. Come and make use of you individual talents at Fuji to express yourself even further than before! |
Christian Ethics
This is one of the classes at Fuji which focuses on spiritual education. Students have this class once a week and it starts with a short period of meditation. After having heightened their concentration levels, the students then learn about manners and Christian morals. On occasion, using their once weekly “long homeroom” classes, students also take part in prayer meetings at the chapel where are taught about prayers of thanks which can be offered up to God or their neighbours. Come Christmas, they spend a lot of time raising funds for the needy. During summer holiday, students have the chance to learn more about the Bible and carry out exercises to help further their understanding of the campassion towards others. |
Religious Studies
A student says:
"At first, I thought we would just be spending time learning what was written in the Bible and remembering prayers. However, we learned that it important not to forget to be thankful or forgiving, because our parents and many other people care about us. I can also see that our classes taught us what was important for us to be able to live life to the full." |
Home Economics
In their Home Economics class, 1st year students learn the basics of family life at home: clothing, food, and the home itself. In addition, with “practical” classes for cooking and clothing, the first years have the same chances as other students to actually put into practice what they have learned. This is a class which places importance on the students’ ability to acquire and put into practice a variety of skills, as well as on the resulting feeling of achievement with Home Economics. |
| Health and Physical Education |
P.E.
In order for our girls to be able to enjoy sport throughout their lives, we place importance on the basic skills of a particular sport and, taking into account the myriad abilities of the students as well as their individual physical constitutions, we aim for them to enjoy sport first and foremost.
To use table tennis as an example, we start by making sure that the students are familiar with the paddle and then proceed onto ball control, where the students spend a lot of time hitting the ball off a wall, learning and anticipating its movements. After this, we move onto actual matches, which the students can enjoy because of the firm grounding they now have. We essentially use the same approach with other sport (other ball-orientated sports, dancing and rhythmic gymnastics).
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