WOULD YOU SURVIVE SCHOOL IN... JAPAN? Morgan Butterfield has spent a year in Japan teaching English. He tells us about some of the most shocking differences between life for British and Japanese teenagers Words: Morgan Butterfield
Photos courtesy of unsplash.com
had to be there for 11 hours a day, 6 days a week. I bet you’d bunk off if you were made to clean the whole building every day on your hands and knees, or if you weren’t allowed to go away during your Easter holiday because you had to go to a heap of clubs and extracurricular activities. You might like the idea of serving lunch to your friends and eating in the classroom, but you’d probably prefer to be outside playing football or getting something to eat from the chippy, or Tesco. It’s lucky then, that you live where you live and go to the school that you do. But if you lived in Japan, you might feel very differently. When I tell my Japanese students that, “in England, we don’t have a club or extra class every day, we eat lunch in a big hall with loads of noise and our school stays dirty until the cleaners come”, they feel very lucky that they live where they live and go to the school that they do. Because with these things comes a huge sense of community and respect. Nobody litters or makes a mess, because it is likely going to be one of their friends that has to pick it up. I feel bad telling them about the amount of holiday I had as a student, but they don’t seem to mind that much. They love competing and training; it’s like a second family to them. I tell you, they are crazily good at what they do. Imagine choosing a sport, or instrument or language at the
age of 12, and, for 14 hours a week, every week of the year, for six years, training with your friends. You would probably be pretty amazing as well. I participated in their sports day last year, and I’m embarrassed to say, I only just won the 100m sprint against a group of 13-year old-girls- and they weren’t even the fastest in their year! Yes, their military attitude is extreme and I find it a little bit freaky when they all bow at the same time during assembly (especially when they’ve all got their flu masks on!). But, on the whole, they are happier, healthier and more determined than I remember my peers being when I went to school. So, If you haven’t already, join a club, learn something new and really push yourself to master that craft. Be aware of the world you
"You are the future" live in, keep it clean and encourage your friends to do the same. Take advantage of the holidays you’re given and spend time outdoors in our lovely English weather. But most importantly, share these experiences, spread kindness and encourage them to do the same. We all live in this world together. and you are the future.\\
'The Craggs'- Artwork by Liza Root
I BET you’d refuse to go to school if you
B O Y K I N G 38